Oregon reports 2 more COVID-19 deaths, 272 cases, 4 in C. Oregon

(Adding weekly testing summary, rise in positive rate)

PORTLAND, Ore. (KTVZ) -- COVID-19 has claimed two more lives in Oregon, raising the state’s death toll to 328, along with 272 new cases, four in Central Oregon, the Oregon Health Authority reported Monday. The agency also reported the highest positive test rate - more than 6 percent - in months.

OHA reported 272 new confirmed and presumptive cases of COVID-19 as of 12:01 a.m. Monday, bringing the state total to 19,366 cases, along with 397.765 negative test results.

The new cases reported Monday are in the following counties: Baker (3), Benton (2), Clackamas (21), Clatsop (2), Coos (1), Deschutes (3), Douglas (2), Jackson (9), Jefferson (1), Josephine (2), Klamath (2), Lane (5), Lincoln (4), Linn (6), Malheur (3), Marion (27), Morrow (1), Multnomah (49), Polk (7), Sherman (1), Tillamook (2), Umatilla (64), Wasco (9), Washington (19), and Yamhill (27).

As of Monday, Crook County has had 43 COVID-19 cases, one death and 1,718 negative test results. Deschutes County has had 540 cases, eight deaths and 18,041 results, according to the OHA. Jefferson County has had 311 cases, three deaths and 3,123 negative test results.

St. Charles Health System reported four COVID-19 patients as of 7:30 a.m. Monday, three of whom are in the ICU and on ventilators. The hospital system has 24 ICU beds in Bend and six in Redmond.

Oregon’s 327th COVID-19 death is a 71-year-old man in Marion County who tested positive on July 6 and died on August 1. His place of death is being confirmed. He had underlying conditions.

Oregon’s 328th COVID-19 death is a 50-year-old man in Multnomah County who tested positive on July 20 and died on July 29, at Providence Portland Medical Center. Presence of underlying conditions is being confirmed.

OHA released its Weekly Testing Summary, showing 35,424 test results were reported during the week of July 26 – Aug. 1.  Of those test results 2,174 were positive, indicating a test positivity of 6.1 percent, one of the highest rates observed since the early pandemic.

The most recent weekly in-state theoretical testing capacity estimate is 48,000 tests for the week of July 22, based on supply, reagent and staff availability. That does not include capacity at out-of-state commercial laboratories.

OHA said it continues to receive widespread reports of extended turnaround time from commercial laboratories; in some cases, results are being reported up to two weeks following specimen collection.  

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.