WHATCOM COUNTY, WA (MyBellinghamNow.com) – Cases of COVID-19 are seeing a slight summer spike across the state.

The latest data from the Washington Department of Health shows that since late July, ER visits for COVID symptoms have been on the rise.

Transmission rates are being determined by the percentage of total ER cases that result in a COVID diagnosis.

In the North Sound Region, which includes Whatcom and Skagit Counties, the rate of ER COVID visits is slightly above the state’s average.

Despite the increase, Washington as a whole remains at low risk for further outbreak of the virus.

The Department of Health notes that each region of the state has varying thresholds that determine the speed at which a respiratory illness is spreading.

So far, only a handful of southwest counties are within range of breaching their threshold, which would upgrade their COVID risk level to medium.