Counties with the highest COVID-19 death rate in Washington
Counties with the highest COVID-19 death rate in Washington
The vaccine deployment in December 2020 signaled a turning point in the COVID-19 pandemic. By the end of May 2021, 40% of the U.S. population was fully vaccinated. But as vaccination rates lagged over the summer, new surges of COVID-19 came, including Delta in the summer of 2021, and now the Omicron variant, which comprises the majority of cases in the U.S.
Researchers around the world have reported that Omicron is more transmissible than Delta, making breakthrough and repeat infections more likely. Early research suggests this strain may cause less severe illness than Delta and the original virus, however, health officials have warned an Omicron-driven surge could still increase hospitalization and death rates—especially in areas with less vaccinated populations.
The United States as of Feb. 16 reached 926,680 COVID-19-related deaths and nearly 78.1 million COVID-19 cases, according to Johns Hopkins University. Currently, 64.5% of the population is fully vaccinated, and 43% have received booster doses.
Stacker compiled a list of the counties with highest cumulative COVID-19 death rates in Washington using data from the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services. Counties are ranked by the highest death rate per 100,000 residents as of Feb. 15, 2021.
Keep reading to see whether your county ranks among the highest COVID-19 death rates in your state.

#39. San Juan County
--- 96.0% less deaths per 100k residents than Washington
--- #3,119 highest rate among all counties nationwide
- New deaths per 100k in the past week: 0.0 (0 new deaths, 0% change from previous week)
- Cumulative cases per 100k: 6,069 (1,067 total cases)
--- 67.2% less cases per 100k residents than Washington
- New cases per 100k in the past week: 307 (54 new cases, +54% change from previous week)
#38. Jefferson County
--- 50.3% less deaths per 100k residents than Washington
--- #3,071 highest rate among all counties nationwide
- New deaths per 100k in the past week: 0.0 (0 new deaths, -100% change from previous week)
- Cumulative cases per 100k: 8,631 (2,781 total cases)
--- 53.4% less cases per 100k residents than Washington
- New cases per 100k in the past week: 369 (119 new cases, -1% change from previous week)
#37. Island County
--- 49.0% less deaths per 100k residents than Washington
--- #3,067 highest rate among all counties nationwide
- New deaths per 100k in the past week: 4.7 (4 new deaths, +100% change from previous week)
- Cumulative cases per 100k: 11,332 (9,648 total cases)
--- 38.8% less cases per 100k residents than Washington
- New cases per 100k in the past week: 348 (296 new cases, -29% change from previous week)
#36. Skamania County
--- 44.3% less deaths per 100k residents than Washington
--- #3,052 highest rate among all counties nationwide
- New deaths per 100k in the past week: 0.0 (0 new deaths, 0% change from previous week)
- Cumulative cases per 100k: 11,876 (1,435 total cases)
--- 35.9% less cases per 100k residents than Washington
- New cases per 100k in the past week: 314 (38 new cases, -58% change from previous week)

#35. King County
--- 27.5% less deaths per 100k residents than Washington
--- #2,976 highest rate among all counties nationwide
- New deaths per 100k in the past week: 2.3 (51 new deaths, -32% change from previous week)
- Cumulative cases per 100k: 16,051 (361,584 total cases)
--- 13.4% less cases per 100k residents than Washington
- New cases per 100k in the past week: 253 (5,692 new cases, -44% change from previous week)

#34. Whatcom County
--- 26.2% less deaths per 100k residents than Washington
--- #2,971 highest rate among all counties nationwide
- New deaths per 100k in the past week: 4.8 (11 new deaths, +38% change from previous week)
- Cumulative cases per 100k: 15,812 (36,248 total cases)
--- 14.6% less cases per 100k residents than Washington
- New cases per 100k in the past week: 483 (1,108 new cases, -22% change from previous week)
#33. Wahkiakum County
--- 25.5% less deaths per 100k residents than Washington
--- #2,967 highest rate among all counties nationwide
- New deaths per 100k in the past week: 0.0 (0 new deaths, 0% change from previous week)
- Cumulative cases per 100k: 11,676 (524 total cases)
--- 37.0% less cases per 100k residents than Washington
- New cases per 100k in the past week: 512 (23 new cases, -32% change from previous week)
#32. Kitsap County
--- 24.8% less deaths per 100k residents than Washington
--- #2,965 highest rate among all counties nationwide
- New deaths per 100k in the past week: 4.1 (11 new deaths, -15% change from previous week)
- Cumulative cases per 100k: 13,969 (37,921 total cases)
--- 24.6% less cases per 100k residents than Washington
- New cases per 100k in the past week: 423 (1,148 new cases, -4% change from previous week)

