December 29, 2021
COVID-19 Updates from Skagit County
Local COVID-19 Case, Hospital & Vaccine Data
Skagit has a total of 13,820 cases; an increase of 358 new cases since last Wednesday. For those wanting to know how this differs from last week—we had 217 new cases between 12/15 and 12/22. This means we’ve seen 141 more new cases this week than last.
The best place to go to track our weekly case numbers is the state’s Data Dashboard. Go to https://www.doh.wa.gov/Emergencies/COVID19/DataDashboard then click Epidemiologic Curves and select Skagit County.
Skagit is currently reporting a total of 801 hospitalizations (increased by 14 since Wednesday), and 150 deaths (increased by 2).
Skagit’s case rate is 287.5 per 100k over the last 14 days and our hospitalization rate is 5.4 per 100k over the last seven days. Public Health expects to see another dramatic spike in cases over the coming weeks, mostly due to the new Omicron variant. Other factors may include an increase in cases following the holidays, as well as more folks gathering indoors due to extreme cold.
Vaccination and getting boosted is the best way to keep people from getting critically ill with COVID-19. To date, statewide data shows the following:
- Unvaccinated 12-34 year-olds in Washington are:
- 4 times more likely to get COVID-19 compared with fully vaccinated 12-34 year-olds.
- 19 times more likely to be hospitalized with COVID-19 compared with fully vaccinated 12-34 year olds.
- Unvaccinated 35-64 year-olds are:
- 5 times more likely to get COVID-19 compared with fully vaccinated 35-64 year-olds.
- 18 times more likely to be hospitalized with COVID-19 compared with fully vaccinated 35-64 year olds.
- Unvaccinated 65+ year-olds are:
- 7 times more likely to get COVID-19 compared with fully vaccinated 65+ year-olds.
- 12 times more likely to be hospitalized with COVID-19 compared with fully vaccinated 65+ year olds, and
- 13 times more likely to die of COVID-19 compared with fully vaccinated 65+ year-olds.
A total of 220,549 doses have been administered in Skagit County. We are now at 77.8% partially vaccinated amongst our population 12 years and older, and 71.7% fully vaccinated amongst Skagitonians 12 and older.
Fairgrounds Closed due to Inclement Weather
Due to current severe weather conditions, the Skagit County Fairgrounds Testing and Vaccination Site will be closed until further notice.
Those who have made an appointment for a pediatric or booster vaccine at the Fairgrounds for this week will be contacted by Public Health to reschedule.
The Downtown Booster Clinic at the Public Health office will remain open this week, despite weather conditions. If you have made an appointment for the Downtown Booster Clinic this week, please keep your appointment time. If you would like to schedule, call Public Health at (360) 416-1500.
For a full list of vaccination providers available in Skagit County, go to Vaccine Locator or call the Hotline at 1-800-525-0127.
Boosters at the Public Health Office
Skagit County Public Health is providing booster doses for eligible individuals—BY APPOINTMENT—at the Skagit County Public Health Office, located at 700 S 2nd Street (3rd floor) in downtown Mount Vernon.
Available appointments:
At-Home COVID-19 Test Kits
Due to extremely high demand, there are no longer free test kits available through the Say Yes COVID Test program. Public Health encourages people to consider for-purchase at-home testing options, available at locations such as Walgreens, Rite Aids, Bartell Drugs, CVS, Walmart, Safeway, and Albertsons. Additionally, test kits can be ordered online directly through retailers.
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.
For a full list of testing providers in Skagit County, go to our website here.
Updated CDC Guidance – Isolation & Quarantine
On Monday, December 27, the CDC updated its Isolation and Quarantine guidance, given new information about COVID-19 and the Omicron variant. For the full statement, visit: https://bit.ly/3mF9ySe.
Updated guidance is as follows:
Isolation for those who test positive for COVID-19
Everyone, regardless of vaccination status:
- Stay home for 5 days.
- If you have no symptoms or your symptoms are resolving after 5 days, you can leave your house.
- Continue to wear a mask around others for 5 additional days.
If you have a fever, continue to stay home until your fever resolves.
Quarantine for those who have been exposed to COVID-19
If you have been boosted, OR completed the primary series of Pfizer/Moderna vaccine within the last 6 months, OR completed the primary series of J&J vaccine within the last 2 months:
- Wear a mask around others for 10 days.
- Test on day 5, if possible.
If you develop symptoms, get tested and stay home.
If you completed the primary series of Pfizer/Moderna vaccine over 6 months ago and are not boosted, OR completed the primary series of J&J over 2 months ago and are not boosted, OR are unvaccinated:
- Stay home for 5 days. After that continue to wear a mask around others for 5 additional days.
- If you can’t quarantine you must wear a mask for 10 days.
- Test on day 5 if possible.
If you develop symptoms, get tested and stay home. |
