Cases of COVID-19 approaching 90,000 in Washington state, according to Friday’s data
The Washington state Department of Health reported Friday 694 new confirmed cases of COVID-19 and 11 deaths
Pierce County reported 62 cases Friday and no new deaths. Pierce County has a total of 176 deaths likely caused by COVID-19 as of Friday, according to the Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department.
Statewide totals from the illness caused by the coronavirus are at 88,810 cases and 2,143 deaths, up from 88,116 cases and 2,132 deaths Thursday. Washington’s population is estimated at about 7.6 million, according to U.S. Census figures from July 2019.
Fifteen people with confirmed COVID-19 cases were admitted to Washington state hospitals on Sept. 13, the most recent date with complete data. Average daily hospitalizations peaked in early April at 78.
On Sept. 21, the most recent date with complete data, 18,407 specimens were collected statewide, with 3.5% testing positive. The average positive test rate for the seven days prior was 3.3%. More than 1.9 million tests have been conducted in Washington.
The test numbers reflect only polymerase chain reaction tests, which are administered while the virus is presumably still active in the body.
King County continues to have the highest numbers in Washington, with 22,749 cases and 767 deaths. Yakima County is second, with 11,471 cases and 263 deaths. Pierce is third with cases at 8,180.
All counties in Washington have cases. Ten counties have case counts of fewer than 100.
On Friday, Washington had a 1,169-per-100,000-people case rate. The national rate is 2,194, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Louisiana has the highest rate in the United States at 3,605. Vermont is lowest at 280.
There had been more than 7.3 million confirmed coronavirus cases and 208,600 deaths from the virus in the United States as of Friday afternoon, according to Johns Hopkins University.
The United States has the highest number of reported cases and deaths of any nation. More than 1 million people have died from the disease worldwide. Global cases exceed 34 million.
This story was originally published October 2, 2020 at 4:33 PM.
