The Oregon health authority on Thursday reported 466 new cases of coronavirus and six deaths, including the state’s youngest victim: a baby boy from Umatilla County who died last month.
The Jan. 17 death is Oregon’s only among children nine years and younger. The youngest COVID 19 victim in the state was a 19-year-old man from Marion County who died in December.
According to the Oregon Health Authority, the baby boy had unknown underlying health conditions and died the same day he tested positive.
“The loss of a young life is an indescribable tragedy for a family,” Gov. Kate Brown said in a statement.
“Dan and I send our thoughts and condolences to the mother and family of this child, whose grief must be unimaginable at this moment,” Brown added, referring to her husband. “The hearts of all Oregonians are with you today.”
Oregon reported just under 7,000 identified cases of coronavirus among children nine and younger. Only 89 of the children needed hospitalization, or about 1%.
Children are less likely to develop severe cases of COVID-19 compared to adults, Drs. Dean Sidelinger, the state health officer and state epidemiologist, said in a statement. Child deaths due to COVID-19 are ‘extremely rare’.
“There are still risks for children to develop serious COVID-19 diseases, and we continue to encourage all parents to seek medical care for their children if there are certain symptoms,” Sidelinger said.
Symptoms include difficulty breathing, new confusion, blue lips or face, inability to wake up or stay awake when you are not tired, or chest pain or pressure that does not go away.
Where the new cases are by country: Baker (6), Benton (17), Clackamas (31), Clatsop (2), Columbia (6), Coos (8), Crook (9), Curry (4), Deschutes (19), Douglas (25), Harney (1), Hood River (2), Jackson (27), Jefferson (12), Josephine (13), Klamath (6), Lake (3), Lane (41), Lincoln (1), Linn (5) , Malheur (3), Marion (46), Morrow (2), Multnomah (66), Polk (13), Tillamook (3), Umatilla (21), Union (2), Wasco (4), Washington (54) and Yamhill (14).
Who died: Oregon’s 2,144th death related to COVID-19 is a 76-year-old man in Deschutes County who tested positive on Feb. 10 and in St. Louis on Feb. 15. Charles Bend Hospital died.
The 2145 deaths is an 84-year-old man in Deschutes County who tested positive on February 8 and died on February 12 in his residence.
Oregon’s 2,146-year-old death is a 68-year-old man from Marion County who tested positive on Nov. 18 and died Feb. 14 at Kaiser Permanente Westside Medical Center.
The 2147 deaths is an 84-year-old man from Josephine County who tested positive on Jan. 25 and died in his home on Feb. 12.
Oregon’s 2148th death toll is a 72-year-old man in Coos County who tested positive on Jan. 16 and died Feb. 11 at Oregon Health & Science University Hospital.
The 2149th death is a baby boy in Umatilla County who tested positive on January 17 and died on January 17 at Kadlec Regional Medical Center.
Each person had underlying medical conditions.
The incidence of infections: The state reported 640 new positive tests out of 17,415 tests performed, which equates to a 3.7% positivity rate.
Who became infected: New confirmed or suspected infections grew among the following age groups: 0-9 (18); 10-19 (58); 20-29 (112); 30-39 (75); 40-49 (62); 50-59 (51); 60-69 (36); 70-79 (24); 80 and older (20).
Who is in the hospital: The state reported 169 people with confirmed coronavirus infections in the hospital Thursday, 21 lower than Wednesday. Of these, 52 coronavirus patients are in intensive care units, less than on Wednesday.
Vaccines: Oregon reports 729,823 doses of vaccine have been administered, or about 79% of the doses received. Oregon reported 22,663 newly administered doses, including 14,414 on Wednesday and the remainder of previous days.
Since it started: Oregon reported 151,713 confirmed or suspected infections and 2,149 deaths, one of the lowest per capita numbers in the country. To date, the state has reported 3,449,326 laboratory reports of tests.
– Brad Schmidt; [email protected]; 503-294-7628; @_brad_schmidt