Rule-breaking partiers are causing large rise in virus cases
EVERETT COVID-19 case rates continue to steadily climb after reaching a low point in late spring, driven in part by summer gatherings that have become hotbeds for infection transmission, Snohomish Countys top public health official said on Tuesday.
The county is now seeing about 80 cases per 100,000 people every two weeks roughly four times the rolling average six weeks ago, when that number was at its lowest since the beginning of the pandemic, said Dr. Chris Spitters, the Snohomish Health Districts health officer.
Because the county remains in the second phase of Gov. Jay Inslees reopening plan for the state, people are limited to gathering with no more than five others outside of their household. That rule is being broken, though, fueling outbreaks.
Between June 20 and July 11, at least 82 cases were linked to at least three dozen social gatherings that were larger than allowed. The events, some of which drew as many as 40 people, were each connected to an average of five cases, Spitters said.
Public health workers have traced confirmed cases back to 30 separate gatherings on July 4.
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