#31. Thurston County
--- 19.5% less deaths per 100k residents than Washington
--- #2,943 highest rate among all counties nationwide
- New deaths per 100k in the past week: 6.2 (18 new deaths, 0% change from previous week)
- Cumulative cases per 100k: 15,708 (45,638 total cases)
--- 15.2% less cases per 100k residents than Washington
- New cases per 100k in the past week: 470 (1,366 new cases, -14% change from previous week)
#30. Kittitas County
--- 18.8% less deaths per 100k residents than Washington
--- #2,940 highest rate among all counties nationwide
- New deaths per 100k in the past week: 0.0 (0 new deaths, 0% change from previous week)
- Cumulative cases per 100k: 17,071 (8,183 total cases)
--- 7.8% less cases per 100k residents than Washington
- New cases per 100k in the past week: 305 (146 new cases, +11% change from previous week)
#29. Snohomish County
--- 18.1% less deaths per 100k residents than Washington
--- #2,931 highest rate among all counties nationwide
- New deaths per 100k in the past week: 4.1 (34 new deaths, +42% change from previous week)
- Cumulative cases per 100k: 18,030 (148,223 total cases)
--- 2.7% less cases per 100k residents than Washington
- New cases per 100k in the past week: 421 (3,463 new cases, -29% change from previous week)
#28. Pierce County
--- 8.1% less deaths per 100k residents than Washington
--- #2,873 highest rate among all counties nationwide
- New deaths per 100k in the past week: 4.6 (42 new deaths, +8% change from previous week)
- Cumulative cases per 100k: 20,300 (183,707 total cases)
--- 9.6% more cases per 100k residents than Washington
- New cases per 100k in the past week: 353 (3,199 new cases, -39% change from previous week)

#27. Skagit County
--- 6.7% less deaths per 100k residents than Washington
--- #2,867 highest rate among all counties nationwide
- New deaths per 100k in the past week: 3.9 (5 new deaths, -29% change from previous week)
- Cumulative cases per 100k: 16,725 (21,610 total cases)
--- 9.7% less cases per 100k residents than Washington
- New cases per 100k in the past week: 450 (582 new cases, -14% change from previous week)
#26. Douglas County
--- 6.0% less deaths per 100k residents than Washington
--- #2,862 highest rate among all counties nationwide
- New deaths per 100k in the past week: 4.6 (2 new deaths, -50% change from previous week)
- Cumulative cases per 100k: 24,647 (10,704 total cases)
--- 33.0% more cases per 100k residents than Washington
- New cases per 100k in the past week: 663 (288 new cases, -34% change from previous week)
#25. Clark County
--- 1.3% less deaths per 100k residents than Washington
--- #2,825 highest rate among all counties nationwide
- New deaths per 100k in the past week: 2.0 (10 new deaths, -52% change from previous week)
- Cumulative cases per 100k: 16,882 (82,426 total cases)
--- 8.9% less cases per 100k residents than Washington
- New cases per 100k in the past week: 577 (2,819 new cases, -31% change from previous week)
#24. Clallam County
--- 0.0% less deaths per 100k residents than Washington
--- #2,817 highest rate among all counties nationwide
- New deaths per 100k in the past week: 3.9 (3 new deaths, -25% change from previous week)
- Cumulative cases per 100k: 14,359 (11,104 total cases)
--- 22.5% less cases per 100k residents than Washington
- New cases per 100k in the past week: 870 (673 new cases, +39% change from previous week)
#23. Whitman County
--- 18.1% more deaths per 100k residents than Washington
--- #2,699 highest rate among all counties nationwide
- New deaths per 100k in the past week: 2.0 (1 new deaths, 0% change from previous week)
- Cumulative cases per 100k: 17,362 (8,699 total cases)
--- 6.3% less cases per 100k residents than Washington
- New cases per 100k in the past week: 74 (37 new cases, 0% change from previous week)
#22. Klickitat County
--- 19.5% more deaths per 100k residents than Washington
--- #2,681 highest rate among all counties nationwide
- New deaths per 100k in the past week: 4.5 (1 new deaths, 0% change from previous week)
- Cumulative cases per 100k: 15,171 (3,402 total cases)
--- 18.1% less cases per 100k residents than Washington
- New cases per 100k in the past week: 464 (104 new cases, -28% change from previous week)
#21. Adams County
--- 20.8% more deaths per 100k residents than Washington
--- #2,671 highest rate among all counties nationwide
- New deaths per 100k in the past week: 5.0 (1 new deaths, 0% change from previous week)
- Cumulative cases per 100k: 24,151 (4,826 total cases)
--- 30.4% more cases per 100k residents than Washington
- New cases per 100k in the past week: 400 (80 new cases, -15% change from previous week)
#20. Mason County
--- 26.8% more deaths per 100k residents than Washington
--- #2,619 highest rate among all counties nationwide
- New deaths per 100k in the past week: 4.5 (3 new deaths, -70% change from previous week)
- Cumulative cases per 100k: 17,562 (11,726 total cases)
--- 5.2% less cases per 100k residents than Washington
- New cases per 100k in the past week: 425 (284 new cases, -56% change from previous week)

