The number of positive COVID-19 test results and new cases is trending sharply downward in Grays Harbor County.

According to April Heikkila at Grays Harbor County Public Health, 145 curative COVID tests were performed by public health in the county during the last two weeks with only 14 coming back positive; that’s just under 9% positive. That’s down from nearly 20% positive in late May.

There were 27 new COVID cases reported in the county the week of June 10-16. New case numbers have been dropping steadily since a spike in late May: there were 81 new cases the previous week, and 99 the week before that. Sunday, there were zero new cases reported for the first time since mid-March. The rate of new cases per 100,000 population over a two-week span has dropped to 190, down from 306.5 the previous week.

Public health continues its vaccine outreach program. Along with vaccines given recently at the public health building, Oakville schools, the Aberdeen jail and the Humptulips food bank, Heikkila said public health will return to administer vaccinations at Taholah schools and North Beach High School this coming week, and perform more vaccinations for homebound residents to go along with the 17 given this week.

“We have continued to focus vaccine strategies on mobile outreach clinics to help address and reduce any additional barriers,” said Heikkila. “If you have an upcoming event that we can support with a mobile vaccine clinic please reach out and we will do our best to support and schedule.”

Heikkila said the public health mobile vaccination clinic will hit the Aberdeen Sunday Market for the first of three times June 27. It will return to the market July 11 and 25.

The latest vaccination numbers in the county show 62,842 total doses have been administered in Grays Harbor County. As of this week, 54.1% of the population age 16 and older has initiated vaccination, and 48.1% are considered fully vaccinated. This is still well behind the the more than 68% of the total state population that has initiated vaccination, meaning has had at least one dose.

Hospitals

“We only had two new COVID hospitalizations this week,” said Harbor Regional Health Community Hospital spokesman Chris Majors. “It is important to note that we have had no critical care beds available this week due to the high number of high acuity, very sick, patients.”

At Summit Pacific Medical Center in Elma, there were four COVID inpatients seen between June 11-17, according to hospital spokeswoman Nichole Pas. Summit Pacific, like Community, has been seeing a large number of very sick patients overall recently.

“We are actually seeing other people come in who are very very sick, and we think this is due to community members delaying care,” said Majors. “So please, make an appointment to see your primary care provider to get a checkup, especially if you have a chronic illness. We have primary care in Montesano, Aberdeen, and Hoquiam and same day appointments through our Prompt Care service. We are here for you. Please get the care you need to stay healthy.”