COVID rates dropping in Whatcom County, the state’s previous hotspot

In Whatcom County, COVID-19 rates may be dropping. The county had been the state’s hotspot two weeks ago and had seen a transmission rate higher than anywhere else in Washington.

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Whatcom County Health Department Director Erica Lautenbach says the data now seems to indicate that cases are starting to decline after hitting an all-time high in January.

“Though the data is still preliminary, we are seeing the numbers trending down since then,” she said.

She says unsafe socializing is still the most common cause of transmission.

As far as vaccination efforts in Whatcom County, Amy Hockenberry, vaccine planning lead with the county health department, says residents who have received their first COVID-19 vaccine shot will likely be able to get the recommended second shot.

“While the week to week allocations are fluctuating, providers are receiving the second booster dose for that first group of doses that they got,” Hockenberry said.

She also says while there are no plans for a state vaccination center in Whatcom County, the county will be setting up public clinics as soon as they are confident in the vaccine supply.

In the Healthy Washington — Roadmap to Recovery reopening plan, Whatcom County is part of the North region, which also includes Island, San Juan, and Skagit counties. The North region remains in Phase 1. View the Roadmap to Recovery dashboard from the state here.

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The KIRO Radio Newsdesk contributed to this report.

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