Counties with highest COVID-19 infection rates 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.
The United States as of Nov. 16 reached over 1 million COVID-19-related deaths and 98.1 million COVID-19 cases, according to Johns Hopkins University. Currently, 68.6% of the population is fully vaccinated, and 10.1% of vaccinated people have received the most recently available bivalent booster doses.
Stacker compiled a list of the counties with highest COVID-19 infection rates in Washington using data from the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services and vaccination data from Covid Act Now. Counties are ranked by the highest infection rate per 100,000 residents within the week leading up to Nov. 10, 2022. Cumulative cases per 100,000 served as a tiebreaker.
Keep reading to see whether your county ranks among the highest COVID-19 infection rates in your state.
#39. Columbia County, WA
- Cumulative cases per 100k: 17,967 (716 total cases)
--- 25.8% less cases per 100k residents than Washington
- Cumulative deaths per 100k: 427 (17 total deaths)
--- 122.4% more deaths per 100k residents than Washington
- Population that is fully vaccinated: 47.4% (1,889 fully vaccinated)
#38. Garfield County, WA
- Cumulative cases per 100k: 21,169 (471 total cases)
--- 12.6% less cases per 100k residents than Washington
- Cumulative deaths per 100k: 315 (7 total deaths)
--- 64.1% more deaths per 100k residents than Washington
- Population that is fully vaccinated: 40.4% (898 fully vaccinated)
#37. Whitman County, WA
- Cumulative cases per 100k: 19,637 (9,839 total cases)
--- 18.9% less cases per 100k residents than Washington
- Cumulative deaths per 100k: 196 (98 total deaths)
--- 2.1% more deaths per 100k residents than Washington
- Population that is fully vaccinated: 49.6% (24,844 fully vaccinated)
#36. Klickitat County, WA
- Cumulative cases per 100k: 18,671 (4,187 total cases)
--- 22.9% less cases per 100k residents than Washington
- Cumulative deaths per 100k: 254 (57 total deaths)
--- 32.3% more deaths per 100k residents than Washington
- Population that is fully vaccinated: 48.8% (10,949 fully vaccinated)
#35. Adams County, WA
- Cumulative cases per 100k: 27,744 (5,544 total cases)
--- 14.6% more cases per 100k residents than Washington
- Cumulative deaths per 100k: 220 (44 total deaths)
--- 14.6% more deaths per 100k residents than Washington
- Population that is fully vaccinated: 61.9% (12,364 fully vaccinated)
#34. Lincoln County, WA
- Cumulative cases per 100k: 23,732 (2,596 total cases)
--- 2.0% less cases per 100k residents than Washington
- Cumulative deaths per 100k: 265 (29 total deaths)
--- 38.0% more deaths per 100k residents than Washington
- Population that is fully vaccinated: 59.8% (6,541 fully vaccinated)
#33. Yakima County, WA
- Cumulative cases per 100k: 32,353 (81,165 total cases)
--- 33.6% more cases per 100k residents than Washington
- Cumulative deaths per 100k: 335 (841 total deaths)
--- 74.5% more deaths per 100k residents than Washington
- Population that is fully vaccinated: 64.6% (162,028 fully vaccinated)
#32. Franklin County, WA
- Cumulative cases per 100k: 37,973 (36,159 total cases)
--- 56.8% more cases per 100k residents than Washington
- Cumulative deaths per 100k: 235 (224 total deaths)
--- 22.4% more deaths per 100k residents than Washington
- Population that is fully vaccinated: 54.7% (52,092 fully vaccinated)
#31. Cowlitz County, WA
- Cumulative cases per 100k: 23,813 (26,336 total cases)
--- 1.7% less cases per 100k residents than Washington
- Cumulative deaths per 100k: 344 (380 total deaths)
--- 79.2% more deaths per 100k residents than Washington
- Population that is fully vaccinated: 60.8% (67,216 fully vaccinated)
#30. Benton County, WA
- Cumulative cases per 100k: 29,431 (60,155 total cases)
--- 21.5% more cases per 100k residents than Washington
- Cumulative deaths per 100k: 252 (515 total deaths)
--- 31.3% more deaths per 100k residents than Washington
- Population that is fully vaccinated: 58.5% (119,505 fully vaccinated)
#29. Kittitas County, WA
- Cumulative cases per 100k: 20,933 (10,034 total cases)
--- 13.6% less cases per 100k residents than Washington
- Cumulative deaths per 100k: 184 (88 total deaths)
--- 4.2% less deaths per 100k residents than Washington
- Population that is fully vaccinated: 55.7% (26,721 fully vaccinated)
#28. Lewis County, WA
