Oregon reports 7 more COVID-19 deaths, 1,076 new cases, 2nd-highest tally
(Update: Adding details of recent St. Charles outbreak involving 5 caregivers)
Modeling shows continued surge; investigations to focus on those most at risk
PORTLAND, Ore. (KTVZ) -- COVID-19 has claimed seven more lives in Oregon, raising the state’s death toll to 753, along with 1,076 new cases, just shy of the daily record set earlier in the week, the Oregon Health Authority reported Friday.
OHA reported 1,076 new confirmed and presumptive cases of COVID-19 as of 12:01 a.m. Friday, bringing the state total to 54,937 cases and 888,210 negative test results.
The new cases reported Friday are in the following counties: Baker (6), Benton (18), Clackamas (95), Clatsop (1), Columbia (4), Coos (6), Crook (3), Curry (1), Deschutes (28), Douglas (26), Gilliam (1), Harney (6), Hood River (2), Jackson (91), Jefferson (15), Josephine (7), Klamath (4), Lake (4), Lane (77), Lincoln (2), Linn (15), Malheur (39), Marion (123), Morrow (3), Multnomah (247), Polk (14), Tillamook (4), Umatilla (40), Union (10), Wallowa (2), Wasco (3), Washington (148), and Yamhill (31).
Crook County has had 159 COVID-19 cases, five deaths and 3,618 negative test results. Deschutes County has had 1,587 cases, 14 deaths and 43,377 negative test results.
St. Charles Health System reported 14 COVID-19 patients as of 7 a.m. Friday, three of whom were in the ICU and two on a ventilator.
Oregon’s 747th COVID-19 death is an 82-year-old woman in Marion County who tested positive on Oct. 26 and died on Nov. 11, in her residence. She had underlying conditions.
Oregon’s 748th COVID-19 death is a 77-year-old woman in Multnomah County who tested positive on Oct. 17 and died on Nov. 7, at Providence Portland Medical Center. She had underlying conditions.
Oregon’s 749th COVID-19 death is a 38-year-old man in Marion County who tested positive on Oct. 30 and died on Nov. 6, in his residence. He did not have underlying conditions.
Oregon’s 750th COVID-19 death is an 80-year-old man in Multnomah County who tested positive on Oct. 17 and died on Nov. 7, at Providence Portland Medical Center. He had underlying conditions.
Oregon’s 751st COVID-19 death is an 84-year-old woman in Benton County who tested positive on Oct. 30 and died on Nov. 11, in her residence. She had underlying conditions.
Oregon’s 752nd COVID-19 death is an 87-year-old man in Jackson County who tested positive on Nov. 6 and died on Nov. 10, at Asante Rogue Valley Medical Center in Medford. He had underlying conditions.
Oregon’s 753rd COVID-19 death is an 80-year-old man in Jackson County who tested positive on Nov. 3 and died on Nov. 10 at, Asante Rogue Valley Medical Center in Medford. He had underlying conditions.
Avamere at Three Fountains, a skilled nursing community in Medford, said in a news release Friday it has had 91 confirmed cases, including 68 residents and 23 staff members, as well as two deaths.
St. Charles also provided details to NewsChannel 21 on Friday about a late-October outbreak involving five staff members, as listed in OHA's weekly report.
The organization said the caregivers worked in a non-clinical department outside of the hospital building.
"Upon review of the cases, it was determined that it was likely community exposure that resulted in illness that was brought into the workplace, causing two of the positives; the other two exposures are of undetermined origin. The latter two share a household and one of them is a direct patient caregiver who sometimes works with COVID-positive patients."
The only caregivers furloughed to quarantine were the five who tested positive, and all have returned to work, St. Charles said. Its investigation found that "13 other caregivers had exposure of low to moderate risk" and did not develop the virus.
New modeling shows continued surge in COVID-19 cases
Today the Oregon Health Authority released its latest modeling indicating a steep increase in the spread of COVID-19 dating back to early November.
According to the model, the effective reproduction rate – the expected number of secondary cases that a single case generates – was estimated to be between 1.25 and 1.69, with an estimate of 1.47.
The current level of transmission could result in “exponential” growth, resulting in approximately 1,500 new daily cases over the next two weeks. The model does have limitations, including that it is based on Oregon data only through November 6.
According to the model, if Oregonians collectively wear masks, keep physical distance, restrict social gatherings and maintain good hand hygiene to slow the spread of the virus, new cases would remain historically high for a short time before decreasing.
Social gatherings continue to fuel transmission. OHA is urging Oregonians to rethink their social activities over the next few weeks and to reconsider their holiday plans.
Here are some actions people can take to keep COVID-19 from spreading through social gatherings:
- Minimize close contact with others.
- Work from home to the extent possible.
- Limit social gatherings.
- Reconsider holiday plans to keep them to a small group. Reduce social interactions with people outside of your household.
OHA streamlines county guidance to handle surge in cases
OHA has issued temporary new recommendations to local health authorities, streamlining protocols for contact tracing and case investigations during the current surge in cases.
The recommendations are intended to direct resources to serving at-risk people and vulnerable populations.
The recommendations for case investigation include:
- Reducing the number of questions to prioritize health interventions and focus on people most at risk of serious illness.
- Limiting calls or texts to persons who test positive while still connecting them to support services.
- Provide workplace notifications to high-consequences businesses and congregate care facilities.
The recommendations for contact tracing include:
- Prioritizing contact to high-risk individuals.
- Eliminate active monitoring for 14 days.
- Limiting interactions to a single interview.
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.
