PORT ANGELES – There’s been a new surge in COVID-19 cases.

In numbers reported Monday for Clallam County, there are 16 new cases. Monday’s increased numbers came after 14 cases were reported over the weekend.

County Health Officer Dr. Allison Berry Unthank says there are four separate outbreaks her staff are contact tracing. Cases are related to a long-term care facility which we previously reported. Another outbreak is at a healthcare facility. A third is traced to a gathering. The fourth outbreak is linked to a church.

Unthank says we are starting to see a strain on the local our healthcare system, and she says the area is entering one of the most critical weeks of our response yet.  She’s urging people to rally and double down on safe physical distancing, avoid gathering, and wear masks.

There are now 56 active COVID-19 cases in Clallam County. There have been 348 cases reported since March. Currently, no one is hospitalized in Clallam County for COVID-19 and there have been two deaths since March.

But the latest spike pushes the case per 100,000 over the last two weeks to 71. That is inching the county close to the high infection rate category, and close to a trigger point that may shut down in-person school classes.