- Cumulative cases per 100k: 24,998 (20,175 total cases)
--- 3.2% more cases per 100k residents than Washington
- Cumulative deaths per 100k: 352 (284 total deaths)
--- 83.3% more deaths per 100k residents than Washington
- Population that is fully vaccinated: 53.0% (42,768 fully vaccinated)
#27. San Juan County, WA
- Cumulative cases per 100k: 10,619 (1,867 total cases)
--- 56.1% less cases per 100k residents than Washington
- Cumulative deaths per 100k: 17 (3 total deaths)
--- 91.1% less deaths per 100k residents than Washington
- Population that is fully vaccinated: 84.9% (14,920 fully vaccinated)
#26. Grant County, WA
- Cumulative cases per 100k: 30,946 (30,244 total cases)
--- 27.8% more cases per 100k residents than Washington
- Cumulative deaths per 100k: 236 (231 total deaths)
--- 22.9% more deaths per 100k residents than Washington
- Population that is fully vaccinated: 58.5% (57,149 fully vaccinated)
#25. Skamania County, WA
- Cumulative cases per 100k: 14,409 (1,741 total cases)
--- 40.5% less cases per 100k residents than Washington
- Cumulative deaths per 100k: 124 (15 total deaths)
--- 35.4% less deaths per 100k residents than Washington
- Population that is fully vaccinated: 40.0% (4,834 fully vaccinated)
#24. Clark County, WA
- Cumulative cases per 100k: 21,928 (107,062 total cases)
--- 9.4% less cases per 100k residents than Washington
- Cumulative deaths per 100k: 196 (958 total deaths)
--- 2.1% more deaths per 100k residents than Washington
- Population that is fully vaccinated: 67.4% (328,865 fully vaccinated)
#23. Clallam County, WA
- Cumulative cases per 100k: 19,470 (15,056 total cases)
--- 19.6% less cases per 100k residents than Washington
- Cumulative deaths per 100k: 238 (184 total deaths)
--- 24.0% more deaths per 100k residents than Washington
- Population that is fully vaccinated: 70.4% (54,417 fully vaccinated)
#22. Asotin County, WA
- Cumulative cases per 100k: 23,249 (5,250 total cases)
--- 4.0% less cases per 100k residents than Washington
- Cumulative deaths per 100k: 345 (78 total deaths)
--- 79.7% more deaths per 100k residents than Washington
- Population that is fully vaccinated: 43.6% (9,851 fully vaccinated)
#21. Island County, WA
- Cumulative cases per 100k: 15,211 (12,951 total cases)
--- 37.2% less cases per 100k residents than Washington
- Cumulative deaths per 100k: 122 (104 total deaths)
--- 36.5% less deaths per 100k residents than Washington
- Population that is fully vaccinated: 78.6% (66,889 fully vaccinated)
#20. Walla Walla County, WA
- Cumulative cases per 100k: 29,821 (18,119 total cases)
--- 23.2% more cases per 100k residents than Washington
- Cumulative deaths per 100k: 268 (163 total deaths)
--- 39.6% more deaths per 100k residents than Washington
- Population that is fully vaccinated: 65.5% (39,780 fully vaccinated)
#19. Whatcom County, WA
- Cumulative cases per 100k: 20,643 (47,324 total cases)
--- 14.8% less cases per 100k residents than Washington
- Cumulative deaths per 100k: 148 (339 total deaths)
--- 22.9% less deaths per 100k residents than Washington
- Population that is fully vaccinated: 74.3% (170,335 fully vaccinated)
#18. Mason County, WA
- Cumulative cases per 100k: 22,747 (15,188 total cases)
--- 6.1% less cases per 100k residents than Washington
- Cumulative deaths per 100k: 247 (165 total deaths)
--- 28.6% more deaths per 100k residents than Washington
- Population that is fully vaccinated: 63.2% (42,192 fully vaccinated)
#17. King County, WA
- Cumulative cases per 100k: 23,323 (525,418 total cases)
--- 3.7% less cases per 100k residents than Washington
- Cumulative deaths per 100k: 145 (3,268 total deaths)
--- 24.5% less deaths per 100k residents than Washington
- Population that is fully vaccinated: 84.4% (1,900,939 fully vaccinated)
#16. Douglas County, WA
- Cumulative cases per 100k: 29,858 (12,967 total cases)
--- 23.3% more cases per 100k residents than Washington
- Cumulative deaths per 100k: 189 (82 total deaths)
--- 1.6% less deaths per 100k residents than Washington
- Population that is fully vaccinated: 63.0% (27,380 fully vaccinated)
#15. Pend Oreille County, WA
- Cumulative cases per 100k: 20,694 (2,840 total cases)
--- 14.5% less cases per 100k residents than Washington
- Cumulative deaths per 100k: 291 (40 total deaths)
--- 51.6% more deaths per 100k residents than Washington
- Population that is fully vaccinated: 42.4% (5,820 fully vaccinated)
#14. Pacific County, WA