#19. Chelan County
--- 26.8% more deaths per 100k residents than Washington
--- #2,618 highest rate among all counties nationwide
- New deaths per 100k in the past week: 2.6 (2 new deaths, 0% change from previous week)
- Cumulative cases per 100k: 25,350 (19,570 total cases)
--- 36.8% more cases per 100k residents than Washington
- New cases per 100k in the past week: 596 (460 new cases, -30% change from previous week)

#18. Grant County
--- 38.3% more deaths per 100k residents than Washington
--- #2,528 highest rate among all counties nationwide
- New deaths per 100k in the past week: 3.1 (3 new deaths, -25% change from previous week)
- Cumulative cases per 100k: 25,702 (25,119 total cases)
--- 38.7% more cases per 100k residents than Washington
- New cases per 100k in the past week: 509 (497 new cases, -41% change from previous week)
#17. Walla Walla County
--- 38.9% more deaths per 100k residents than Washington
--- #2,525 highest rate among all counties nationwide
- New deaths per 100k in the past week: 1.6 (1 new deaths, -67% change from previous week)
- Cumulative cases per 100k: 24,631 (14,966 total cases)
--- 33.0% more cases per 100k residents than Washington
- New cases per 100k in the past week: 648 (394 new cases, -19% change from previous week)
#16. Pacific County
--- 40.3% more deaths per 100k residents than Washington
--- #2,518 highest rate among all counties nationwide
- New deaths per 100k in the past week: 4.5 (1 new deaths, -50% change from previous week)
- Cumulative cases per 100k: 14,628 (3,287 total cases)
--- 21.0% less cases per 100k residents than Washington
- New cases per 100k in the past week: 743 (167 new cases, -25% change from previous week)
#15. Franklin County
--- 41.6% more deaths per 100k residents than Washington
--- #2,504 highest rate among all counties nationwide
- New deaths per 100k in the past week: 1.1 (1 new deaths, -86% change from previous week)
- Cumulative cases per 100k: 33,807 (32,192 total cases)
--- 82.5% more cases per 100k residents than Washington
- New cases per 100k in the past week: 379 (361 new cases, -65% change from previous week)
#14. Benton County
--- 43.0% more deaths per 100k residents than Washington
--- #2,482 highest rate among all counties nationwide
- New deaths per 100k in the past week: 3.4 (7 new deaths, 0% change from previous week)
- Cumulative cases per 100k: 24,992 (51,082 total cases)
--- 34.9% more cases per 100k residents than Washington
- New cases per 100k in the past week: 568 (1,161 new cases, -19% change from previous week)
#13. Pend Oreille County
--- 47.0% more deaths per 100k residents than Washington
--- #2,451 highest rate among all counties nationwide
- New deaths per 100k in the past week: 7.3 (1 new deaths, 0% change from previous week)
- Cumulative cases per 100k: 18,151 (2,491 total cases)
--- 2.0% less cases per 100k residents than Washington
- New cases per 100k in the past week: 510 (70 new cases, -17% change from previous week)

