Washington state reports 551 new COVID-19 cases and 8 deaths on Wednesday
The Washington State Department of Health on Wednesday reported 551 new confirmed cases of COVID-19 and eight deaths.
Pierce County reported 44 cases Wednesday and one new death. Pierce County had a total of 129 deaths likely caused by COVID-19 as of Wednesday, according to the Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department.
Statewide totals from the illness caused by the coronavirus are at 64,702 cases and 1,724 deaths, up from 64,151 cases and 1,716 deaths Tuesday.
Forty-eight people with confirmed COVID-19 cases were admitted to Washington state hospitals on Aug. 4, the most recent date with complete data. Late March had two days with 88 people admitted, the highest numbers to date during the pandemic.
The state continues to modify its reporting of negative tests. The total number of tests conducted is temporarily unavailable. On Aug. 4, 10,710 specimens were collected statewide, with 7.4% testing positive. The average positive test rate for the seven days prior was 7%.
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 16,941 cases and 684 deaths. Yakima County is second, with 10,412 cases and 211 deaths.
All counties in Washington have cases. Garfield and Wahkiakum have case counts of fewer than 10.
On Wednesday, Washington had a 851-per-100,000-people case rate. The national rate is 1,562, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Louisiana has the highest rate in the U.S. at 2,857. Vermont is lowest at 236.
There had been nearly 5.2 million confirmed coronavirus cases and 165,924 deaths from the virus in the United States as of Wednesday evening, according to Johns Hopkins University. More than 745,000 people have died from the disease worldwide.
