Submitted by the Whatcom County Health Department
Recent data shows soaring case rates across all of Whatcom County, most strikingly in the north regions of the county. Cases have skyrocketed in the areas of Lynden and Nooksack Valley. The 14-day case rate is over three times higher in the Nooksack area than it was last week, and is over twice as high in Lynden.
The Whatcom County Health Department urges everyone in Whatcom County to take immediate preventive steps to protect themselves and their neighbors from a resurgent COVID-19. Without urgent action, rates will continue to rise and businesses will continue to be shuttered or operating at very low capacity. These steps include mask-wearing, physical distancing and frequent handwashing.
In the week following the Christmas holiday, 80% of known transmission sources were from social events and within households. This means that most of the new cases are contracted from friends and loved ones. The Whatcom County Health Department advises against social gatherings of any size with non-household members at this time.