#12. Spokane County
--- 61.7% more deaths per 100k residents than Washington
--- #2,308 highest rate among all counties nationwide
- New deaths per 100k in the past week: 3.8 (20 new deaths, -29% change from previous week)
- Cumulative cases per 100k: 23,101 (120,772 total cases)
--- 24.7% more cases per 100k residents than Washington
- New cases per 100k in the past week: 528 (2,761 new cases, -4% change from previous week)
#11. Grays Harbor County
--- 64.4% more deaths per 100k residents than Washington
--- #2,282 highest rate among all counties nationwide
- New deaths per 100k in the past week: 6.7 (5 new deaths, 0% change from previous week)
- Cumulative cases per 100k: 20,898 (15,686 total cases)
--- 12.8% more cases per 100k residents than Washington
- New cases per 100k in the past week: 517 (388 new cases, -38% change from previous week)
#10. Lincoln County
--- 65.8% more deaths per 100k residents than Washington
--- #2,266 highest rate among all counties nationwide
- New deaths per 100k in the past week: 0.0 (0 new deaths, 0% change from previous week)
- Cumulative cases per 100k: 19,856 (2,172 total cases)
--- 7.2% more cases per 100k residents than Washington
- New cases per 100k in the past week: 887 (97 new cases, +28% change from previous week)
#9. Asotin County
--- 72.5% more deaths per 100k residents than Washington
--- #2,185 highest rate among all counties nationwide
- New deaths per 100k in the past week: 4.4 (1 new deaths, -50% change from previous week)
- Cumulative cases per 100k: 18,847 (4,256 total cases)
--- 1.7% more cases per 100k residents than Washington
- New cases per 100k in the past week: 651 (147 new cases, +39% change from previous week)
#8. Lewis County
--- 78.5% more deaths per 100k residents than Washington
--- #2,119 highest rate among all counties nationwide
- New deaths per 100k in the past week: 1.2 (1 new deaths, -50% change from previous week)
- Cumulative cases per 100k: 21,040 (16,981 total cases)
--- 13.6% more cases per 100k residents than Washington
- New cases per 100k in the past week: 613 (495 new cases, -21% change from previous week)
#7. Okanogan County
--- 81.2% more deaths per 100k residents than Washington
--- #2,085 highest rate among all counties nationwide
- New deaths per 100k in the past week: 7.1 (3 new deaths, +50% change from previous week)
- Cumulative cases per 100k: 19,092 (8,065 total cases)
--- 3.1% more cases per 100k residents than Washington
- New cases per 100k in the past week: 855 (361 new cases, +5% change from previous week)
#6. Stevens County
--- 87.9% more deaths per 100k residents than Washington
--- #1,992 highest rate among all counties nationwide
- New deaths per 100k in the past week: 15.3 (7 new deaths, +600% change from previous week)
- Cumulative cases per 100k: 17,177 (7,854 total cases)
--- 7.3% less cases per 100k residents than Washington
- New cases per 100k in the past week: 483 (221 new cases, -21% change from previous week)
#5. Cowlitz County
--- 92.6% more deaths per 100k residents than Washington
--- #1,943 highest rate among all counties nationwide
- New deaths per 100k in the past week: 3.6 (4 new deaths, -33% change from previous week)
- Cumulative cases per 100k: 19,430 (21,488 total cases)
--- 4.9% more cases per 100k residents than Washington
- New cases per 100k in the past week: 541 (598 new cases, -8% change from previous week)
#4. Yakima County
--- 94.0% more deaths per 100k residents than Washington
--- #1,926 highest rate among all counties nationwide
- New deaths per 100k in the past week: 6.8 (17 new deaths, -23% change from previous week)
- Cumulative cases per 100k: 28,134 (70,581 total cases)
--- 51.9% more cases per 100k residents than Washington
- New cases per 100k in the past week: 410 (1,029 new cases, -42% change from previous week)
#3. Ferry County
--- 102.7% more deaths per 100k residents than Washington
--- #1,828 highest rate among all counties nationwide
- New deaths per 100k in the past week: 13.1 (1 new deaths, -50% change from previous week)
- Cumulative cases per 100k: 18,028 (1,375 total cases)
--- 2.7% less cases per 100k residents than Washington
- New cases per 100k in the past week: 1,324 (101 new cases, +102% change from previous week)
#2. Garfield County
--- 111.4% more deaths per 100k residents than Washington
--- #1,701 highest rate among all counties nationwide
- New deaths per 100k in the past week: 0.0 (0 new deaths, 0% change from previous week)
- Cumulative cases per 100k: 16,584 (369 total cases)
--- 10.5% less cases per 100k residents than Washington
- New cases per 100k in the past week: 584 (13 new cases, -54% change from previous week)
#1. Columbia County
--- 118.8% more deaths per 100k residents than Washington
--- #1,599 highest rate among all counties nationwide
- New deaths per 100k in the past week: 0.0 (0 new deaths, -100% change from previous week)
- Cumulative cases per 100k: 14,856 (592 total cases)
--- 19.8% less cases per 100k residents than Washington
- New cases per 100k in the past week: 552 (22 new cases, -48% change from previous week)