COVID-19 Cases Rising Faster in Chelan & Douglas Counties for 4th Straight Week

New numbers show a nearly 42 percent increase in COVID-19 cases in Chelan and Douglas counties.

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

The latest increase follows a jump of 32 in the previous week, 20 percent a week earlier and 35 percent three weeks earlier.

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

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

Despite the increase in cases, both the Chelan Douglas Health District and the area's only hospital, Central Washington Hospital, are reporting a drop in hospitalizations from the virus.

The Health District is reporting 11 hospitalizations, down from 13 the week before. As of Monday, Central Washington Hospital had 17 patients hospitalized from COVID-19, down from 24 a week ago.

The 14-day totals released Monday by the Health District show 177 new cases of COVID-19 in Chelan County and 132 new cases in Douglas County.  The previous week there were 114 new case in Chelan County and 66 in Douglas County.

The Washington State Department of Health released a statement last week warning that COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations are on the rise in the state.

With cases from the Delta variant rising, the agency is advising anyone who has signs or symptoms of COVID-19 to get tested, regardless of vaccination status or prior infection.

The department is also strongly encouraging people to get vaccinated.