For most of last week, coronavirus cases in Spokane County have risen again in triple numbers, although still much lower than at the peak of the pandemic.
“I had spring breaks. We had Easter, which is also usually a big celebration for many people. And then we had the NCAA Tournament, all at the same time, at a time when we were in phase 3, which means a lot more things are open, “said interim health officer Francisco Velazquez.
Spokane County will remain in phase 3 for the time being. The governor announced this week that only three counties, including Whitman, have regressed to phase 2 due to rising cases and hospitalizations.
“The Department of Health and the Governor’s Office will make this decision in three weeks from now. All I can tell you is that I hope to withdraw from where we are because if we don’t, I think the numbers will make the decision for us, “he said.
The rate of two-week cases in Spokane County is above the state standard. Hospitalizations are near.
Velazquez hopes Thursday’s opening of Covid vaccines to all adults in Washington will bring a lot of people to get vaccinated and reduce the rate of infection back. But the full benefits of the vaccination campaign will not be clear until a few weeks after the vast majority of people receive their vaccines.