Pierce County does not expect to have to roll back to Phase 1 A drive-thru vaccination clinic in Pierce County. (Tacoma-Pierce County Public Health, Facebook) Numbers just released make it appear as if Pierce County will not have to roll back to Phase 1 this week. The health department says the county hospitalization rate is not exceeding the requirement to stay in Phase 2. The COVID-19 case rate is still climbing, however, and is now averaging 170 cases a day higher than needed for a return to Phase 3, which allows the highest level of activity. The 14-day case rate for Pierce County per 100,000 residents is at 369.8 while the hospitalization rate is currently at 5.2 per 100,000.