Skagit County and COVID-19

The “Our grim COVID-19 milestones” editorial in the Oct. 20 edition comments hit the nail on the head. Periodically I have been tracking and comparing COVID-19 data from various parts of the state. Comparing Skagit and King counties confirms trends between big urban and small rural counties.

As of Nov. 4, Skagit, the 11th most populated county (population 130,450), had a per capita rate of infection of 1 per 11.2 residents. King (population 2,260,800) had a per capita rate of only slightly more, at 1 per 13.56 residents.

As of Nov. 5, Skagit had a daily rate of infection of 75 per 100,000 of residents, the highest in the state. King county had an average daily rate of infection of only about 16 per 100,000.

In comparing the summary data tables on the Washington Department of Health website for each county for Aug. 20, Sept. 27, and Oct. 26, interesting findings include that the five biggest counties have lowered their rates of infections the most and the three smallest counties, all in eastern Washington, continued to have the highest rate of infection.

While Skagit is not in the smaller population category, its COVID-19 statistics seem to be mimicking those of the smallest, rural counties. While its four biggest towns comprise 52 % of the population, the remainder of the county is rural, and largely farmland, which is similar to eastern Washington. Politics and the farm based economy, with its “independent spirit,” all have an influence.

Skagit is a puzzle. The rural mind set dominates the urban ethos when it comes to COVID-19. But this is true statewide, and even countrywide. This pandemic is continuing its rampage because of a minority of people who are selfish, ignorant naysayers. Reality and the scientific and empirical evidence mean nothing to them.

Buz Humphrey

Anacortes