The Times - Serving Waitsburg, Dayton and the Touchet Valley

WALLA WALLA— Walla Walla County Department of Community Health is carefully monitoring rising COVID-19 case numbers.

Over the past couple of weeks, the county has seen a large spike in positive coronavirus cases, with the total amount of cases surpassing 1,500 on November 8. As of Tuesday, there are 336 active cases, 13 of which are hospitalized.

From October 24- November 6, four Waitsburg residents have tested positive for COVID-19, bringing the total of confirmed cases to nine. During the same time frame, Prescott has had two new cases, bringing the total to 38 cases. Dixie has had no new cases and remains at six cumulative positive cases.

As of November 10, the death toll in Walla Walla County had climbed to 11.

Officials have linked outbreaks to social and religious gatherings, businesses, long term care facilities, and institutions. At the Walla Walla County Jail, a recent outbreak has resulted in more than 30 infections among staff and incarcerated individuals.

‘The Corrections Department and DCH take the health and safety of our incarcerated population, our staff, and community very seriously. The Corrections Department and DCH are working to ensure that inmates who are released from the jail due to a court order, completed jail sentence or bail payment are able to quarantine or isolate if required by CDC guidelines,’ said the Walla Walla County Public Information Officer, in a release.

Walla Walla County Department of Community Health updates the COVID-19 data at 5 p.m daily. County data, resources, and information, including testing sites, can be found at http://www.covidwwc.com or at http://www.co.walla-walla.wa.us.