The Oregon health authority on Wednesday reported 704 new confirmed or suspected cases of coronavirus and another 24 deaths. This is the fourth consecutive day with less than 800 cases.
The spread is declining, with numbers relatively stable over the past week, and the positive percentage of the test has dropped to levels not seen since early November. Oregon has averaged 862 cases a day in the past week, the lowest average since Nov. 11 in the state.
Active hospitalizations have also been declining for more than a month, which equates to scores from mid-November.
Deaths, which follow cases and hospitalizations, are also lower than in December’s records – but remain much higher than in almost all other months. The reported death toll on Wednesday ended a three-day series of single-digit deaths.
Where the new cases are by country: Baker (3), Benton (21), Clackamas (36), Clatsop (6), Coos (12), Crook (7), Deschutes (38), Douglas (17), Harney (3), Hood River (6) , Jackson (38), Jefferson (7), Josephine (15), Klamath (16), Lake (4), Lane (53), Lincoln (4), Linn (26), Malheur (29), Marion (83) , Morrow (4), Multnomah (99), Polk (22), Tillamook (2), Umatilla (53), Union (7), Wallowa (1), Wasco (6), Washington (60) and Yamhill (26) .
New deaths: The health authority did not release the demographic details of the 24 new deaths reported on Wednesday, but said it would provide an update later in the day.
The incidence of infections: The state reported 809 new positive tests out of 15,950 tests performed, which equates to a 5.1% positivity rate.
Who became infected: New confirmed or suspected infections increased among the following age groups: 0-9 (14); 10-19 (82); 20-29 (134); 30-39 (98); 40-49 (108); 50-59 (82); 60-69 (79); 70-79 (35); 80 and older (44).
Who is in the hospital: The state reported that 336 Oregonians with confirmed coronavirus infections were in the hospital Wednesday, eight more than Tuesday. Of these, 90 coronavirus patients were in intensive care units, two less than on Tuesday.
Vaccines administered: Oregon administered 238,760 doses out of 436,250 receipts, just under 55% of its supply.
Since it started: Oregon reported 135,142 confirmed or suspected infections and 1,832 deaths, one of the lowest totals in the country. To date, the state has reported 3,003,213 laboratory reports of tests.
– Kale Williams; [email protected]; 503-294-4048; @sfkale