Weekly COVID-19 cases, hospitalizations, deaths rise, March 4

The Oregon Health Authority’s COVID-19 Weekly Report, released today, shows increases in daily cases, hospitalizations and deaths from the previous week. OHA reported 2,652 new daily cases of COVID-19 during the week of Monday, Feb. 22 through Sunday, Feb. 28 — a 17% increase from the previous week. New COVID-19 related hospitalizations also rose to 164, up from 159 the previous week. Reported COVID-19 related deaths also increased to 57, up from 17 last week. That represents the lowest total since mid-November. There were 120,678 tests for COVID-19 for the week of Feb. 21 through Feb. 27, a sharp increase from the previous week. The previous week’s total was most likely affected by the inclement winter weather event that took place throughout the region.  Roughly 117,000 tests were administered on a weekly basis earlier this year. The percentage of positive tests was 3.7%. People 70 years of age and older have accounted for 40% of COVID-19 associated hospitalizations and 77% of COVID-19 associated deaths. Today’s COVID-19 Weekly Outbreak Report shows 56 active COVID-19 outbreaks in senior living communities and congregate living settings, with three or more confirmed cases and one or more COVID-19 related deaths.