Oregon Health Authority reports 4 COVID-19 deaths, 34% jump in weekly cases
(Update: Weekly case count surged 34% last week)
Deschutes County has 17 new cases, Crook has record 9, Jefferson has 5
PORTLAND, Ore. (KTVZ) -- COVID-19 has claimed four more lives in Oregon, raising the state’s death toll to 705, along with 597 new cases, the Oregon Health Authority reported Wednesday. There also were several worrisome aspects in the latest weekly report, released later in the day
OHA reported 597 new confirmed and presumptive cases of COVID-19 as of 12:01 a.m. Wednesday, bringing the state total to 47,049 cases and 835,905 negative test results.
The new cases reported Wednesday are in the following counties: Baker (7), Benton (2), Clackamas (54), Clatsop (4), Columbia (5), Coos (2), Crook (9), Deschutes (17), Douglas (12), Grant (2), Harney (1), Hood River (2), Jackson (52), Jefferson (5), Josephine (1), Klamath (3), Lake (1), Lane (24), Linn (11), Malheur (11), Marion (83), Morrow (2), Multnomah (172), Polk (13), Tillamook (2), Umatilla (23), Union (3), Wallowa (3), Wasco (1), Washington (57), and Yamhill (13).
Crook County has had 127 COVID-19 cases, four deaths and 3,310 negative test results. Deschutes County has had 1,325 cases, 13 deaths and 40,442 negative test results. Jefferson County has had 618 cases, 11 deaths and 5,926 negative test results.
St. Charles Health System reported having eight COVID-19 patients as of 7:30 a.m. Wednesday. Three were in the ICU and one was on a ventilator.
While Deschutes County's daily case count has dropped from the higher, even record levels of recent days, Crook County's nine new cases reported Wednesday are its highest daily count to date.
That makes 11 cases in Crook County for the week so far, according to Vicky Ryan, public information officer for the county Health Department.
"We do know that six of the 11 were out of state travel – three couples who isolated as soon as they returned, so making a very low contact list for them," Ryan told NewsChannel 21. "There is no known outbreak within this at this time."
Oregon’s 702nd COVID-19 death is a 90-year-old woman in Washington County who tested positive on Oct.13 and died on Nov. 2, at OHSU. Presence of underlying conditions is being confirmed.
Oregon’s 703rd COVID-19 death is an 80-year-old woman in Marion County who tested positive on Oct. 28 and died on Nov. 2, at Legacy Meridian Park Medical Center. She had underlying conditions.
Oregon’s 704th COVID-19 death is a 98-year-old man in Washington County who tested positive on Oct. 6 and died on Nov. 2, in his residence. He had underlying conditions.
Oregon’s 705th COVID-19 death is a 69-year-old woman in Jackson County who tested positive on Oct. 27 and died on Nov. 2, at Providence Medford Medical Center. She had underlying conditions.
OHA posts highest weekly case count
The Oregon Health Authority released its COVID-19 Weekly Report Wednesday, which showed that during the week of Monday, Oct. 26, through Sunday, Nov. 1, OHA recorded 3,542 new cases of COVID-19 infection — up 34% from last week’s tally of 2,642.
This is the second consecutive week daily case counts set a record high for the pandemic.
The number of newly tested Oregonians rose to 34,591 and the percentage of positive tests rose sharply, to 8.4%.
Thirty-seven Oregonians were reported to have died in association with COVID-19, compared to 27 the previous week, and 160 were hospitalized.
People aged 20 to 49 accounted for the largest percentage of infection, at 56%, despite accounting for 39% of the total population. People under 30 accounted for 38% of the cases.
People over 80 accounted for 50% of COVID-19 associated deaths and people over 70 accounted for 74% of deaths associated with the illness.
Schools are not major drivers of COVID-19 spread across Oregon, OHA said. Cases are appearing at schools because there is more community spread.
This week’s report reflects the statewide trend of sharply rising cases, with 13 schools providing in-school instruction that that had at least one case in a student or staff/volunteer that attended or worked during their infectious or exposure period.
As COVID-19 cases continue to surge, OHA reminds people to:
- Wear a face covering
- Keep physically distant.
- Avoid large gatherings and restrict gatherings with people outside of your household.
- Maintain good hand hygiene
Note: In today’s Weekly Report, all previously archived outbreaks at long-term care facilities have been added to the long-term care facility table of outbreaks. Archived outbreaks were previously removed from the table if 56 or more days have passed since the last case’s onset and archived in past Weekly Reports.
COVID-19 outbreak at Fred Meyer Distribution Center
An COVID-19 outbreak of 39 cases has been reported at the Fred Meyer Distribution Center in Clackamas County. The case count includes all persons linked to the outbreak, which may include household members and other close contacts to an employee.
The outbreak investigation started on Oct. 22, but the initial case count was below the reporting threshold. State and county public health officials are working with the company to address the outbreak and protect the health of workers.
Stay informed about COVID-19:
Oregon response: The Oregon Health Authority leads 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.
