January 19, 2022
COVID-19 Updates from Skagit County
Local COVID-19 Case, Hospital & Vaccine Data
Skagit has a total of 17,521 cases, which increased by 1,597 since last Wednesday. This is an increase of 195 more new cases than was reported last week between 1/5 – 1/12.
Our current case rate is 1,799.9 per 100k over the last 14 days, which has more than doubled since last week. This is a new record high for Skagit County, and current data now suggests we’ll see a peak of over 2,300.00 in the coming days.
Our hospitalization rate is now 27.6 per 100k over the last seven days. According to the Data Dashboard, it appears that Skagit peaked earlier this week at a rate of 32.96.
Skagit reports 893 total hospitalizations, which increased by 39 this week. This is the most new hospitalizations we’ve seen in a 7 day period thus far. Skagit also reports 159 deaths, which increased by 3 this week.
In Skagit, 229,906 vaccine doses have been administered. We’re at 72.4% fully vaccinated amongst our population 12 years and older.
As a reminder, this data can be found on the state’s Data Dashboard here: https://www.doh.wa.gov/Emergencies/COVID19/DataDashboard. For instructions on how to use this site: https://skagitcounty.blog/2022/01/06/want-covid-data-the-data-dashboard-has-you-covered/
New Hours at the Fairgrounds
Hours of operation for COVID-19 testing at the Skagit County Fairgrounds has been extended! The site is now open for testing every Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday from 12:00 pm until supplies last.
Please note that testing will also be available today beginning at 12:00 pm to make up for the long weekend.
Rapid antigen testing is provided for free and is available to anyone 5 years and older who lives, works, or goes to school in Skagit County. Individuals must be symptomatic or have had recent exposure to COVID-19 to qualify for service at the site.
For testing, please come to the South Gate entrance at 501 Taylor Street in Mount Vernon. Note that gates open at 11:30 am, with services starting at noon. Even with the new extended hours, please expect long wait times. Please do not block public or private driveways and be mindful of pedestrians.
For a full list of other testing providers in the region, go to https://www.doh.wa.gov/Emergencies/COVID19/TestingforCOVID19/TestingLocations.
Vaccinations at the Fairgrounds will continue to be offered weekly from 3:00pm to 6:00pm. Both pediatric vaccines and boosters are available by appointment only. To make an appointment, go to www.skagitcounty.net/COVIDvaccine. Please come to the North Gate entrance for vaccinations at 1409 Virginia Street in Mount Vernon.
To schedule a booster or pediatric vaccine appointment at the Fairgrounds, please go to: www.skagitcounty.net/COVIDvaccine.
Available appointments include:
BOOSTER
PEDIATRIC
For a full list of testing providers in our region, please go to: https://www.doh.wa.gov/Emergencies/COVID19/TestingforCOVID19/TestingLocations#region4
Vaccine at the Public Health Office
Vaccinations continue to be provided at our downtown Public Health office at 700 S 2nd Street in Mount Vernon by appointment only. If coming for an appointment, please enter through the 1st floor elevator lobby, and come up to the 3rd floor. For information or to make a booster appointment, please go to: www.skagitcounty.net/COVIDvaccine.
Available appointments include:
For a full list of vaccination providers available in Skagit County, go to Vaccine Locator or call the Hotline at 1-800-525-0127.
At-home COVID-19 Testing Options
The federal government has officially launched its online ordering portal. Residential households in the U.S. can now order one set of 4 free at-home tests. Here’s what you need to know about your order:
- Limited to one order per residential address
- One order includes 4 individual rapid antigen COVID-19 tests
- Orders will ship free starting in late January and will take 7-12 days to ship.
To order, go to: https://www.covidtests.gov/
Washington State will also be launching its own online ordering portal in the coming days. More to come on this…
Please know that Skagit County Public Health has run out of at-home testing kits at this time. Please consider for-purchase at-home testing options, available at locations such as Walgreens, Rite Aid, Bartell Drugs, CVS, Walmart, Safeway, and Albertsons.
If testing at home and you receive a positive test result, please call the state’s COVID-19 Hotline as soon as possible at 1–800–525–0127 or the Skagit County Public Health office at (360) 416-1500.
At present, testing demand is far exceeding availability throughout our state. If you cannot get access to testing, please refer to the CDC's Isolation and Quarantine Guidance found here: https://bit.ly/3JQLIwF
- IF YOU HAVE SYMPTOMS but do not need medical care and can't get a test, you might have COVID-19 and you should isolate for at least 5 days to keep from spreading the virus to others. Monitor your symptoms.
- IF YOU WERE EXPOSED to someone with COVID-19 and need to quarantine and are unable to get a test 5 days after your last close contact, you can leave your home after day 5 if you have not had symptoms; wear a mask for 10 days after last contact.
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