On May 7, 2020, a nurse in infection control accompanyed a patient who was transferred from Harborview Medical Center's ICU COVID unit into the acute care COVID Unit at Harborview Medical Center. This occurred in Seattle, Washington.
According to Washington's Department of Health, Covid-19 transmissions are on the rise and Washington State hospitalizations are at an all time high.
Washington recorded a Covid infection prevalence rate of 1 in 588 residents on July 8. The department reported that the number almost quadrupled one month later to 1 in 588 residents on August 6. These numbers are higher than those from the state's winter 2020 third wave of Covid infection.
According to CNBC's analysis of data from Johns Hopkins University, Washington reports an average of 38.5 new cases per 100,000 residents each day. This ranking places Washington 22nd out of all states.
Four counties had rates of new infections in 14 days of 500 for 100,000 Washingtonians, while five counties had rates between 300 and 500 for 100,000 residents. Twelve counties had rates between 100 and 200, while 12 had rates between 100 and 200. 98% of the cases in the state are from the delta variant.
The state saw an increase in hospitalizations, with a seven day rolling average of 29 admissions for Covid symptoms. Although the number was relatively low until July 8, it tripled by August 6, to a seven day rolling average of 96 hospitalizations for Covid symptoms. The state reported that the number of hospitalizations for Covid symptoms in people in their 20s has been on the rise. This is a trend observed in hospitals all across the country, as older Americans are vaccinated.
Six times more people are admitted to state hospitals for unvaccinated patients than those who have been fully vaccinated. Unvaccinated people are 10 times more likely than their fully vaccinated counterparts to be admitted to the state's hospitals for those between 16 and 64. The state Health department stated in a statement that if the whole population experienced the same rates of hospitalizations as the unvaccinated, it would overwhelm the hospital system.
Since March 23, death rates have remained fairly flat at an average seven-day rolling rate of between 5 and 10 deaths per day.
The state's immunity to prior infection is only 15.5%. This would leave 84.5% Washingtonians without protection if they didn't have access Covid-19 vaccines. According to the Health Department, 71.5% have received at least one dose from a Covid vaccine as of August 16.
The statewide population has 54.7% immunity to prior infections and vaccinations, an increase of only 2.8% since July 6.
Dr. Scott Lindquist, acting chief science officer of the state, stated that "it could literally be any one us or our loved ones needing hospital treatment in the near future." Our hospitals are counting on everyone to get vaccinated to make sure that the care they need is available at all times.
This report was contributed by Nate Rattner, CNBC.
