Coronavirus testing in Oregon has dropped over the past few weeks, returning to levels not seen since November, and is far above the decline in newly diagnosed cases.
Oregon’s average daily test counts have dropped 34% since Dec. 17, but confirmed and suspected infections are down just 10%.
The Oregon Health Authority came under scrutiny in the fall over what appeared to be listlessness with the progress of the testing, asking the agency to change the way test volume is reported to show that it has been achieved. But a new analysis from The Oregonian / OregonLive found that test numbers subsequently crashed during the holidays and still did not recover.
Government officials did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
The Oregon health authority on Monday reported another ten deaths and 939 new cases of coronavirus, meaning the number of cases was less than 1,000 for the third time in the past week.
It’s not immediately clear what caused the decline in the test – fewer sick Oregonians, inadequate access to the test, fewer performances during the holidays, a combination of all three or something else. Active hospitalization – a constant measure of serious cases in the community – has fallen by about a quarter since December 17.
Oregon monitors test volume by announcing the number of electronic lab reports received. The tests peaked on December 17 with an average of seven days of 25,184, but are now down to 16,723, roughly equal to the test levels for November 15.
Meanwhile, confirmed or suspected infections have increased over the past week. Oregon’s average test positivity rate, 7.5%, is a full point higher than on Dec. 17.
Civil servants are on track. Recent modeling suggests Oregon may see more cases in the coming weeks, and Gov. Kate Brown said the potential winter wave could surpass the records set this fall.
Where the new cases are by country: Baker (1), Benton (13), Clackamas (87), Clatsop (1), Columbia (14), Coos (15), Crook (1), Deschutes (38), Douglas (16), Hood River (3) , Jackson (40), Jefferson (5), Josephine (38), Lane (61), Lincoln (8), Linn (13), Malheur (2), Marion (110), Morrow (8), Multnomah (16) , Polk (40), Tillamook (2), Umatilla (63), Union (5), Wasco (7), Washington (314) and Yamhill (18).
Deaths: Oregon’s 1,604 coronavirus-related deaths is a 73-year-old woman from Jefferson County who tested positive on Dec. 25 and in the St. Louis area on Jan. 9. Charles Medical Center – Bend died.
The 1,605 death is a 57-year-old woman from Lane County who tested positive on Dec. 18 and died on Jan. 9 at Oregon Health & Science University.
Oregon’s 1,606 deaths is an 88-year-old man in Lane County who tested positive on Dec. 23 and died Jan. 7 at PeaceHealth Sacred Heart Medical Center in Riverbend.
The 1,607 deaths are a 53-year-old man in Lane County who tested positive on Dec. 28 and died Jan. 8 at PeaceHealth Sacred Heart Medical Center in Riverbend.
Oregon’s 1,608th death is a 91-year-old man in Multnomah County who tested positive on Dec. 13 and died in his home on Dec. 21.
The 1,609 deaths are a 91-year-old woman in Multnomah County who tested positive on Dec. 3 and died in her home on Dec. 11.
Oregon’s 1,610-year-old death is a 74-year-old woman in Multnomah County who tested positive on Dec. 18 and died on Dec. 30 at Kaiser Sunnyside Medical Center.
The 1,611 deaths are a 95-year-old woman in Multnomah County who tested positive on January 1 and died on January 8 in Adventist Health Portland.
Oregon’s 1,612 deaths is a 93-year-old woman in Multnomah County who tested positive on Dec. 15 and died in her home on Jan. 2.
The 1,613 deaths are a 98-year-old woman from Washington County who tested positive on Dec. 29 and died in her home on Jan. 4.
Each person had underlying health conditions.
A prisoner from the Two Rivers Correctional Institution has not yet been included in the official count of the state, who according to the Oregon Department of Corrections passed away on January 10 after testing positive for coronavirus. He is between the ages of 70 and 80.
The Oregon Health Authority also removed two deaths from their twice-reported deaths.
The incidence of infections: The state reported 923 new positive tests out of 12 934 tests performed, which equates to a 7.1% positivity rate.
Who became infected: Civil servants have not given a detailed age distribution since Friday. Since then, new confirmed or suspected infections have grown since the following age groups: 0-9 (147); 10-19 (442); 20-29 (897); 30-39 (682); 40-49 (559); 50-59 (444); 60-69 (295); 70-79 (175); 80 and older (102).
Who is in the hospital: The state reported that 409 Oregonians with confirmed coronavirus infections were hospitalized Monday, six versus Sunday. Of these, 84 were in intensive care units, the same as Sunday.
Vaccines administered: Oregon received 104,595 doses administered out of 270,800 received, or 39% of its supply.
Since it started: Oregon reported 126,607 confirmed or suspected infections and 1,613 deaths, one of the lowest totals in the country. To date, the state has reported 2,839,839 laboratory reports of tests.
– Brad Schmidt; [email protected]; 503-294-7628; @_brad_schmidt