Cases Take Off Across Whatcom County, Especially in North

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

January 13, 2021

Media Contact:        Melissa Morin, Public Information Officer

Phone:        (360) 594-2504

E-mail address:        [email protected]

Cases Take Off Across Whatcom County, Especially in North

Bellingham, WA - Recent data shows soaring case rates across all of Whatcom County, most strikingly in the north regions of the county. Cases have skyrocketed in the areas of Lynden and Nooksack Valley. The 14-day case rate is over three times higher in the Nooksack area than it was last week, and is over twice as high in Lynden.

chart showing line graph over time of newly confirmed COVID-19 cases in Whatcom County doing the prior two weeks

Image Caption: Cases are rising across all Whatcom County, with the biggest increases seen in and around Nooksack Valley and Lynde

Map of Whatcom County school districts showing two week COVID-19 case rates and cumulative case counts.

The Nooksack Valley area’s 14-day case rate is over three times higher than last week’s, and the Lynden’s rate is over twice as high than last week’s.

The Whatcom County Health Department urges everyone in Whatcom County to take immediate preventive steps to protect themselves and their neighbors from a resurgent COVID-19. Without urgent action, rates will continue to rise and businesses will continue to be shuttered or operating at very low capacity. These steps include mask-wearing, physical distancing and frequent handwashing.

In the week following the Christmas holiday, 80% of known transmission sources were from social events and within households. This means that most of the new cases are contracted from friends and loved ones. The Whatcom County Health Department advises against social gatherings of any size with non-household members at this time.

This information is also available as a pdf.

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