According to health officials, the Delta variant of the coronavirus is driving a surge in Covid-19 cases in Washington. They added that the cases have spread like “wildfire” among adults and children.
The rapid acceleration in Covid-19 cases, according to health officials quoted by the Associated Press, shows delta has the potential to undo the state’s hard-won progress toward recovery.
Even vaccination is not helping. “Vaccination progress is continuing, but not fast enough,” state Secretary of Health Umair A Shah said. “If you are unvaccinated and continue to have questions, we encourage you to speak to a trusted health care provider.”
The counties of Pend Oreille, Douglas, Lincoln, Pacific, Chelan, and Island in Washington state have been hit the hardest, with a 600% increase in Covid-19 cases in the last month.
The virus has also ravaged King, Clallam, Stevens, Asotin, Whitman, Franklin, Spokane, Clark, Lewis, and Pierce counties.
According to the White House, Texas and Florida are experiencing some of the worst Covid-19 outbreaks in the country, accounting for 40% of hospitalizations in the last week. The Delta variant has been the dominant strain wreaking havoc there as well.
As you travel south, healthcare workers in Georgia are also raising concerns about an increase in the number of patients.
“I can’t comprehend why – after fighting this war for 18 months, with people still dying and with critically ill patients filling our COVID units – we’re still having to work to convince people of the seriousness of what our tireless teams are dealing with every day,” Phoebe Putney Health System President and CEO Scott Steiner said in a statement on Friday.
Georgia’s case count increased, with the seven-day rolling average exceeding 6,000 on Friday, the highest level since February 1.
