Washington sees surge in COVID rates
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Washington is among a dozen states seeing elevated levels of COVID as a new variant ripples through the nation.
Why it matters: The XFG "stratus" variant is driving up cases just as kids return to school — and as Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. unilaterally alters federal vaccine guidance.
Driving the news: The CDC updated its regional data for COVID-19 test positivity on Monday, Aug. 11. The data accounts for the week ending Aug. 2.
By the numbers: Washington state saw 11.1% of tests come back positive in the week ending Aug. 2 , compared to 5% to 9.9% in the rest of the country, per regional data from the CDC.
- Emergency room visits and hospitalizations roughly doubled from mid-June to the beginning of August, according to the state Department of Health's respiratory illness data dashboard.
- Detection of the virus in wastewater is listed as "very high" or "high" in several Puget Sound cities, including Seattle, per state data.
- In King County, the positivity rate clocked in at 12.5% for the week ending Aug. 2, according to Public Health - Seattle & King County data.
What they're saying: "It's a good reminder for people not to let their guard down" and to use the tools we have learned so far, says Public Health-Seattle & King County spokesperson Sharon Bogan.
Yes, but: The XFG variant isn't currently linked to more severe illness, according to WHO and CDC.
Zoom out: Oregon, Alaska and Idaho share the same comparatively high positivity rate of 11.1%, per the CDC, joining New Mexico (12%), Texas (12%), Oklahoma (12%) and others at the top of the chart.
The big picture: Overall, the CDC reports that the COVID-19 epidemic trend is "growing," with 45 states experiencing an increase in cases. No state has seen a decline in cases as of Aug. 5, per the CDC.
- The XFG "stratus" variant was first detected in January. It now accounts for 14% of cases in the U.S. and is the third-highest among all variants stateside, according to the CDC.