Coast seafood processor COVID-19 outbreak rises to 124 cases after highest Oregon case count
(Update: Pacific Seafood reports 124 cases total from later test results)
More than 120 cases at Pacific Seafood, a dozen at Hood River ag facilities
PORTLAND, Ore. (KTVZ) — COVID-19 has claimed another life in Oregon, raising the state’s death toll to 164, along with a jump of 146 new cases, nearly half due to an outbreak at a coastal seafood processing business, the Oregon Health Authority reported Sunday. The number jumped higher later Sunday with new test results released by the company, Pacific Seafood
OHA reported 146 new confirmed and presumptive cases of COVID-19 as of 12:01 a.m. Sunday, bringing the state total to 4,808 cases, along with 143,952 negative test results.
The new cases reported by OHA Sunday were in the following counties: Clackamas (18), Deschutes (2, for a total of 135), Hood River (12), Lincoln (61), Linn (1), Marion (11), Multnomah (22), Umatilla (5), Wasco (2), Washington (8), Yamhill (4).
Oregon’s 164th COVID-19 death was a 71-year-old man in Malheur County who tested positive on June 1. Additional information is still pending.
Sunday’s COVID-19 case count marked the highest daily count since the onset of the pandemic in Oregon, with 146 presumptive and confirmed cases reported to OHA.
The high number is tied to several factors, including more widespread testing, increased contact tracing and active monitoring of close contacts of cases.
Workplace outbreaks are another source of the high number.
OHA said an outbreak of 65 cases of COVID-19 has been reported at Pacific Seafood in Lincoln County. The investigation into the outbreak started June 2, but the initial case count was below the threshold for public disclosure. OHA is now publicly reporting COVID-19 outbreaks of more than five cases in workplaces with more than 30 employees.
Later Sunday, Pacific Seafood disclosed that more testing had confirmed 124 of its employees and local contractors tested positive for COVID-19. It had tested 376 workers at its five facilities in Newport, The Oregonian/Oregon Live reported.
The company also said 95% of those tested did not report any symptoms and none were hospitalized. It said the positive tests were concentrated at its Pacific shrimp processing plant, but it has suepnded all operations in Newport as it carries out detailed contact tracing.
OHA said state and county public health officials are working with the business to address the outbreak and protect the health of workers. It also said the risk to the general public is considered low.
Persons who have symptoms of COVID-19 or concerns about their risk of exposure are encouraged to contact their health care provider.
Additional information for this outbreak, along with all active and resolved workplace outbreaks, will be added to the COVID-19 Weekly Report published on June 10.
It's the second-largest workplace outbreak in Oregon reported so far, the newspaper said. Recent OHA data showed the Oregon State Penitentiary in Salem has the state's largest workplace outbreak, with 167 confirmed cases.
Also, 12 new cases in Hood River Sunday also are linked to outbreaks at seasonal agricultural facilities. OHA said the 22 new cases reported in Multnomah County appear to be from sporadic sources.
Although the number is high Sunday, the health authority noted the overall rate of infection in Oregon remains among the lowest in the United States.
OHA also said Sunday’s case count "serves as a reminder that Oregonians need to continue to maintain physical distancing, wear face coverings where physical distancing cannot be maintained and follow good hand hygiene."
See the table below for total cases, deaths and negative tests by county.
| County | Cases1 | Deaths2 | Negatives3 |
| Baker | 1 | 0 | 290 |
| Benton | 62 | 5 | 4,077 |
| Clackamas | 364 | 12 | 13,507 |
| Clatsop | 45 | 0 | 1,726 |
| Columbia | 16 | 0 | 1,737 |
| Coos | 32 | 0 | 1,710 |
| Crook | 6 | 0 | 673 |
| Curry | 7 | 0 | 408 |
| Deschutes | 135 | 0 | 6,420 |
| Douglas | 29 | 0 | 3,193 |
| Gilliam | 0 | 0 | 68 |
| Grant | 1 | 0 | 112 |
| Harney | 1 | 0 | 252 |
| Hood River | 56 | 0 | 1,464 |
| Jackson | 71 | 0 | 7,807 |
| Jefferson | 57 | 0 | 1,142 |
| Josephine | 23 | 1 | 2,644 |
| Klamath | 45 | 0 | 3,786 |
| Lake | 2 | 0 | 168 |
| Lane | 80 | 3 | 13,343 |
| Lincoln | 94 | 0 | 1,994 |
| Linn | 125 | 9 | 4,600 |
| Malheur | 34 | 1 | 804 |
| Marion | 1,050 | 27 | 10,983 |
| Morrow | 13 | 0 | 211 |
| Multnomah | 1,286 | 65 | 30,218 |
| Polk | 103 | 12 | 2,087 |
| Sherman | 1 | 0 | 113 |
| Tillamook | 6 | 0 | 816 |
| Umatilla | 136 | 3 | 1,926 |
| Union | 6 | 0 | 515 |
| Wallowa | 3 | 0 | 169 |
| Wasco | 35 | 1 | 1,551 |
| Washington | 798 | 18 | 19,614 |
| Wheeler | 0 | 0 | 101 |
| Yamhill | 85 | 7 | 3,363 |
| Total | 4,808 | 164 | 143,592 |
1This includes cases confirmed by diagnostic testing and presumptive cases. Presumptive cases are those without a positive diagnostic test who present COVID-19-like symptoms and had close contact with a confirmed case. County of residence for cases may change as new information becomes available. If changes occur, we will update our counts accordingly.
2For additional details on individuals who have died from COVID-19 in Oregon, please refer to OHA's releases.
3This includes cases who test negative and are not epi-linked to a confirmed case.
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.
