Whatcom surpasses 300 COVID-related deaths, as U.S. sees 1 millionth death of pandemic

In the same week the United States reached 1 million deaths during the pandemic, Whatcom County surpassed 300 COVID-related deaths.

Whatcom County has had 301 COVID-releated deaths over the past two-plus years, according to the latest update of the Washington State Department of Health COVID-19 Data Dashboard on Friday, May 13, including three new deaths reported last week. While one of the three deaths reported last week was a person who first tested positive for COVID last year (May 3, 2021), The Bellingham Herald’s analysis of of the state’s epidemiological data found, the two others were people who died tested positive much more recently — April 28 and May 3, 2022.

As of Friday, the state reported Whatcom County has seen 39,343 total cases (confirmed and probable combined) during the pandemic, which was an increase of 623 from the week before. That is the largest increase Whatcom has seen since it saws 1,502 cases reported the week of Feb. 6-12.

St. Joseph’s hospital in Bellingham reported it was treating 12 COVID-related patients on Monday, May 16. Over the past week, the hospital has averaged 10.4 patients per day, which is its highest weekly average since March 10 and represents 4.1% of the hospital’s 252 inpatient beds.