Here’s how the CDC graded Whatcom County for COVID most recent week’s data

Whatcom County remained in the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s “medium” community COVID-19 risk level for a fourth straight week, while infection and hospitalizations rates in one region within the county would earn “high” rankings, where masking is recommended for everyone.

Despite a drop in the county’s COVID-related hospitalization rate last week, the CDC gave Whatcom the “medium” community level rating when new data was released Thursday, June 30, based on Whatcom’s infection rate moving back above 200 cases per 100,000 residents. That means masking is recommended for those who are at high risk of serious complications from COVID and those who could expose those at high risk.

It marked the fifth time in the past six weeks that Whatcom has received the “medium” ranking.

The Bellingham Herald’s analysis of the latest location data released Thursday by the Whatcom County Health Department showed that the region covered by the Ferndale School District would actually receive a “high” rating if the CDC drilled down to that level. The CDC recommends every resident within counties that receive “high” rankings mask in public situations.

Additionally, The Herald found that two other regions — Bellingham and Mount Baker — had numbers placing them in the “medium” range, while Blaine, Lynden, Meridian and Nooksack Valley all would be in the “low” community levels. Nooksack Valley is the only region in the county that has been in the “low” range since the CDC introduced its community-level rankings in early spring.

Though they remained in the “medium” community level, the Bellingham and Mount Baker regions were the only regions within the county not to see their infections rates increase last week, The Herald found.

To be classified in the “low” level by the CDC, counties must have:

▪ Fewer than 200 new cases per 100,000 residents in the past seven days.

▪ Fewer than 10 new COVID-related hospitalizations per 100,000 residents in the past seven days.

▪ Less than 10% of staffed inpatient beds occupied by COVID-19 patients.

While masking is recommended for everyone for counties with “high” community levels, the CDC recommends face coverings only for those who are at high risk of serious complications from COVID and those who could expose those at high risk for counties in the “medium” range. Masking in most indoor situations is not included among the CDC’s recommended guidelines for communities in the “low” level.

At every level, the CDC says people “can wear a mask based on personal preference” and should wear a mask if they have COVID symptoms, test positive or have possible exposure.

As of Thursday, June 30, St. Joseph hospital in Bellingham reported it was treating 16 COVID-related patients. That would give it an average of 12.1 COVID-related patients per day over the past week (June 24-30) — down from 13.6 one week earlier (June 17-23) and well within the CDC’s “low” guidelines with 4.8% of the hospital’s 252 inpatient beds filled by COVID patients.

The Washington State Department of Health’s COVID-19 Data Dashboard’s update on Wednesday, June 29, showed Whatcom County had a weekly infection rate of 184 new cases per 100,000 residents and an infection rate of 9.7 new COVID-related patients per 100,000 residents for the most recently complete epidemiological data from June 14-20. But incomplete numbers (or numbers that could change) show the county’s infection rate is expected to raise back above 200 by the time frame the CDC looked to determine its latest community levels.

For the entire pandemic, Whatcom County has had 42,929 cases with 1,704 hospitalizations and 311 deaths related to COVID-19, as of Wednesday’s dashboard update.

Here is what the health department’s latest data showed for the seven regions in the county for the week of June 12-18:

▪ Bellingham: Had 271 new cases, five new hospitalizations and no new deaths reported, increasing its pandemic totals to 18,635 cases, 594 hospitalizations and 146 deaths. Its weekly infection rate of 203 cases per 100,000 residents was down from 230 from one week earlier.

▪ Blaine: Had 35 new cases, no new hospitalizations and no new deaths reported, increasing its pandemic totals to 3,558 cases, 132 hospitalizations and 24 deaths. Its weekly infection rate of 198 cases per 100,000 residents was up from 181 one week earlier.

▪ Ferndale: Had 79 new cases, eight new hospitalizations and no new deaths reported, increasing its pandemic totals to 7,809 cases, 360 hospitalizations and 54 deaths. Its weekly infection rate of 234 cases per 100,000 residents was up from 193 one week earlier.

▪ Lynden: Had 23 new cases, no new hospitalizations and one new death reported, increasing its pandemic totals to 5,696 cases, 274 hospitalizations and 39 deaths. Its weekly infection rate of 111 cases per 100,000 residents was up from 101 one week earlier.

▪ Meridian: Had 19 new cases, no new hospitalizations and no new deaths reported, increasing its pandemic totals to 1,974 cases, 88 hospitalizations and 13 deaths. Its weekly infection rate of 161 cases per 100,000 residents was up from 102 one week earlier.

▪ Mount Baker: Had 18 new cases, two new hospitalizations and no new deaths reported, increasing its pandemic totals to 2,315 cases, 133 hospitalizations and 17 deaths. Its weekly infection rate of 120 cases per 100,000 residents was down from 153 one week earlier.

▪ Nooksack Valley: Had 20 new cases, one new hospitalization and no new deaths reported, increasing its pandemic totals to 2,730 cases, 115 hospitalizations and 13 deaths. Its weekly infection rate of 185 cases per 100,000 residents was up from 166 one week earlier.