Whitman County reported 86 COVID-19 cases per 100,000 people in the past seven days, according to the Whitman County Public Health website. 

With a high test positivity rate of 25%, cases may be “significantly undercounted” in Whitman County, according to a New York Times COVID-19 tracker. Whitman County Public Health is tracking cases internally as state reporting systems are “lagging,” according to its website. 

The increase in test positivity is the highest in two years since a large spike in early July, amounting to 27.4%, according to the COVID-19 tracker. 

Since Aug. 8, the county’s rate of COVID-19 cases has decreased 85%, with an average of six cases per day as of Aug. 21, according to the COVID-19 tracker. On Aug. 3, there were 207 new cases in Whitman County – a daily average of 50 cases. 

As Whitman County experiences a reduction in cases, hospitalizations have also decreased by 28% – a daily average of 44 as of Aug. 21, according to the COVID-19 tracker.  

About 25% of residents of all ages and 66% of those ages 65 and older are vaccinated with a booster shot, according to the COVID-19 tracker. 

On campus, Cougar Health Services provides COVID-19 polymerase chain reaction testing as a part of an appointment with a CHS medical provider. Students can also pick up a free at-home test at the CHS Medical Clinic, according to the CHS website.