Case rates dropping on Peninsula

Hospitalizations still on the rise

Case rates continue to drop across the North Olympic Peninsula, despite the confirmation of new cases.

“Case rates are presented as the number of cases diagnosed in the last 14 days, adjusted for population,” said Dr. Allison Berry, health officer for Clallam and Jefferson counties.

Clallam county’s case rate dropped to 1,601 per 100,000 population Friday from the 1,642 per 100,000 reported on Thursday, despite 96 new cases, bringing the county’s total to 9,924 since the pandemic began.

Jefferson County updated its case rate to 1,068 per 100,000 population on Friday, with 16 new cases, bringing the county’s total to 2,711 since the pandemic began. County officials compute the case rate weekly rather than daily. The case rate reported Jan. 28 was 1,236 per 100,000.

A relatively new metric being tracked on the Peninsula is the average daily cases.

For example, according to the Clallam County Covid website at clallam.net/coronavirus/, an average of 87 cases were reported daily over the last two weeks.

“At our recent peak we were seeing 125 new cases per day,” Berry said.

“As we see the case rate go down, it means we are still seeing cases, but the number reported to us each day is less than the day before,” Berry said.

Jefferson County will begin reporting this metric this week.

Hospitalizations, however, are still increasing.

Seventeen Clallam County residents were hospitalized with COVID as of Friday. Twelve are currently at Olympic Medical Center in Port Angeles with four in the intensive care unit (ICU). Five are in ICUs out of the county.

A total of 326 Clallam County residents have been hospitalized with COVID since the pandemic began. Ninety-five residents have died from the virus.

In Jefferson County, four were hospitalized with COVID as of Friday. Three were at Jefferson Healthcare in Port Townsend with two in the ICU. One was in an ICU out of the county.

A total of 105 Jefferson residents have been hospitalized with COVID since the pandemic began. Twenty-three residents have died of the virus.

________

Reporter Ken Park can be reached at kpark@ peninsuladailynews.com.

More in News

Clallam first in state to implement jail healthcare program

County eligible to apply for Medicare reimbursement for services

Writers to converge in Port Townsend to work on craft

Free readings open to the public next week

Firefighters extinguish blaze in fifth-floor hotel room

Firefighters from East Jefferson Fire Rescue and Navy Region… Continue reading

Mowing operation scheduled along Lake Crescent on Tuesday

Work crews from the state Department of Transportation will… Continue reading

EYE ON THE PENINSULA: County commissioners set to meet next week

Meetings across the North Olympic Peninsula

Peninsula Behavioral Health head discusses the fallout from federal bill

Anticipated cuts to Medicaid could devastate rural communities like Clallam County, leading… Continue reading

Tool library to open in Port Townsend

Drills, saws and more available to borrow

Fire restriction implemented on federal lands

Olympic National Forest and Olympic National Park have restricted campfires… Continue reading

Interdependence Day celebration set for Sunday

Chimacum will host its 14th Interdependence Day celebration on Sunday.… Continue reading

Matthew P. Deines, Outgoing President/CEO, First Fed
First Fed CEO resigns

Bank begins search for replacement

PAHS class of 1975 reunion planned

The Port Angeles High School Class of 1975 is… Continue reading