Snohomish County likely to roll back to phase 2, health director says

SNOHOMISH COUNTY, Wash. — A spike in coronavirus cases and hospitalizations is likely to send Snohomish County back to phase 2 of the reopening plan, health officer Dr. Chris Spitters announced Tuesday.

Spitters said that the current case and hospitalization rates has put the county in serious jeopardy of sliding back into phase 2 soon, and if unmitigated, even back into phase 1 not long after.

He also said the rates in the region more broadly are going the wrong way - Pierce County was already bumped back to phase 2 last week.

“Going back a phase is painful and carries a heavy toll for many. That’s where we’re headed in the next few weeks if these numbers don’t turn around,” Spitters said.

To stay in phase 3, counties need to stay below 200 new cases and 5 hospitalizations per 100,000 over a two-week period. Every county is evaluated based on these metrics every three weeks.

Spitters said that although there hasn’t been an surge in COVID deaths or long-term cases, “COVID is circulating very much in our area and is increasing.”

Despite increasing vaccinations, Spitters said there isn’t yet enough immunity in the county to prevent the case surge.

“We’ve just got too many people getting together with friends or family members who aren’t fully vaccinated, aren’t wearing masks and aren’t keeping their distance,” he said.

The virus is also fighting back, Spitters said. There are more cases of highly-transmissible coronavirus variants showing up.

“It’s time for everyone to step up their efforts and mask use when outside the home,” Spitters concluded.

If Snohomish County residents mask up and get vaccinated as soon as possible, he said there is a “reasonable chance” of avoiding tighter restrictions.

Currently, 47% of adults in Snohomish County have their first dose and 30% have completed the coronavirus vaccine, according to data provided by Spitters in a health briefing.

Cox Media Group