COVID Levels Rise To 'Yellow' In King County: What To Know

SEATTLE — King County's growth in new COVID-19 cases, spurred by the dominant BA.2 subvariant, brought the region into the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's yellow tier Monday, signifying a "medium" level of community spread, according to the county's health department.

Dr. Jeff Duchin, King County's health officer, hosted a media briefing Monday to outline the current status of the pandemic and take questions from reporters and the public.

"The CDC medium-risk category is not a magic threshold meaning the COVID-19 pandemic locally is suddenly or fundamentally different, or that we're approaching a crisis level," he said. "But it does tell us that COVID-19 infection risk is increasing for individuals and the community."

Duchin pointed to a gradual, sustained rise in confirmed COVID-19 infections over the last six weeks, but noted the rate of hospital admissions and deaths remained relatively low.

"Today's level is approximately four times higher than the recent low in mid-March, after the omicron surge, and about one-tenth of the peak that we saw during the recent surge," he said. "During this time, hospitalizations and deaths have remained at stable, low levels, comparable to the lowest levels we've seen between other pandemic waves. This is thanks to the protection that vaccinations provide from serious illness."

King County continues to have some of the highest vaccination rates in the country, with 85 percent of eligible residents having completed their series. About 86 percent of residents 65 and older have received boosters, followed by about two-thirds of those between 50 and 64.

Though case counts are trending upward across age groups, Duchin said they recently have been highest among young adults, while older people and children under 5 have the lowest rates. The health officer also acknowledged that, particularly with the increase in rapid testing, confirmed cases represent just a fraction of infections.

"As we've discussed previously, we know many cases are not reported and counted," Duchin said. "But just because a case isn't counted does not mean it doesn't count. All cases count, because long COVID may occur in 10 to 30 percent of cases, and it can cause long-lasting fatigue, difficulty thinking, and heart and lung problems that can make it difficult or impossible to work and do normal activities."

No new mandates are planned, for now

Despite the latest wave of cases, the county does not intend to issue new recommendations or enact more restrictive mandates, relying instead on people, communities and businesses to practice consistent, layered precautions. Duchin said stricter measures could potentially be necessary in the event of an unsustainable rise in cases and hospital admissions, which threatened the regular operation of the region's health care system, as happened during the earlier omicron wave.

"Given that cases are not rising rapidly, and that most people at high risk are vaccinated and well-protected, and that hospitalizations and deaths remain stable and low, we are issuing no new recommendations or requirements at this time," the health officer said. "But we should see this yellow traffic light as a 'slow down,' and use this opportunity to lower our risk, and the risk for those around us, and to think more about how we'll manage the ongoing challenge of COVID-19 sustainably over the long term."

Those layered prevention measures will be familiar to many, and include:

• Being up to date on COVID-19 vaccine and recommended booster doses. Vaccination and boosters also help lower the risk of developing long COVID.
• Improving indoor air quality through ventilation, filtration and other strategies.
• Using high quality and well-fitting face masks in crowded indoor settings.
• Getting tested and isolating if you have symptoms and testing when possible before attending gatherings with high-risk people.
• Read more on the Public Health Insider blog.

Especially while cases continue to grow in King County, Duchin encouraged residents to evaluate how much time they spend in higher-risk areas and consider wearing masks where appropriate, rapid testing before indoor gatherings, maximizing outdoor activities and taking care to improve indoor airflow.

"Remember that crowded indoor spaces, poor ventilation, indoor aerobic exercise, singing, and loud talking all pose increased risk," Duchin said. "More time in these settings equals more risk. So ask about what's being done to improve indoor air in places where you spend time."

Though the pandemic's course is unpredictable, the health officer closed out Monday's briefing by noting success in the future will require a focus on the long-term approach.

"The threat from COVID-19 has decreased substantially, but it's not disappeared," Duchin said. "No one can predict when or how much more cases will rise, or when they will fall. I would expect ongoing ups and downs for months to years, based on what variants emerge, population immunity, and other factors. For this reason, let's think about long-term, sustainable COVID-19 prevention and treatment strategies as our top priority."