Oregon reports record 550 new COVID-19 cases, three more deaths

Includes 11 in Deschutes County, 7 in Crook County, 1 in Jefferson County

PORTLAND, Ore. (KTVZ) -- The Oregon Health Authority reported a record daily count of 550 new COVID-19 cases Friday, along with three more deaths that raised the state’s death toll to 649.

OHA reported 550 new confirmed and presumptive cases of COVID-19 as of 12:01 a.m. Friday, bringing the state total to 41,348 cases and 773,853 negative test results.

The new confirmed and presumptive COVID-19 cases reported Friday are in the following counties: Baker (1), Benton (9), Clackamas (48), Columbia (3), Coos (5), Crook (7), Curry (1), Deschutes (11), Douglas (3), Grant (1), Harney (1), Hood River (4), Jackson (33), Jefferson (1), Josephine (1), Klamath (1), Lane (52), Lincoln (2), Linn (19), Malheur (13), Marion (57), Morrow (1), Multnomah (135), Polk (3), Umatilla (21), Union (1), Wasco (2), Washington (91), and Yamhill (23).

Crook County has now had 100 COVID-19 cases, two deaths and 3,025 negative test results. Deschutes County has had 1,098 cases, 13 deaths and 37,137 negative test results. Jefferson County has hd 600 cases, nine deaths and 5,515 negative test results.

St. Charles Health System reported having seven COVID-19 patients as of 8:30 a.m. Friday, two of whom were in the ICU but not on a ventilator.

OHA reported the highest daily case count since the beginning of the pandemic, breaking the previous record of 484 cases, reported on Oct. 8.

"Preliminary data show this increase is due to continued widespread community transmission, resulting in small clusters and outbreaks across the state," the agency said.

Today’s case count is again a reminder that Oregonians cannot let their guards down. OHA published new face covering guidance this week, which requires that people consistently wear face coverings while indoors at their workplace or all other places where they will be in contact with people from outside their household.

OHA has also asked Oregonians to rethink Halloween – avoid traditional door-to-door trick-or-treating, avoid costume parties with people outside their own households and wear a face covering, because a Halloween mask won’t protect against COVID-19.

“We all need to aggressively adhere to the face covering guidance and always wear a mask,” said Shimi Sharief, MD, OHA senior health advisor. “We know everyone is tired, and we all wish this would go away, but the reality is this disease is spreading in Oregon, and it’s on all of us to protect ourselves and each other.”

Oregon’s 647th COVID-19 death is an 82-year-old woman in Marion County who tested positive on Oct.12 and died Oct. 21 at Salem Hospital. She had underlying conditions.

Oregon’s 648th COVID-19 death is a 79-year-old woman in Multnomah County who tested positive on Sept. 21 and died Oct. 11 at Adventist Health Portland. She had underlying conditions.

Oregon’s 649th COVID-19 death is a 68-year-old man in Multnomah County who tested positive on Sept. 27 and died Oct. 18 at Adventist Health Portland. He had underlying conditions.

Stay informed about COVID-19:

Oregon response: The Oregon Health Authority and Oregon Office of Emergency Management lead the state response.

United States response: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention leads the U.S. response.

Global response: The World Health Organization guides the global response.