Washington reports 1,267 new COVID-19 cases, 6 deaths Thursday
The Washington State Department of Health on Thursday reported 1,267 new confirmed cases of COVID-19 and six deaths. The DOH said it received a backlog of about 300 cases from hard-hit Yakima County, which are reflected in the count.
Pierce County reported a record high of 89 new cases Thursday but no new deaths. Pierce County had a total of 101 deaths likely caused by COVID-19 as of Thursday, according to the Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department.
Statewide totals from the illness caused by the coronavirus are at 44,313 cases and 1,427 deaths, up from 43,046 cases and 1,421 deaths on Wednesday.
Thirty-two people with confirmed COVID-19 cases were admitted to Washington state hospitals on Wednesday, July 8, the most recent date with complete data. March 23 saw 89 people admitted, the highest number to date during the pandemic.
Washington state has conducted 753,174 coronavirus tests. On July 8, the most recent date for which data is complete, 12,540 specimens were collected statewide, with 6% testing positive. That compares with 8,684 specimens and a 6% positive rate on June 8; 5,162 specimens and a 4.9% positive rate on May 8; and 5,048 specimens and an 7.8% positive rate on April 8.
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 12,558 cases and 631 deaths. Yakima County has the second-highest numbers, with 8,805 cases and 190 deaths.
All counties in Washington are now reporting cases. Five of them have case counts of less than 10.
There had been more than 3.5 million confirmed coronavirus cases and 138,185 deaths from the virus in the United States as of Thursday, according to Johns Hopkins University. More than 588,000 people have died from the disease worldwide.
