MEDIA ADVISORY
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 1, 2020
Media Contact: Amy Cloud, Public Information Officer
Phone: (360) 318 - 4356
E-mail address: WUC_JIC@co.whatcom.wa.us
Explanation of Change to COVID-19 Race and Ethnicity Data Reporting
Bellingham, WA - The method the Whatcom County Health Department uses for reporting data for confirmed COVID-19 cases by race and ethnicity, has been modified. With this change, “Hispanic” will no longer be categorized as an ethnicity, but as a race. Additionally, a multiracial (non-Hispanic) group has been added to better represent individuals who identify with more than one racial identity.
This change, summarized in the table below, is consistent with how the Washington State Department of Health (DOH) reports COVID-19 data related to race and ethnicity.