Several weeks of gradual increase in COVID-19 activity were suppressed by a sudden jump in cases and a warning by Clark County Public Health to be careful during Easter weekend and the upcoming spring break at school.
“As we approach the Easter holidays and the spring holidays, you must take precautions to keep yourself, your loved ones and our community healthy,” Public Health said in a statement on social media. ‘This is not the time to relax preventative measures.
The warning comes as Clark County reported 74 new cases on Friday, more than double the case for much of this week and the highest single day since Jan. 29, according to public health data. The new cases increase the total to 19,521 and the weekly total to 317 cases, averaging about 45 cases per day.
The weekly average was the highest since the week ending February 12, as the incidence of a peak in early January decreased from about 180 cases per day. Cases dropped to about 29 cases a day in early March before rising to about 34 cases a day for two weeks and about 37 cases a day last week.
“The increasing virus activity should be a reminder to all of us that the pandemic is not over yet,” said Dr. Alan Melnick, health officer for Clark and Cowlitz, said in a media statement. “It’s a long year and we’re all experiencing pandemic fatigue, but we need to have a little more patience.”
Several weeks of gradual increase in COVID-19 activity have been suppressed by a sudden jump in cases and a warning by Clark County Public Health to be cautious during the upcoming spring break.
“As we approach the Easter holidays and the spring holidays, you must take precautions to keep yourself, your loved ones and our community healthy,” Public Health said in a statement on social media. ‘This is not the time to relax preventative measures.
No new deaths were reported Friday, leaving the death of COVID-19 in Clark County at 242. Only one death has been reported since March 26.
There were 288 active cases still in their isolation period from Friday, compared to 269 on Thursday, according to public health data.
Hospitalizations increased slightly, with 20 people admitted to hospital on Friday with COVID-19, compared to Thursday 17, and five people admitted to hospital pending test results, compared to four on Thursday, according to public health data.
Public Health specifically encouraged people to stay close to home this spring break and take the following steps to prevent the spread of COVID-19:
- Avoid large gatherings.
- Gather outdoors if possible and stay at least 6 feet from people you do not live with.
- When meeting indoors, keep the group small (no more than ten people you do not live with), wear face masks and open doors and windows to increase airflow.
Public Health said people vaccinated against COVID-19 should continue to take precautions, such as putting on face masks and maintaining physical distance, when in public and meeting with others.