COVD-19 Hospitalizations Jump to Near Record Mark in North Central Washington

COVID-19 hospitalizations in North Central Washington are near their their high mark of the pandemic with a recent spike in numbers.

Confluence Health is reporting 42 patients hospitalized at Central Washington Hospital, a jump of six from just a week ago.

The hospital had only a handful of COVID-19 patients (5-8) heading into July.

All of the patients in intensive care (10) and on ventilators (8) are not fully vaccinated.

The number of fully vaccinated people in the hospital has risen by three in the past week, accounting for 17 percent of hospitalizations.

Central Washington Hospital is the only hospital the Wenatchee area, and is the primary in patient provider for most of four counties - Chelan, Douglas, Okanogan and Grant counties.

The hospital currently has 20 COVID-19 patients from Chelan County, 5 from Douglas County, 9 from Grant County and 6 from Okanogan County.

COVID-19 testing at the hospital's drive-thru site in Wenatchee is up from 140 to 400 per day, and the positivity rate has risen from 4-5 percent to 17 percent. as of August 31st.