New Covid case count: 22 in the local area this week

There have been 22 new cases of COVID-19 reported for local towns by local counties since last week’s update from The Star, with 16 of those new cases in Nespelem. 

According to Grant County Health District data last updated Nov. 22, the Grand Coulee and Electric City area of the county has seen 161 total cases since the pandemic began, up by six in the past two weeks, with new cases reported on Nov. 17, 22, and 23.

Ranging in age from their 50s to 80s, 11 people are currently hospitalized in Grant County with Covid, down by five since two weeks ago.

According to Okanogan County Public Health data updated on Nov. 23, Coulee Dam has had a case taken away from its total in the past week, from 104 since the pandemic began to a total of 103.

Elmer City has seen one more case for a total of 39.

It seems that the case was simply moved from Coulee Dam to Elmer City.  

“I believe that is the case,” said Jessica Kuzma of OCPH’s communications department. “Sometimes cases are reassigned when zip codes of residence are confirmed.”

Nespelem is up considerably again with 16 new cases reported in the past week for a total of 137.

That makes for a total of 29 cases reported in Nespelem in the past three weeks.