Washington state reports 780 new COVID-19 cases and 7 deaths on Wednesday
The Washington State Department of Health on Wednesday reported 780 new confirmed cases of COVID-19 and seven deaths.
Meanwhile, total deaths in the U.S. passed the 150,000 mark Wednesday, roughly equivalent to the population of Bellevue.
Pierce County reported 94 new cases Wednesday and four new deaths. Pierce County had a total of 113 deaths likely caused by COVID-19 as of Wednesday, according to the Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department.
Statewide totals from the illness caused by the coronavirus are at 54,985 cases and 1,555 deaths, up from 54,205 cases and 1,548 deaths on Tuesday.
Forty-four people with confirmed COVID-19 cases were admitted to Washington state hospitals on July 21, the most recent date with complete data. Late March had two days with 88 people admitted, the highest numbers to date during the pandemic.
Washington state has conducted 958,307 coronavirus tests. On July 21, the most recent date for which data is complete, 16,397 specimens were collected statewide, with 6% testing positive. The average positive test rate for the seven days prior was 5.4%.
The test numbers reflect only polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests, which are given to patients while the virus is presumably still active in the body.
King County continues to have the highest numbers in Washington, with 14,856 cases and 648 deaths. Yakima County has the second-highest numbers, with 9,804 cases and 202 deaths.
All counties in Washington have cases. Garfield and Wahkiakum have case counts of less than 10.
On Wednesday, Washington had a 719 per 100,000 people case rate, up from 708 on Tuesday. The national rate is 1,324, up from 1,306 on Tuesday.
There had been more than 4.4 million confirmed coronavirus cases and 150,649 deaths from the virus in the United States as of Wednesday, according to Johns Hopkins University. More than 664,000 people have died from the disease worldwide.
This story was originally published July 29, 2020 at 7:16 PM with the headline "Washington state reports 780 new COVID-19 cases and 7 deaths on Wednesday."
