COVID-19
Newest numbers. The Washington State Department of Health (DOH) reported a total of 1,493,194 confirmed cases as of 11:59 p.m. on April 26. There have been 12,686 COVID-19 deaths in Washington.
Data note: DOH is still experiencing delays in reporting cases, hospitalizations, and deaths as a result of prior slowdowns in our data systems during the omicron surge. We are clearing these backlogged cases, hospitalizations, and deaths as resources permit. The COVID-19 Epidemiological Curves tab is the most accurate representation of COVID-19 activity and is updated daily as new cases are identified and duplicates are resolved.
COVID-19 Reinfections in Washington State Washington State Department of Health April 27, 2022 This report provides a summary of the number of individuals reported to the Washington State Department of Health (DOH) as infected with COVID-19 more than once. We refer to these individuals as reinfected. This report includes information on hospitalizations and deaths, demographics, and trends over time of people with a reinfection where DOH has information about both infection events. NOTE: DOH can only identify people with reinfection if both their original infection and their second infection were diagnosed by a COVID-19 test and reported to DOH. Since many COVID-19 infections are asymptomatic and not diagnosed by a test, DOH will not be able to identify those individuals as reinfected. As a result, the number of people DOH reports as reinfected, hospitalized or died from a reinfection is likely lower than the actual number of reinfection events.Due to this, DOH does not directly compare people identified as reinfected to those identified as only having COVID-19 once. In general, reinfection means a person was infected once with the virus that causes COVID-19, recovered, and then later became infected again. We are still learning about COVID-19 and the duration and strength of immunity following infection with this virus. Based on what we know from similar respiratory viruses, we expect some COVID-19 reinfections to occur. The risk of reinfection is likely dependent on a variety of factors including: • The risk of exposure to other people with COVID-19. • COVID-19 vaccination status. • Patient characteristics (such as underlying health conditions). This risk may change over time as immunity wanes or as new variants emerge. Ongoing COVID19 studies will help us understand more about cases of reinfection. For disease surveillance purposes, a person with a reported reinfection is an individual with two positive COVID-19 test results (molecular or antigen) reported to DOH where the tests were performed at least 90 days apart. In addition, if genetic sequencing of respiratory samples from a patient’s first (or primary) infection and most recent infection identifies different variants, they are considered a confirmed reinfection regardless of the amount of time between positive tests. DOH adopted this definition on September 1, 2021. 4 This report includes information on all people with a reported reinfection beginning on September 1, 2021. Some people with reinfections may be incorrectly identified as having primary infections if they were never tested for COVID-19 during their first infection or if the test information was not reported to DOH. When COVID-19 infections are not reported to DOH, reinfections may be underreported. Data from people with primary infections are likely missing because: • Many people with COVID-19 are not tested, often because they’re asymptomatic or have only mild symptoms. • Many at-home tests are not sent to labs for confirmation and those result may not be reported to the state. Learn more about how to report a positive at-home test here: Testing for COVID-19:Washington State Department of Health. When primary infection data are missing, the data on reported reinfections will be underestimated and it may appear that reinfections are less common than they truly are. 5 Page break Key findings Since September 1, 2021 in Washington state: • A total of 43,691 people had a reported reinfection. • Of those with reported reinfection, 995 (2.3%) people were hospitalized. • Of those with reported reinfection, 102 (0.2%) people died
Weekly counts of reinfections
From September 5, 2021 - April 16, 2022
• The number of people with a COVID-19 reinfection rapidly increased starting in mid-December 2021, with a decrease in cases starting in mid-January 2022. The increase was likely due to:
– An increase in the number of people who experienced a primary infection and could now be reinfected.
– The rise and spread of the Omicron variant. The Omicron variant spreads more easily than the original virus that causes COVID-19 and the Delta variant. Early research also shows that Omicron can cause infection in those who have already recovered from a prior COVID-19 infection. The current COVID-19 vaccines protect against severe illness, hospitalizations, and deaths due to infection with the Omicron variant. However, breakthrough infections in people who are vaccinated are likely to occur.
– Waning immunity over time.
Get a vaccine, exposure notifications, COVID-19 testing, and proof of vaccination. Use the DOH vaccine locator to help end the pandemic. Next, get WA Notify so you’ll know if you’ve been near another WA Notify user who later tests positive for COVID-19. To get quickly and easily tested anywhere in Washington, visit the DOH COVID-19 testing locations page. For K-12 students, staff, and parents/guardians, learn more about our partnership that helps schools provide easy COVID-19 testing on site. Once vaccinated, you can provide your vaccination status using WA Verify.
Care Connect Washington assistance. Care Connect provides food and other support to people who test positive for COVID-19 so they can isolate at home. People who have been exposed to the virus and are actively quarantining are also eligible. Making it easier for people to stay home helps slow the spread of the illness. Call the COVID-19 Information Hotline at 1-800-525-0127, then press #. Language assistance is available. The hotline hours are 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday, and 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday and observed state holidays.
Latest COVID-19 reopening guidance for businesses and workers. See a full list of current reopening guidance from the Governor's Office.
Guidance and resources for employers and business owners. Sign up for the Economic and Business Resilience Newsletter.
The state COVID-19 Assistance Hotline is a general information line related to COVID-19. If you need information or have a general question, call 1-800-525-0127, then press # or text 211-211 for help. New hours of operation are 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday, and 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday and on observed state holidays. You can also text the word “Coronavirus” to 211-211 to receive information and updates on your phone wherever you are. You will receive links to the latest information on COVID-19, including county-level updates, and resources for families, businesses, students, and more.
Washington Listens helps people manage stress and anxiety they may be experiencing because of COVID-19. If you or anyone you know is having difficulties managing stress, call the Washington Listens support line at 1-833-681-0211. Hours are from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Friday, and 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays. TTY and language access services are available by using 7-1-1 or their preferred method. See resources and self-help tips from Washington Listens.
