The Oregon Health Authority on Sunday announced 393 new cases of COVID-19, along with four new deaths, which increased the death toll from the coronavirus to 2,023. The number of cases is lower over weekends due to delays in reporting.
The newly identified infections come as Oregon prepares to open up widespread vaccinations for people 80 years and older.
Oregon will be one of the last states in the state to start vaccinating the elderly after Brown earlier in the process made teachers and other early teachers eligible for re-election in a push to reopen schools. Lawyers are concerned that the state does not have a purposeful plan to ensure that vulnerable elderly people can be vaccinated.
Despite Governor Kate Brown’s recent claim that all residents of aged care could receive the coronavirus vaccine, hundreds of assistance homes across the country have not yet been offered the first round of the vaccine. More than 1,200 of the 1,400 adult foster homes were also not reported to receive vaccinations. Brown’s office later said she only meant to refer to nursing homes.
Patrick Allen, director of health care in Oregon, said after most Oregonians were vaccinated in the early waves, the state could be eligible for new groups by early April – like other essential workers and people with underlying conditions.
The four deaths announced Sunday were all among people aged 78 or older.
Where the new cases are by country: Baker (1), Benton (8), Clackamas (28), Columbia (3), Coos (11), Crook (5), Curry (9), Deschutes (30), Douglas (10), Harney (2), Hood River (1), Jackson (23), Jefferson (6), Josephine (6), Lake (2), Lane (28), Lincoln (4), Linn (8), Malheur (1), Marion (41) , Morrow (3), Multnomah (63), Polk (16), Umatilla (13), Union (1), Wasco (3), Washington (51) and Yamhill (16).
Who is dead: The 2020 death is an 82-year-old resident of Multnomah County who tested positive on November 19 and died on November 29 in their home. Gender is confirmed.
The 2021st death is an 89-year-old woman from Jackson County who tested positive on Jan. 11 and died in her home on Feb. 4.
The 2022 death is a 78-year-old woman in Marion County who tested positive on January 22 and died on February 5 at Salem Hospital.
The 2,023 death is a 93-year-old man in Marion County who tested positive on January 26 and died on February 5 at Salem Hospital.
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: On Saturday, the state reported 466 new positive tests out of 12,381 tests performed, which equates to a 3.8% positivity rate.
Who is in the hospital: The state reported that 230 Oregonians with confirmed coronavirus infections were hospitalized Sunday, two more than Saturday. Of these, 53 coronavirus patients were one in intensive care units, one more than Saturday.
Vaccines administered: Oregon administered 554,145 first and second doses out of 734,950 receipts, which is 75.4% of its supply. Oregon reported 21,694 newly administered doses, including 17,940 on Saturday and the remainder of previous days.
Since it started: Oregon reported 147,122 confirmed or suspected infections and 2,023 deaths, one of the lowest per capita numbers in the country. To date, the state has reported more than 3,304,822 laboratory reports of tests.
– Jaimie Ding
[email protected]; 503-221-4395; @j_dingdingding