Record high COVID cases might have peaked in Pierce County, health officials say

The omicron variant-fueled surge of COVID-19 cases might have peaked in Pierce County, according to data released Tuesday.

“We see early evidence this wave has peaked,” the Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department said. “Cases will likely level off soon.”

As of Jan. 18, the county’s 14-day case rate is 2,441 per 100,000. That figure is 45.5 percent higher than the previous 2-week period of Dec. 19-Jan. 1.

The county still has some painful days ahead. This latest surge of cases, tied to the Omicron variant, led to the highest case counts seen to date in the pandemic, TPCHD said.

“We expect hospitalizations and deaths will continue to increase in the weeks ahead because they usually lag case counts,” TPCHD said.

The agency confirmed 7,943 cases of COVID-19 and 17 new deaths in Pierce County for Jan. 9-15.

Deaths included:

▪ A man in his 30s from Tacoma.

▪ A man in his 50s from Bonney Lake.

▪ A man in his 50s from South Hill.

▪ A woman in her 60s from Puyallup.

▪ A woman in her 60s from South Hill.

▪ A woman in her 60s from Tacoma.

▪ A man in his 60s from Tacoma.

▪ A man in his 60s from an unknown region.

▪ A woman in her 70s from Tacoma.

▪ A man in his 70s from Tacoma.

▪ A man in his 70s from Central Pierce County.

▪ A woman in her 70s from Fredrickson.

▪ A man in his 70s from Parkland.

▪ A woman in her 80s from Central Pierce County.

▪ A man in his 80s from Tacoma.

▪ A woman in her 80s from South Hill.

▪ A woman in her 90s from South Hill.

Pierce County has had a total of 140,418 cases of COVID-19 and 1,016 deaths since the pandemic began in March 2020.

The 7-day hospitalization rate was 35.3 per 100,000 for the period ending Jan. 5. That figure is 29.8 percent higher than the previous period ending Jan. 1.

According to TPCHD data, 63 percent of county residents are vaccinated against the coronavirus with 20,320 doses administered to residents in the last week.