Grant County sees small decrease in COVID-19

According to the most recent Grant County Health District update, the last two weeks have had a very slight decrease in the COVID-19 incidence rate, with 221 cases per 100,000 people on March 25, down to 184 per 100,000 people on Thursday.

Total numbers show 6,585 positive cases via the polymerase chain reaction, PCR, or “gold standard” test, which can detect it within days of infection even if no symptoms are present. It is a diagnostic test that determines if someone is infected by analyzing a sample to see if it contains genetic material from the virus.

For the antigen, or “rapid” test, detecting protein fragments specific to the virus, Grant County has seen 2,904 positives. Totaling all of the testing comes to 9,489 positive cases.

Of these numbers, 115 have died and 8,068 have recovered. Those remaining are either recovering, hospitalized or pending death certificate review.

Comparing this recent trend to a month ago, February 9 through March 1, the numbers continue to see a slow decline of incidence. By the beginning of that period, the rate was 421 cases per 100,000 people. At the end, 279.

As of April 2, Grant County was hitting Gov. Jay Inslee’s goal, to not roll back to Phase 2, with fewer than 200 cases per 100,000 people, but the numbers are fluctuating on a daily basis.

The health district remains cautious, said public information officer Misty Aguilar. To continue to see this trend, the county needs all parts of the recipe: vaccines, volunteers and people willing to vaccinate.

Grant County Health District advises its residents to stay vigilant, keep wearing masks and continue to get vaccinated, she said.