Delta Drives 'Sharp Increase' In WA COVID Cases, Hospitalizations

OLYMPIA, WA — A fifth wave of COVID-19 fueled by the delta variant continues to grow across Washington, with case counts and hospitalizations reaching levels not seen in months. After clearing a backlog Tuesday, the state Department of Health added approximately 6,000 new cases to its tally and officials estimate Washington is averaging 1,500 new cases each day. Hospitals are reporting more admissions than at any point in 2021.

Last week, state health officials said higher vaccination rates were needed in many communities to help combat the sharp increase in transmission rates that began around late June. On Monday, the Washington State Hospital Association flagged a noticeable spike in hospital occupancy, describing most as "quite full."

In a news release Tuesday, the DOH said more than 600 people were currently in the hospital for COVID-19, up more than 20 percent from last week. Testing positivity rates are also climbing, hitting 5.5 percent, up from 2 percent just one month ago, officials said.

The state's latest round of genetic sequencing identified the more infectious delta variant in 76 percent of samples analyzed. While some breakthrough cases do occur, health officials said the data continues to show vaccines are very effective at what they're designed to do.

"While no vaccines are 100% effective, it is proven COVID-19 vaccines provide strong protection against variants, prevent severe illness and hospitalization, and lower your risk of death," officials wrote Tuesday. "More than 94% of all cases, deaths, and hospitalizations in Washingtonians 12 years of age and older can be attributed to people who have not been fully vaccinated."

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's data tracker, much of Puget Sound is in the "substantial" transmission category. Many others, including Pierce County, are back in the high transmission range. A similar trend is apparent across much of the United States.