Fall Surge: Washington Coronavirus Cases Climb At 'Alarming Rate'

OLYMPIA, WA — A fall surge in coronavirus illnesses has likely begun, as case counts climb at an "alarming rate," according to state health officials. But experts say it's not too late to change course.

Some areas are approaching their third peak, already near or beyond previous highs, and viral activity in King, Pierce and Snohomish counties is trending "sharply upward," officials said Tuesday.

Nearly 4,800 new cases have been confirmed in Washington over the last seven days, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's case tracker. In the state's most populous county, King County health officials recorded 172 new illnesses on Monday. The state's risk assessment dashboard shows 21 of Washington's 39 counties in the highest transmission bracket.

The state is averaging more than 100 new cases per 100,000 residents over two weeks, which is four times higher than the target range. The rates in Pierce and Snohomish counties are even higher.

The upward trends in Washington are similar to those seen across the nation, with 70,000 cases added across the U.S. on Friday — a high not seen since July.

"When this happens, we place everyone, but particularly our elders, parents, grandparents and those with diabetes, heart disease, cancer and other chronic disease[s] at risk," said John Wiesman, state Secretary of Health. "A surge in COVID-19 along with flu season puts us at enormous risk of overwhelming our hospital systems and undoing other important state progress toward containment."

Related: Inslee Tightens Rules For Washington Colleges Amid Outbreaks

Despite the concerning regression, health officials say a simple rededication to proven health and safety precautions can get the state back on track.

"There is so much happening right now that make our efforts challenging," state health officials wrote Tuesday. "People have been at this for months, online schooling is pulling attention of people with children at home, and everyone is feeling some level of isolation fatigue. Now is the time to join your neighbors and commit to key behaviors that keep the virus from spreading."

Those "key behaviors" include:

• Wearing a mask, even with people you see regularly and in your smallest social circles and anytime you are using shared transportation, including while in your own vehicle with other people.
• Keeping gatherings small and hold them outside whenever possible.
• Avoiding any social gatherings indoors, but if you must participate, wearing a mask and ensuring windows and doors are open to maximize ventilation.
• Washing or sanitizing hands often and not touching your face.
• Staying home if you’re sick or if you’ve been exposed to COVID-19.

Keep up with the latest coronavirus information:

• King County daily outbreak summary
• King County key indicators dashboard
• Pierce County daily coronavirus updates
• Snohomish County daily coronavirus updates
• Washington coronavirus risk assessment dashboard
• Department of Health COVID-19 data dashboard