BREMERTON — After July brought a dramatic spike in COVID-19 activity, Kitsap County has seen new confirmed cases slightly drop in early August, though local health officials say now is not the time for people to let up on following health measures. 

In recent weeks, daily case counts have dropped from a peak in mid-July where confirmed COVID-19 cases routinely hit more than two dozen per day. For the first time in more than a month, the seven-day average of daily confirmed COVID-19 cases has dropped to single digits. Even still, it remains higher than daily counts throughout June. 

“The rate of new cases has declined somewhat since July, and that is an encouraging sign that the hard work community members are putting in to curb the spread of the virus is having an effect,” Kitsap Health Officer Dr. Gib Morrow said in an emailed statement.

However, Dr. Morrow said, “We are still seeing a significant number of new cases reported each day, which tells us COVID-19 remains very active in Kitsap County.”

Kitsap’s situation largely reflects a downward trend across Washington state. On Thursday, Gov. Jay Inslee said he was “cautiously pleased” the state has seen a decline in confirmed cases over the past two weeks, as well as modelling indicating a drop in the virus’ transmission rate. 

According to the Kitsap Public Health District, case investigators have found that many people are contracting the virus out in the community and then spreading it to family members in their household. The health district says they have also seen many COVID-19 outbreaks linked to workplaces. 

“If you feel sick — even a little bit sick — please stay home and get tested as soon as you can,” Morrow said, echoing health officials’ repeated calls for people to get tested even if they show minor symptoms.

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Bainbridge Island in particular has seen minimal transmission, with just seven COVID-19 cases reported in the last 30 days. Bainbridge residents have made up only 25 of Kitsap’s nearly 900 cases —  representing a positive case rate that’s far lower than every other part of the county.

But despite more encouraging trends across Kitsap, health officials have continued to urge residents to follow the state’s health guidelines, like wearing a mask in public and avoiding close contact with others. 

“Now is not the time to let up,” Morrow said. “We need to remain vigilant and continue practicing healthy habits like physical distancing and masking to push our case numbers in the right direction and prevent more people from getting sick.”

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This week, the Kitsap health district also released more information about recent confirmed COVID-19 cases, including details about how people may have been exposed to the virus and where outbreaks have been occurring. 

In interviews with case investigators, 40% of confirmed cases last month disclosed they shared a home with another COVID-19 case. The health district also found that 18% of cases were associated with an outbreak, 15% reported contact with another case at their workplace, 13% said they have traveled out-of-state recently, and 6% reported recently attending a party, funeral, wedding or other social event.

Many cases have occurred among people who are currently working: 85% of people between the ages of 20 and 69 said they were employed, with 18% working in or for the military; 14% having a high contact job, like in retail or at a restaurant; 10% working in health care or as first responders; and 5% working or living at a long-term care facility.

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Out of the 32 total outbreaks, most happened at a long-term care facility, a hospitality business or a military complex. There were also outbreaks at health care, workplace and childcare facilities. 

While many cases involved minor symptoms, 8% of Kitsap’s COVID-19 cases from March to July had been hospitalized. That percentage, however, has dropped as the pandemic has progressed: 5% of July’s cases had been hospitalized, compared to 16%  in March.  Among Kitsap’s known COVID-19 deaths, all have involved people who had a pre-existing health condition. 

Austen Macalus is the Kitsap Sun’s social services reporter — covering health care, homelessness and how programs are serving those in need. He can be reached at austen.macalus@kitsapsun.com or 360-536-6423. 

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