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Two more deaths and almost 2,000 more COVID-19 cases have been reported in the past week in Grant County, with 68 more cases being reported in local towns, likely the largest case count for a single week since the pandemic began.

Coulee Medical Center reports that from Jan. 25-31, out of 105 total tests performed at the Grand Coulee hospital, 30 (29%) came back positive for covid.

According to Grant County Health District, two Moses Lake residents in their 70s have been added to the county’s COVID-19 death tally for a total of 233 since the start of the pandemic.

The deaths include one man and one woman, each with underlying health conditions, with one vaccinated and the other’s vaccination status unknown.

GCHD continues to update case counts only on Thursdays, rather than every weekday, despite the rising case count.

In their Jan. 27 update, GCHD reported 1,954 additional cases since Jan. 10, as well as 15 people currently hospitalized with Covid ranging in age from their 40s to 90s.

The Grand Coulee and Electric City area of the county shows 221 total cases since the pandemic began, up by 34 since the Jan. 20 update.

According to Okanogan County Public Health, as of Jan. 26, Coulee Dam has seen a total of 144 cases, up by 18 since Jan. 23.

Elmer City is up by six cases for a total of 59, and Nespelem is up by 10 cases for a total of 171.