COVID-19 cases on the rise

By Terry Murry on Friday, July 9th, 2021 in Columbia Basin News More Top Stories

WALLA WALLA – Since early June, Walla Walla County has experienced an increase in positive COVID cases, according to county health officials. The increased case rate has been persistent as the county’s cases per 100,000 people continues to hover around 300 cases for a second consecutive week.

The Walla Walla County Department of Community Health has linked nearly 90 percent of the county’s active cases to residents who are not vaccinated, including many residents ages 45 to 60 and young children who are not yet eligible to receive the vaccine.

Over the past two weeks, DCH has identified 19 breakthrough cases of individuals who were fully vaccinated. Of those cases, the majority experienced mild to no symptoms. The data, according to DCH, continues to show that the best form of protection against COVID-19 and its variants is vaccination. Currently, 56.3 percent of eligible Walla Walla County residents are fully vaccinated. The goal is 70 percent.

DCH urges all residents who are not fully vaccinated to get their shots. There are several places in Walla Walla and College Place to get the vaccine. For more information, visit www.covidwwc.com/vaccine.