Skagit COVID-19 cases decline dramatically

New COVID-19 cases have dropped dramatically in Skagit County and across Washington state in the three weeks since Gov. Jay Inslee bet on opening the entire state to increased social and economic activity. An ongoing successful coronavirus vaccination campaign has driven down the virus infection rate and corresponding new cases. The state’s Department of Health reported 128.8 new Skagit County cases per 100,000 residents June 5. Only seven of 39 counties have over 200 cases per 100,000 population, a 67% reduction from 22 counties reporting above that threshold three weeks ago.

Inslee’s May 18 decision came after Skagit County recorded 494 total new cases in April and reported 204 cases in May’s first two weeks. The county had 346 total new coronavirus cases in May, though there were several days of no case counts,

For June 1-7 the County’s public health website lists 42 total new cases. The increase in hospitalizations continues to climb, however. There were 24 in May and already 10 in June. Six Skagitonians died in May and one last week, bringing to 74 the number of deaths since tracking began in early 2020.

Inslee’s metric of 70% of residents getting vaccinated by June 30 for a total reopening of the state with few public health restrictions has shifted Skagit Public Health’s efforts to pop up clinics to reach more people. Over 140,000 vaccinations will have been given in Skagit County by the end of this week.

Pop-Up Vaccine Clinics by Skagit Public Health include today, June 9, at Terramar Brewstillery in Edison, 4-7 p.m., including “pints for pokes;” Saturday, June 12 at the Tri-Parish Food Bank, Burlington, 10 a.m.-3 p.m .; June 15 and 22 at Skagit Transit Station, downtown Mount Vernon, 8:30-10:30 a.m. and June 19, Mount Vernon Farmers Market, 9 a.m.-noon.

Skagit Public Health is promoting Inslee’s incentives to help encourage unvaccinated Washingtonians to get the COVID-19 shot. The Washington State Lottery will be conducting a “Shot of a Lifetime” giveaway series during the month of June, working with state agencies, technology companies, sports teams and higher education institutions across Washington to offer a myriad of different prizes to vaccinated individuals.

Vaccinated Washingtonians do not need to do anything to be entered into the drawings. Getting vaccinated makes people eligible and enters them to win.

All individuals who have been previously vaccinated are eligible, including minors.

Those who received their vaccine from Skagit County Public Health will already be in the system and do not need to take further action.

Vaccination information is at skagitcounty.net/Departments/HealthDiseases/coronavirusvaccine.htm