Local COVID numbers continue decline

COVID-19 cases seem to be going down in the area, with Okanogan County meeting requirements that would allow it to open up more.

Counties need an incidence rate of 25 cases or fewer per population of 100,000 in the past 14 days to move forward a phase in the Washington Safe Start Recovery plan. And to partially open in-person schooling, that rate must not exceed 75.

Here are the latest data for COVID-19 in Grant, Okanogan, Lincoln, and Douglas (GOLD) counties.

As of Sept. 22, Okanogan County had 1,042 total cases, including 13 deaths. There have been 10 cases in Coulee Dam, four in Elmer City, and 16 in Nespelem. The county has had nine new cases in the past 14 days, making for an incidence rate of 21.1, down from 44.5 since Sept. 15, and 189.6 on Sept. 8.

Since last week, these numbers show an increase from six to 10 cases in Coulee Dam, from three to four cases in Elmer City, and from 14 to 16 cases in Nespelem. But those increases are simply due to a delay in counting past cases, according to Okanogan Public Health Community Health Director Lauri Jones, who explained to The Star that sometimes there is a delay in older cases becoming official with the state.

Okanogan County’s incidence rate is meeting a state requirement to move up a phase in the Safe Start recovery plan, as well as for schools, such as Lake Roosevelt, to allow in-person learning.

As of Sept. 21, Grant County had 2,926 total cases, including 18 deaths.

As of Sept. 22, Lincoln County had had 40 total cases, including one death, and two new cases in the past 14 days. 

Incidence rates were unavailable for Grant and Lincoln counties.

As of Sept. 22, Douglas County had 1,279 total cases, including seven deaths and six new cases in the past 14 days, making an incidence rate of 147.4, down from168.1 on Sept. 16, and 294.3 on Sept. 8.

Sources: Washington State Department of Health, Washington State Coronavirus Response, Grant County Health District, and Okanogan Public Health, Lincoln County Health Dept., Chelan-Douglas Health District.