Next week Island County may hit the milestone of 10,000 reported COVID-19 cases during the pandemic although rates of new infections remain a fraction of what they were a few months ago in the midst of the omicron surge.

Island County reported Friday that 9,977 confirmed cases among county residents have been counted, which is an increase of 17 in a week. The true number of cases, however, is likely much larger because of multitudes taking home tests.

The 14-day case rate reported Friday was 47 per 100,000 people. This is dramatically down from the peak of the omicron variant surge in Island County. On Feb. 2, the 14-day rate was 2,049.

A spokesperson for Island County Public Health pointed out that from Dec. 1 to Feb. 28, the county logged 5,275 reported cases, the bulk of which were thought to be the omicron variant. That represented well over half of the county’s total case count for the entire pandemic.

During that same period, 18 Island County residents reportedly died from COVID, which is about 26% of the total.

A county epidemiologist credits vaccinations, therapeutics and other treatments for the smaller proportion of deaths in the county from omicron.

The curve showing the number of new vaccinations in the county has nearly flattened in recent months. About 135 county residents became fully vaccinated in March.

The county reports that about 52,000 county residents are fully vaccinated so far, which is about 60% of the county population. The numbers do not include the nearly 9,000 people from Naval Air Station Whidbey Island who have been vaccinated; a majority of whom likely live in the county.

In the state as a whole, about 67% of people are fully vaccinated.