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Why are Washington state’s coronavirus cases on the rise again?

By Ryan Blethen Seattle Times

SEATTLE – Nearly every county in Washington is in some stage of reopening from coronavirus-related shutdowns, offering some measure of hope we might be through the worst of it. But new infections have been climbing statewide – up 20% since Memorial Day.

What’s behind the recent increase? It depends on where you look.

While cases are generally plateauing in the Puget Sound region, some other areas are seeing spikes, which has driven the statewide count to 24,779 confirmed cases as of 11:59 p.m. Wednesday.

“We believe this is due at least in part to pockets of activity where there are localized outbreaks,” said Lisa Stromme Warren, a Department of Health (DOH) spokesperson. “We’re trying to determine to what extent it is localized outbreaks and to what extent it is broader community transmission.”

The state’s most populous counties – King, Pierce and Snohomish – have seen new cases of COVID-19 begin to level off, while the number of infected people is growing in southwest and Eastern Washington.

Since Memorial Day, King County has had an 8% increase in the number of COVID-19 cases, Snohomish County 5% and Pierce County bumped up 10%.

The increase in case counts is much more dramatic in Eastern Washington, with a 49% jump since Memorial Day in Spokane County, 39% in Benton County and 61% in Yakima County. Southwest Washington’s largest county, Clark, saw a 39% increase in cases during the same time period.

During the same time period, the number of deaths mostly grew at a slower rate than confirmed cases of COVID-19. The state’s data is incomplete after June 3, but it shows an 8% increase in the number of deaths since Memorial Day, with the largest increase among the state’s bigger counties being in Yakima County, which had a 22% increase.

Spokane, Clark, Pierce and Snohomish counties are in Phase 2 of reopening and Benton and Yakima counties are in Phase 1. King County has moved into a modified Phase 1.5, but could apply for Phase 2 next week, said Public Health – Seattle & King County director Patty Hayes at Wednesday’s King County Health Board meeting.

The rise in cases in Clark County is mostly due to workplace outbreaks at Firestone Pacific Foods and Pacific Crest Building Supply, and the testing of all employees at the two businesses, said Marissa Armstrong, a spokesperson with Clark County Public Health.

The hottest spot in the state for new COVID-19 cases is Yakima County, where the huge increase is also largely attributed to workplace outbreaks in agricultural businesses and in long-term care facilities.