Health officials in Washington are seeing another spike in hospitalizations related to COVID-19, according to the Washington State Hospital Association.
Officials said it may be time to bring back some of the precautions from the beginning of the pandemic to help stem this new spread.
During an online press briefing, health officials made it clear the association did not want to have another COVID-19 briefing, but case numbers are back up and COVID-19 is still an issue in the state.
At the end of last week, 600 COVID-19 patients were in the hospital with 75 more waiting on test results. That’s a 10% increase.
It’s still well below a peak in February when roughly 1,700 people were in the hospital with COVID-19.
Officials said King County has the highest infection rate in Washington.
The hospital association said there was also some good news: thanks to the vaccine and boosters, most people are not getting as sick as they were in the past.
The latest COVID-19 variant also does not cause the worst symptoms.
The University of Washington’s School of Medicine said it has seen a slight uptick in COVID-19 patients, from holding steady at 20 to 30, to 40 or more.
The Pierce County Health Department also said it has seen cases in the hundreds, with outbreaks happening at some businesses and long-term care facilities.
According to officials, as the public has tired of COVID-19 protocols, they have been letting their guard down and letting the virus spread again.
“I give this message with hope and also with some reluctance. The reluctant side is we don’t want people to think it’s not a big deal. ‘I don’t care if I get COVID’ and not be careful about it. It’s still something you don’t want to get and we want to urge you to do whatever you can to protect yourself,” said Cassie Sauer of the Washington State Hospital Association.
Sauer added one major reason people should avoid getting COVID-19 is the possibility of getting “long COVID.”
She urges vaccinations, getting a second booster and wearing a mask indoors.
Sauer also said home tests could be incorrect, so people should get a PCR test to make sure, especially if they’re experiencing symptoms.
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