It’s time for another installment of of our special series COVID-19 Update, bringing you the latest developments on the novel coronavirus outbreak that public health authorities here and across the country are working to mitigate.
United States
On Wednesday, July 20th, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved for use a new COVID-19 vaccine by Novavax. It is not mRNA-based, but instead relies on more traditional vaccine technology that deploys a harmless version of the spike protein of the virus to teach the immune system to create antibodies to defeat the virus. There is hope that it could appeal to those who didn’t want to receive the previously approved vaccines that utilize mRNA technology.
(There is, within the United States, a small group that has been waiting to receive this vaccine for this very reason, who call themselves “Novastans.”) Boosters from Novavax are hoped to become available sometime this fall.
On Thursday, July 21st, President Biden tested positive for COVID-19. He had previously been vaccinated and double boosted, his resulting symptoms are mild, and he has been taking a course of Paxlovid as part of his treatment.
The First Lady, Jill Biden, continues to test negative.
Washington
Twelve counties in the state are currently listed as “high risk” for COVID-19. Under this risk level, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommend community members wear masks in indoor public settings and other preventative measures such as being fully vaccinated against the virus.
King, Snohomish, Skagit, Mason, Lincoln, Franklin, Benton and Klickitat counties have joined Grays Harbor, Thurston, Adams and Spokane counties. Clark, Grant and Walla Walla counties have declined to Medium status.
As a result of the rise in cases, there have been ongoing discussions since at least July 14th regarding whether or not a mask mandate should return to King County.
Oregon
Nineteen counties in the state are currently listed as “high risk” for COVID-19. Clatsop, Marion, Polk, Benton, Lane, Douglas, Wasco, Jefferson, Crook and Deschutes counties have joined Multnomah, Coos, Curry, Klamath, Lake, Union, Wallowa, Baker and Malheur counties. Jackson, Washington, Clackamas, Josephine and Umatilla have declined to Medium status.
A number of Oregon Shakespeare Festival performances have been canceled this week as a result of this latest spike in cases and more are under consideration.
Idaho
Six counties in the state are currently listed as “high risk” for COVID-19 by the CDC. Canyon County joined include Ada, Adams, Elmore, Payette and Washington counties, while Boise and Gem counties have declined to Medium status.
British Columbia
A poll released on Wednesday, July 20th, indicates that 55% of British Columbians would prefer a return to mask mandate. Only 30% would prefer the creation of a vaccine passport.
The hard, cold numbers (plus vaccinations)
Washington has had 1,719,776 cases and 13,531 attributable deaths.
The state has the forty-eighth worst infection rate among the fifty states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico per million in population.
The state has the forty-seventh worst death rate among the fifty states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico per million in population.
16,678,351 tests have been recorded.
- Approximate number of doses of vaccine administered: 15,157,152
- Percentage of eligible population fully vaccinated: 73%
- Children between the ages of 12 and 17 fully vaccinated: 69%
- Children between the ages of 5 and 11 fully vaccinated: 38%
Oregon has had 842,352 cases and 8,022 attributable deaths.
The state has the fiftieth worst infection rate among the fifty states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico per million in population.
The state has the forty-fifth worst death rate among the fifty states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico per million in population.
11,999,720 tests have been recorded.
- Approximate number of doses of vaccine administered: 8,163,981
- Percentage of eligible population fully vaccinated: 70%
- Children between the ages of 12 and 17 fully vaccinated: 64%
- Children between the ages of 5 and 11 fully vaccinated: 34%
Idaho has had 475,344 cases and 5,017 attributable deaths.
The state has the thirty-third worst infection rate among the fifty states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico per million in population.
The state has the thirty-fourth worst death rate among the fifty states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico per million in population.
3,023,075 tests have been recorded.
- Approximate number of doses of vaccine administered: 2,599,811
- Percentage of eligible population fully vaccinated: 56%
- Children between the ages of 12 and 17 fully vaccinated: 53%
- Children between the ages of 5 and 11 fully vaccinated: 19%
British Columbia has had 377,372 cases and 3,855 attributable deaths.
British Columbia has the thirteenth worst infection rate and the eighth worst death rate among the thirteen Canadian provinces and territories per hundred thousand population. (If it were an American state, it would be fifty-third and fifty-third, respectively, out of fifty-three.)
- Doses of vaccine distributed to the province: 13,016,884
- Doses administered: 12,164,203 (93.4%)
That does it for this installment of COVID-19 Update. Stay safe and well!