In week ending February 1, local indicators for influenza remained high, while respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) indicators began to drop. Local indicators for COVID-19 remained low, but showed increases. Regional laboratory surveillance most frequently detected influenza A among clinical respiratory specimens. Elevated pertussis activity continues to be reported throughout Washington State, including Kitsap County, with local clusters of cases reported in Kitsap schools and sports teams.
5.3% of emergency department (ED) visits were attributable to influenza, 0.8% of emergency department (ED) visits were attributable to COVID-19, and fewer than 10 visits were attributable to RSV; influenza- and RSV-associated ED visits were especially high among pediatric patients. Kitsap sentinel reporting labs reported 31 positive COVID-19 tests (4.5% of specimens tested), 261 positive influenza tests (237 influenza A, 24 influenza B; 31.1% of specimens tested), and 25 positive RSV tests (8.2% of specimens tested).
On average, fewer than 10 hospital beds at St. Michael Medical Center were in use per day for COVID-19 or influenza patients.
At Kitsap long-term care facilities, there have been two COVID-19 outbreaks reported in the past four reporting weeks, and no influenza outbreaks.
