The Oregon health authority on Wednesday announced 649 new cases of coronavirus and ten more deaths, as the government office Kate Brown said it would comply with a judge’s order to start vaccinating inmates in state prisons.
Officials are not disputing an order from a federal judge requiring Oregon inmates to be vaccinated rather than the planned March timeline.
Brown’s office said accelerated vaccinations for inmates do not affect the schedule for eligible and soon-to-be teachers and seniors. But it is not immediately clear how this will be possible, or, if it is accurate, why the state initially did not choose to vaccinate prisoners earlier.
Wednesday was the 18th consecutive day with confirmed or suspected coronavirus infections among 1,000.
Cases, hospitalizations and the number of positive tests remain significantly lower than the records set in December.
Oregon is approaching the milestone for 2,000 deaths and is likely to surpass it this week. At least 42 of the deaths are among Oregonians serving prison sentences.
Where the new cases are by country: Baker (5), Benton (32), Clackamas (40), Clatsop (5), Columbia (1), Coos (16), Crook (7), Curry (1), Deschutes (20), Douglas (19), Harney (4), Hood River (1), Jackson (41), Jefferson (7), Josephine (22), Klamath (4), Lake (2), Lane (91), Lincoln (8), Linn (21) , Malheur (5), Marion (66), Morrow (1), Multnomah (57), Polk (26), Umatilla (31), Union (7), Wallowa (3), Wasco (4), Washington (62) and Yamhill (40).
Deaths: The state released details on Wednesday of 23 deaths announced Tuesday and of ten deaths announced Wednesday.
Oregon’s 1,959th coronavirus-related death is an 87-year-old man from Clackamas County who tested positive on Jan. 22 and died in his home on Jan. 30.
The death of 1,960 is a 96-year-old woman in Clackamas County who tested positive on Jan. 21 and died in her home on Jan. 29.
The 1,961 death is a 95-year-old woman from Clackamas County who tested positive on Jan. 18 and died in her home on Jan. 30.
The 1,962 deaths are a 61-year-old Clackamas County man who tested positive on Jan. 1 and died in his home on Jan. 19.
The death of 1,963 is a 96-year-old Clackamas County man who tested positive on Dec. 31 and died in his home on Jan. 11.
The 1,964 deaths are an 85-year-old woman from Clackamas County who tested positive on Dec. 28 and on Jan. 11 in Providence St. Vincent Medical Center passed away.
The 1,965th death is a 90-year-old woman in Hood River County who tested positive on Jan. 21 and died in her home on Jan. 31.
The 1,966 deaths are an 87-year-old woman from Columbia Province who tested positive on December 15 and died on January 8 at Legacy Good Samaritan Medical Center.
The 1,967th death is a 61-year-old woman from Lane County who tested positive on Dec. 10 and died in her home on Jan. 25.
The 1,968 deaths are a 70-year-old Jackson County man who tested positive on Jan. 15 and died Jan. 30 at Providence Medford Medical Center.
The death of 1,969 is a 66-year-old man from Jackson County without underlying medical conditions who tested positive on December 28 and died on January 28 at Asante Three Rivers Medical Center.
The 1,970 deaths are a 64-year-old man from Marion County who died on January 30 at Santiam Hospital. In his death certificate, COVID-19 was mentioned as a cause or significant condition contributing to his death.
The 1,971st death is a 62-year-old man in Marion County who tested positive on January 21 and died on February 1 at Salem Hospital.
The 1,972 deaths are a 68-year-old woman from Marion County who tested positive on Dec. 21 and died at Salem Hospital on Jan. 26.
The death of 1,973 is a 79-year-old man from Marion County who tested positive on December 7 and died in his home on January 29.
The 1,974 deaths are a 58-year-old man in Morrow County who tested positive on Jan. 30 and died Feb. 1 at Good Shepherd Community Hospital.
The death of 1,975 is an 83-year-old man in Multnomah County who tested positive on November 23 and died on January 9 in his residence.
The 1,976 deaths are a 66-year-old man in Multnomah County who tested positive on November 13 and died on December 9 at Providence Portland Medical Center.
The death of 1,977 is an 87-year-old man in Multnomah County who tested positive on Dec. 5 and died in his home on Dec. 31.
The 1978 deaths are a 73-year-old woman in Multnomah County who tested positive on Dec. 22 and died in her home on Jan. 24.
The death of 1979 is a 95-year-old woman in Multnomah County who tested positive on Jan. 8 and died in her home on Jan. 31.
The 1,980 deaths are an 81-year-old woman in Multnomah County who tested positive on Jan. 27 and died on Jan. 30. Civil servants confirm where she died.
The 1,981 death is a 69-year-old woman from Yamhill County who tested positive on January 21 and died on January 26 at Willamette Valley Medical Center.
The 1,982 deaths are a 59-year-old Baker County man who tested positive on Feb. 1 and died Feb. 1 in St. Louis. Alphonsus Regional Medical Center died.
The death of 1,983 is a 99-year-old woman from Clackamas County who tested positive on January 26 and died on January 24 in her home.
The 1,984 deaths are a 64-year-old woman from Clackamas County who tested positive on Jan. 24 and died in her home on Jan. 25.
The death of 1,985 is a 71-year-old woman in Deschutes County who tested positive on Jan. 20 and died in her home on Jan. 28.
The 1986 death is a 94-year-old woman from Jackson County who tested positive on Jan. 4 and died in her home on Jan. 31.
The death of 1987 is an 86-year-old man in Marion County who tested positive on January 25 and died in his home on January 31.
The 1988 death is a 65-year-old man in Umatilla County who tested positive on January 11 and died on January 26 in his residence.
The death of 1989 is an 81-year-old woman in Multnomah County who tested positive on Nov. 29 and died in her home on Jan. 2.
The 1990 deaths are a 72-year-old man in Umatilla County who tested positive on January 16 and died on January 29 in his residence.
The 1991 death is a 98-year-old woman from Yamhill County who tested positive on January 21 and died on January 30. Civil servants confirm where she died.
Except as noted above, each person who died underwent underlying health conditions or government officials to determine if the person had underlying medical conditions.
The incidence of infections: The state reported 575 new positive tests out of 15,079 tests performed, which equates to a 3.8% positivity test.
Who became infected: New confirmed or suspected infections grew among the following age groups: 0-9 (24); 10-19 (82); 20-29 (144); 30-39 (97); 40-49 (87); 50-59 (78); 60-69 (57); 70-79 (38); 80 and older (18).
Who is in the hospital: The state reported 266 Oregonians with confirmed coronavirus infections in hospital Wednesday, four more than Tuesday. Of these, 63 coronavirus patients were in intensive care units, two more than on Tuesday.
Vaccines: Oregon reported that 471,966 doses of vaccine were administered, or approximately 67% of the doses received. Oregon reported 17,720 newly administered doses, including 12,173 on Tuesday and the remainder of previous days.
Since it started: Oregon reported 144,605 confirmed or suspected infections and 1,991 deaths, one of the lowest per capita numbers in the country. To date, the state has reported 3,233,826 laboratory reports of tests.
– Brad Schmidt; [email protected]; 503-294-7628; @_brad_schmidt