Washington passes 50,000 mark for COVID-19 cases, adds 14 deaths Thursday
The Washington State Department of Health on Thursday reported 762 new confirmed cases of COVID-19 and 14 deaths.
Pierce County reported 117 new cases Thursday and no new deaths. Pierce County had a total of 104 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 50,009 cases and 1,482 deaths, up from 49,247 cases and 1,468 deaths on Wednesday.
Thirty-three people with confirmed COVID-19 cases were admitted to Washington state hospitals on Wednesday, July 15, 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 870,763 coronavirus tests. On July 15, the most recent date for which data is complete, 16,483 specimens were collected statewide, with 5.4% testing positive. That compares with 11,117 specimens and a 4.7% positive rate on June 15; 5,558 specimens and a 4.7% positive rate on May 15; and 4,045 specimens and an 8.2% positive rate on April 15.
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 13,835 cases and 638 deaths. Yakima County has the second-highest numbers, with 9,367 cases and 194 deaths.
All counties in Washington are now reporting cases. Four of them have case counts of less than 10.
On Thursday, Washington had a 653 per 100,000 people case rate, up from 644 on Wednesday. The national rate is 1,205, up from 1,184 on Wednesday.
There had been more than 4 million confirmed coronavirus cases and 144,072 deaths from the virus in the United States as of Thursday, according to Johns Hopkins University. More than 631,000 people have died from the disease worldwide.
This story was originally published July 23, 2020 at 4:45 PM.
