Covid-19 update: 11 cases in county

Update: On Wednesday, the health department was able to make contact with the individual who was diagnosed with covid-19. There are no connections to the school or St. James Family Center.

Wahkiakum County now has its 11th case of covid-19, Chris Bischoff, director of Wahkiakum County Health and Human Services announced Tuesday.

Early efforts to contact the individual have been unsuccessful.

“The individual is not answering either contact number,” Bischoff said in a news release. “We will continue to exhaust all efforts to contact the individual to help investigate and mitigate any possible community risks.

“Ties to school or St. James (Family Center) are unknown.”

Once staff makes contact, they will work to identify anyone who may have an exposure risk because of contact with the person. Those people with close contact will be notified by Health and Human Services (WHHS) staff.

As a reminder, every community surrounding Wahkiakum has active, ongoing, community spread of COVID, Bischoff said. Washington and the US are having an increase in daily rates of new cases.

The risk of contracting covid-19 in Washington remains high, Bischoff added. He urges people to take steps to protect themselves and people around them from the disease.

“Stay home, stay healthy, wear your mask,” he said.

The Washington Department of Health is reporting that 692 tests for covid-19 have been conducted in Wahkiakum County as of Tuesday. Cowlitz County has 864 cases, with 170 considered active.

Pacific County has 122 confirmed cases, 11 considered active. Across the river, Columbia County has 275 positive cases, 20 currently infectious, and in Clatsop County, they’re reporting 271 cases, with 37 remaining active.