Whatcom receives another ‘medium’ COVID grade from CDC, but 2 regions would be ‘high’

Whatcom County remained in the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s “medium” community COVID-19 risk level for a third straight week, while infection and hospitalizations rates in two regions within the county would earn “high” rankings, where masking is recommended for everyone.

Though its weekly COVID infection rate dropped below 200 new cases per 100,000 residents last week, the CDC gave Whatcom the “medium” community level rating when new data was released Thursday, June 16, based on an increase in the county’s hospitalization rate. That means masking is recommended for those who are at high risk of serious complications from COVID and those who could expose those at high risk.

It marked the fourth time in the past five weeks that Whatcom has received the “medium” ranking.

But The Bellingham Herald’s analysis of the latest location data released Thursday by the Whatcom County Health Department showed that the regions covered by the Bellingham and Blaine school districts would actually receive a “high” rating if the CDC drilled down to that level. The CDC recommends every resident within counties that receive “high” rankings mask in public situations.

Additionally, The Herald found that two other regions — Meridian and Mount Baker — had numbers placing them in the “medium” range, while Ferndale, Lynden and Nooksack Valley all would be in the “low” community levels. Nooksack Valley is the only region in the county that has been in the “low” range since the CDC introduced its community-level rankings in early spring.

Though it dropped in to the “low” community level, the Blaine region was the only region within the county to see its weekly number of new cases per 100,000 residents climb last week, The Herald found. The other six saw their rates decrease, and weekly infection rates in the Lynden and Meridian regions are close to dropping below 100.

To be classified in the “low” level by the CDC, counties must have:

▪ Fewer than 200 new cases per 100,000 residents in the past seven days.

▪ Fewer than 10 new COVID-related hospitalizations per 100,000 residents in the past seven days.

▪ Less than 10% of staffed inpatient beds occupied by COVID-19 patients.

While masking is recommended for everyone for counties with “high” community levels, the CDC recommends face coverings only for those who are at high risk of serious complications from COVID and those who could expose those at high risk for counties in the “medium” range. Masking in most indoor situations is not included among the CDC’s recommended guidelines for communities in the “low” level.

At every level, the CDC says people “can wear a mask based on personal preference” and should wear a mask if they have COVID symptoms, test positive or have possible exposure.

As of Friday, June 24, St. Joseph hospital in Bellingham reported it was treating 11 COVID-related patients. That would give it an average of 12.3 COVID-related patients per day over the past week (June 18-24) — down from 19.7 one week earlier (June 10-17) and well within the CDC’s “low” guidelines with 4.9% of the hospital’s 252 inpatient beds filled by COVID patients.

The Washington State Department of Health’s COVID-19 Data Dashboard’s latest update on Wednesday, June 22, showed Whatcom County had a weekly infection rate of 235 new cases per 100,000 residents and an infection rate of 7.9 new COVID-related patients per 100,000 residents for the most recently complete epidemiological data from June 7-13.

For the entire pandemic, Whatcom County has had 42,442 cases with 1,686 hospitalizations and 311 deaths related to COVID-19, as of Wednesday’s dashboard update.

Here is what the health department’s latest data showed for the seven regions in the county for the week of June 12-18:

▪ Bellingham: Had 307 new cases, 16 new hospitalizations and no new deaths reported, increasing its pandemic totals to 18,364 cases, 589 hospitalizations and 146 deaths. Its weekly infection rate of 230 cases per 100,000 residents was down from 243 from one week earlier.

▪ Blaine: Had 32 new cases, four new hospitalizations and one new death reported, increasing its pandemic totals to 3,523 cases, 132 hospitalizations and 24 deaths. Its weekly infection rate of 181 cases per 100,000 residents was up from 175 one week earlier.

▪ Ferndale: Had 65 new cases, three new hospitalizations and one new death reported, increasing its pandemic totals to 7,730 cases, 352 hospitalizations and 56 deaths. Its weekly infection rate of 193 cases per 100,000 residents was down from 246 one week earlier.

▪ Lynden: Had 21 new cases, two new hospitalizations and no new deaths reported, increasing its pandemic totals to 5,673 cases, 274 hospitalizations and 38 deaths. Its weekly infection rate of 101 cases per 100,000 residents was down from 145 one week earlier.

▪ Meridian: Had 12 new cases, two new hospitalizations and no new deaths reported, increasing its pandemic totals to 1,955 cases, 88 hospitalizations and 14 deaths. Its weekly infection rate of 102 cases per 100,000 residents was down from 178 one week earlier.

▪ Mount Baker: Had 23 new cases, three new hospitalizations and no new deaths reported, increasing its pandemic totals to 2,297 cases, 131 hospitalizations and 17 deaths. Its weekly infection rate of 153 cases per 100,000 residents was down from 179 one week earlier.

▪ Nooksack Valley: Had 18 new cases, no new hospitalizations and no new deaths reported, increasing its pandemic totals to 2,710 cases, 114 hospitalizations and 13 deaths. Its weekly infection rate of 166 cases per 100,000 residents was down from 176 one week earlier.