Chelan Douglas Health District Reports 42% Jump in COVID-19 Cases for Second Straight Week

New numbers show a 42 percent increase in COVID-19 cases in Chelan and Douglas counties for the second consecutive week.

Data released Monday night by the Chelan Douglas Health District shows cases are up for the fifth week in a row, and are rising at a faster rate almost every week.

The most recent weeks with a 42 percent rise follow a jump of 32 three weeks ago and a 20 percent increase four weeks ago.

The virus had been consistently subsiding as recently as six weeks ago.

The more contagious Delta variant has been the dominant strain of COVID-19 in Washington for three weeks after first being reported in Chelan County four weeks ago.

Hospitalizations are also rising in the area.

The Health District is reporting 20 hospitalizations, up from 11 the week before. As of Monday, Central Washington Hospital had 26 patients hospitalized from COVID-19, up from 17 a week ago.

The 14-day totals released Monday by the Health District show 338 new cases of COVID-19 in Chelan County and 195 new cases in Douglas County. The previous week there were 177 new case in Chelan County and 132 in Douglas County.