Covid-19 update

This story has been updated from the original print version.

As of Wednesday, nine more Wahkiakum County residents had tested positive for covid-19, according to press releases this week from Wahkiakum Health and Human Services (WHHS).

This brings the cumulative total of cases in the county to 149, with 31 considered to be potentially active.

At least one of these cases has a connection to Wahkiakum School District and to St. James Family Center. Because of the close cooperation between the school, the family center, and the health department, as well as significant protective measures in place, they will remain open.

WHHS is working to identify people who may have an exposure risk and will notify anyone who is determined to have had close contact.

According to the Washington Department of Health, five people in the county have been hospitalized for covid-19, and one person has died. As of Tuesday, 3,351 doses of vaccine have been administered.

Vaccines are available to anyone 12 and older in Wahkiakum County, and WHHS is encouraging people who have not already been vaccinated to contact the health department at 360-849-4041, or call their personal medical provider to get scheduled for a vaccine.

There is active community spread in Wahkiakum County. The health department is urging people to practice safety measures such as social distancing, staying at home, wearing a mask if you have to socialize, and restricting activities to household members only.