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Health Officials Concerned Over Increases In Spokane County Covid-19 Cases

Rebecca White/SPR

Health officials are concerned about rising COVID-19 cases, especially in younger people, that could put the county of compliance with the governor’s re-opening metrics.

To stay in Phase 3 of the governor’s re-opening plan, Spokane County must have less than 200 cases per 100,000 people. As of Wednesday, the county had 183 cases per 100,000. Spokane County Interim Health Officer Dr. Francisco Velázquez said that was concerning.

“The line is headed into the area that could potentially hit those 200,000, the 200 per 200,000 if we continue the trend that we are," he said. 

Velázquez said the community has successfully driven down its case numbers before and asked community members to follow public health guidance and get vaccinated when they can.

“We wouldn’t have made those gains if the community hadn’t been as diligent as it had been. But now we need to step it up a notch and actually try even harder,"

Many of those cases are concentrated in younger people. According to Spokane Regional Health District data, roughly one and five positive cases in the county is in a person between the ages of 20 and 29. Most positive cases are concentrated in people between the ages of 20 and 49.

Most of that age group is not currently eligible to get a vaccine, but will be starting April 15.

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