In week ending February 8, local indicators for influenza were very high, and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) indicators remained high. Local indicators for COVID-19 remained low. Hospitalizations for COVID-19 and influenza were elevated. 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.
5.8% of emergency department (ED) visits were attributable to influenza, 0.9% of emergency department (ED) visits were attributable to RSV, and fewer than 10 visits were attributable to COVID-19; influenza- and RSV-associated ED visits were especially high among pediatric patients. Kitsap sentinel reporting labs reported 13 positive COVID-19 tests (2.1% of specimens tested), 209 positive influenza tests (186 influenza A, 23 influenza B; 28.4% of specimens tested), and 24 positive RSV tests (9.4% of specimens tested).
On average, around 15 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 has been one COVID-19 outbreak reported in the past four reporting weeks, and no influenza outbreaks.