- Cumulative cases per 100k: 20,876 (4,691 total cases)
--- 13.8% less cases per 100k residents than Washington
- Cumulative deaths per 100k: 320 (72 total deaths)
--- 66.7% more deaths per 100k residents than Washington
- Population that is fully vaccinated: 61.7% (13,870 fully vaccinated)
#13. Stevens County, WA
- Cumulative cases per 100k: 20,963 (9,585 total cases)
--- 13.4% less cases per 100k residents than Washington
- Cumulative deaths per 100k: 348 (159 total deaths)
--- 81.3% more deaths per 100k residents than Washington
- Population that is fully vaccinated: 40.5% (18,510 fully vaccinated)
#12. Thurston County, WA
- Cumulative cases per 100k: 20,701 (60,143 total cases)
--- 14.5% less cases per 100k residents than Washington
- Cumulative deaths per 100k: 164 (476 total deaths)
--- 14.6% less deaths per 100k residents than Washington
- Population that is fully vaccinated: 72.3% (210,189 fully vaccinated)
#11. Pierce County, WA
- Cumulative cases per 100k: 25,750 (233,034 total cases)
--- 6.3% more cases per 100k residents than Washington
- Cumulative deaths per 100k: 171 (1,543 total deaths)
--- 10.9% less deaths per 100k residents than Washington
- Population that is fully vaccinated: 68.5% (620,338 fully vaccinated)
#10. Wahkiakum County, WA
- Cumulative cases per 100k: 13,748 (617 total cases)
--- 43.2% less cases per 100k residents than Washington
- Cumulative deaths per 100k: 201 (9 total deaths)
--- 4.7% more deaths per 100k residents than Washington
- Population that is fully vaccinated: 50.3% (2,259 fully vaccinated)
#9. Skagit County, WA
- Cumulative cases per 100k: 20,967 (27,091 total cases)
--- 13.4% less cases per 100k residents than Washington
- Cumulative deaths per 100k: 187 (242 total deaths)
--- 2.6% less deaths per 100k residents than Washington
- Population that is fully vaccinated: 69.2% (89,397 fully vaccinated)
#8. Chelan County, WA
- Cumulative cases per 100k: 30,474 (23,526 total cases)
--- 25.8% more cases per 100k residents than Washington
- Cumulative deaths per 100k: 244 (188 total deaths)
--- 27.1% more deaths per 100k residents than Washington
- Population that is fully vaccinated: 72.2% (55,773 fully vaccinated)
#7. Snohomish County, WA
- Cumulative cases per 100k: 23,732 (195,100 total cases)
--- 2.0% less cases per 100k residents than Washington
- Cumulative deaths per 100k: 163 (1,338 total deaths)
--- 15.1% less deaths per 100k residents than Washington
- Population that is fully vaccinated: 73.0% (600,461 fully vaccinated)
#6. Jefferson County, WA
- Cumulative cases per 100k: 13,730 (4,424 total cases)
--- 43.3% less cases per 100k residents than Washington
- Cumulative deaths per 100k: 99 (32 total deaths)
--- 48.4% less deaths per 100k residents than Washington
- Population that is fully vaccinated: 79.2% (25,521 fully vaccinated)
#5. Spokane County, WA
- Cumulative cases per 100k: 28,179 (147,320 total cases)
--- 16.4% more cases per 100k residents than Washington
- Cumulative deaths per 100k: 301 (1,576 total deaths)
--- 56.8% more deaths per 100k residents than Washington
- Population that is fully vaccinated: 63.7% (332,809 fully vaccinated)
#4. Grays Harbor County, WA
- Cumulative cases per 100k: 26,363 (19,788 total cases)
--- 8.9% more cases per 100k residents than Washington
- Cumulative deaths per 100k: 313 (235 total deaths)
--- 63.0% more deaths per 100k residents than Washington
- Population that is fully vaccinated: 63.1% (47,328 fully vaccinated)
#3. Okanogan County, WA
- Cumulative cases per 100k: 23,990 (10,134 total cases)
--- 0.9% less cases per 100k residents than Washington
- Cumulative deaths per 100k: 322 (136 total deaths)
--- 67.7% more deaths per 100k residents than Washington
- Population that is fully vaccinated: 69.0% (29,147 fully vaccinated)
#2. Ferry County, WA
- Cumulative cases per 100k: 22,276 (1,699 total cases)
--- 8.0% less cases per 100k residents than Washington
- Cumulative deaths per 100k: 420 (32 total deaths)
--- 118.8% more deaths per 100k residents than Washington
- Population that is fully vaccinated: 58.4% (4,451 fully vaccinated)
#1. Kitsap County, WA
- Cumulative cases per 100k: 18,436 (50,048 total cases)
--- 23.9% less cases per 100k residents than Washington
- Cumulative deaths per 100k: 146 (395 total deaths)
--- 24.0% less deaths per 100k residents than Washington
- Population that is fully vaccinated: 72.8% (197,725 fully vaccinated)