Holiday hangover? Whatcom smashes single-day record with 171 new COVID cases Thursday
The Bellingham Herald 1/8/2021 David Rasbach, The Bellingham Herald (Bellingham, Wash.)
Jan. 8 Whatcom County smashed a record it had no interest in ever approaching, as the Washington State Department of Health reported 171 new confirmed cases of COVID-19 on Thursday, Jan. 7.
While that matched the 171 new cases the state Department of Health reported four days earlier, the cases reported Sunday, Jan. 3, represented three days of data an average of 57 cases per day following the New Year s holiday and no data being released Saturday due to a processing error by the state.
Whatcom sees another COVID-related death and 26 new cases Wednesday, state reports
The Bellingham Herald 1/7/2021 David Rasbach, The Bellingham Herald (Bellingham, Wash.)
Jan. 7 One more Whatcom County resident s death has been linked to COVID-19, according to the Washington State Department of Health on Wednesday, Jan. 6, as the county saw its number of confirmed cases grow by 26.
Overall, Whatcom County has seen 3,762 confirmed cases and 56 related deaths during the pandemic, according to state data as of 11:59 p.m. Tuesday. That means that 1.5% of the Whatcom residents who have tested positive for COVID during the pandemic have died.
Whatcom also saw one new probable case of COVID-19 in Wednesday s release of data, meaning the county now has 11 probable cases during the pandemic resulting from positive antigen tests, but those cases were not confirmed by a molecular test.
January 6, 2021 6:26 am
KGMI Courtesy of Whatcom County
BELLINGHAM, Wash. Whatcom County’s newly-expanded Crisis Stabilization Center is opening this week.
Anne Deacon with the Whatcom County Health Department says it’s aimed at helping people recover while taking some of the burden off of law enforcement and emergency medical personnel.
The facility in the Irongate neighborhood can currently accept voluntary commitments and they’re working on certification for involuntary commitments.
That would allow law enforcement officers to divert some individuals toward treatment rather than jail.
If you or someone you know is experiencing a behavioral health crisis and would like support, these local resources are available to you:
COVID vaccine distribution progressing in Whatcom, but but it will take several months
The Bellingham Herald 1/6/2021 David Rasbach, The Bellingham Herald (Bellingham, Wash.)
Jan. 6 As of Monday, Whatcom County had received a little more than a third of the COVID-19 vaccinations it needs to cover the top tier in the state s distribution plan, county health officials said Wednesday. We know many people are excited to be vaccinated and want to know how and when that s going to happen, but we re asking everyone to remain patient, Whatcom County Health Department Health Information and Assessment Supervisor Amy Hockenberry said during an online briefing Jan. 6. This is one of the most complicated vaccinations in history.
Whatcom wraps up worst month yet with 81 new confirmed COVID-19 cases, state reports
The Bellingham Herald 1/1/2021 David Rasbach, The Bellingham Herald (Bellingham, Wash.)
Dec. 31 Whatcom County has 81 new confirmed cases of COVID-19, according to the Washington State Department of Health on Thursday, Dec. 31. No new deaths were recorded.
The state reported case counts may include up to 750 duplicates in Washington.
Overall, Whatcom County has seen 3,469 confirmed cases and 55 related deaths during the pandemic, according to state data as of 11:59 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 30. That means that 1.6% of the Whatcom residents who have tested positive for COVID during the pandemic have died.