Local

Number of ‘high risk’ COVID counties in Washington cut in half over last week

WASHINGTON STATE — Less than two weeks ago, nearly half of Washington’s 39 counties were reporting high COVID-19 Community Levels.

On July 5, 15 counties were listed as high. As of Tuesday, that number had dropped to seven, with most of the state’s counties now at the medium level, according to the CDC.

The counties that had been listed as high but have now dropped to medium are Chelan, Clallam, Columbia, Douglas, Ferry, Lewis, Lincoln, Pacific and Pierce.

Grant, Grays Harbor, Thurston, Spokane and Walla Walla counties continue to be at high levels. New on the “high” list of counties since July 5 are Adams and Clark counties.

People in counties with high transmission of the virus are advised to take precautions such as wearing masks indoors when in public and on public transportation.