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COVID-19 reported cases in Skagit County may reach 320 by May 1. The 11 cases reported Sunday raised the total to 304 people with the coronavirus. Five positive cases tested Monday brought the total to 309. Forty people are hospitalized; 10 have died. Active cases total 121 and 188 people have recovered. All data is from the County’s Public Health Department.

Fewer than 10 people have tested positive in the 98257 zip code.

Doubling time is 28 days from 150 cases March 29 to 304 cases Sunday, when 11 cases were identified. Cases have increased more than 50 percent since April 13’s 193 total, with 116 people testing positive in the last two weeks.

The eight day period starting April 14 has had increased case growth, with 75 people tested positive. Twice 14 cases were measured and nine, 10 and 13 cases were positive by the 21st, as cases rose 39% from 193 to 268.

The first person infected in Skagit County was Feb. 21. On March 2 there were four cases. Three weeks later, 101 cases were reported. On April 1 that had increased by 60%, to 163. The epidemiological curve continues to climb, doubling from 150 March 29 to 304 April 26. The momentary flattening in mid-April, was only a temporary week-long slowing. In the two weeks since April 14, cases have increased over 50%, to 309 Monday, heading toward 320 by April’s end. If that happens, cases will have doubled during April. The COVID-19 curve is not flattened in Skagit County. Its slope continues to climb.

Statewide, Sunday there were 13,686 confirmed cases of COVID-19, an increase of 165 cases since Saturday. Over 10% of Sunday’s cases are in Skagit County. The Washington Department of Health receives about 200-250 new reports of COVID-19 per day.

Monday Skagit County had the seventh highest confirmed case count, behind Spokane County’s 347 and ahead of the 287 cases reported in Whatcom County, which listed 28 deaths. King County will surpass 6,000 cases this week, with 425 deaths.