Washington reports 547 new COVID-19 cases, 5 deaths Tuesday
The Washington State Department of Health on Tuesday reported 547 new confirmed cases of COVID-19 and five new deaths.
Pierce County reported 68 new cases and three deaths. Pierce County had a total of 100 deaths likely caused by COVID-19 as of Tuesday, according to the Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department.
Pierce County residents age 20-29 are showing a larger rate of infection compared with their segment of the population, according to the health department.
Statewide totals from the illness caused by the coronavirus are at 42,304 cases and 1,404 deaths, up from 41,757 cases and 1,399 deaths on Monday.
Thirty-seven people with confirmed COVID-19 cases were admitted to Washington state hospitals on Monday, July 6, the most recent date with complete data. March 23 saw 89 admittances, the highest number to date during the pandemic.
Washington state has conducted a total of 718,234 coronavirus tests. On July 6, the most recent date for which data is complete, 15,596 specimens were collected statewide, with 5.3% testing positive. That compares with 3,805 specimens and a 4.3% positive rate on June 6; 5,308 specimens and a 5.4% positive rate on May 6; and 5,048 specimens and a 7.8% positive rate on April 6.
The test numbers reflect only polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests, which are given to patients while the virus is presumably still active in the body.
King County continues to have the highest numbers in Washington, with 12,213 cases and 624 deaths. Yakima County has the second-highest numbers, with 8,357 cases and 183 deaths.
All counties in Washington are now reporting cases. Five of them have case counts of less than 10.
There had been more than 3.4 million confirmed coronavirus cases and 136,432 deaths from the virus in the United States as of Tuesday, according to Johns Hopkins University. More than 577,000 people have died from the disease worldwide.
This story was originally published July 14, 2020 at 6:12 PM.
