COVID-19 weekly cases and deaths decline, hospitalizations rise
Oregon Health Authority’s COVID-19 Weekly Report, released Wednesday, shows decreases in daily cases and deaths and an increase in hospitalizations. OHA reported 7,707 new cases of COVID-19 during the week of Monday, Oct. 18 through Sunday, Oct. 24. That represents a 4.1% decrease from the previous week and the eighth consecutive week of declining case counts. The incidence of reported COVID-19 cases was higher in Oregon counties with population vaccination rates less than 50%. There were 415 new COVID-19 hospitalizations, up from 377 last week, marking the first-time hospitalizations have risen following seven consecutive weeks of declines.
There were 110 reported COVID-19 related deaths, down from 183 reported the previous week. This was the lowest weekly death toll since the week of Aug. 16–22. There were 137,537 tests for COVID-19 for the week of Oct. 17 through Oct. 23. The percentage of positive tests was 7.4%, down from 7.6% the previous week. Today’s COVID-19 Weekly Outbreak Report shows 101 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.
Oregon reports 1,360 new confirmed and presumptive COVID-19 cases, 16 new deaths
PORTLAND, Ore. — There are 16 new COVID-19 related deaths in Oregon, raising the state’s death toll to 4,334, Oregon Health Authority reported at 12:01 a.m. Wednesday. Oregon Health Authority (OHA) reported 1,360 new confirmed and presumptive cases of COVID-19 as of 12:01 a.m. Wednesday, bringing the state total to 362,561.
OHA updates COVID-19 Vaccination Metrics dashboard to show uptake of third and booster doses in Oregon
The updated dashboard will now focus on three important metrics: The percentage of people who have initiated COVID-19 vaccination and have received at least one dose of any COVID-19 vaccine. The percentage of people who have completed their primary series, or have received one dose of Johnson & Johnson or two doses of the Moderna or Pfizer vaccines. The percentage of people who have received an extra dose beyond their primary series of any COVID-19 vaccine. Third and booster doses are reported together, along with any extra dose beyond the primary series of any COVID-19 vaccine consistent with guidelines and recommendations for mixing and matching additional doses beyond primary series. The statewide, age and race and ethnicity tabs will all be updated by demographic or county for each of those metrics as well.
COVID-19 Hospitalizations
The number of hospitalized patients with COVID-19 across Oregon is 554, which is 12 more than Tuesday. There are 126 COVID-19 patients in intensive care unit (ICU) beds, which is one fewer than Tuesday. There are 45 available adult ICU beds out of 692 total (7% availability) and 247 available adult non-ICU beds out of 4,144 (6% availability). Note: OHA incorrectly reported Tuesday that the 127 COVID-19 patients in intensive care unit (ICU) beds were four fewer than the previous day. The 127 total was four more than the previous day. The total number of patients in hospital beds may fluctuate between report times. The numbers do not reflect admissions per day, nor the length of hospital stay. Staffing limitations are not captured in this data and may further limit bed capacity. Note: Please do not visit an emergency department for COVID-19 testing, unless you require emergency care for your symptoms. Emergency departments in Oregon are under significant strain responding to the current surge in COVID-19. If you have a medical condition that doesn’t require emergency care, contact your provider. An urgent care center may also help you get the care you need and will save emergency departments from added strain.
Vaccinations in Oregon
Wednesday, OHA reported that 20,275 new doses of COVID-19 vaccinations were added to the state immunization registry on Oct. 26. Of this total, 10,364 were administered on Oct. 26: 1,091 were initial doses; 825 were second doses and 8,403 were third doses and booster doses. The remaining 9,911 were administered on previous days but were entered into the vaccine registry on Oct. 26. Oregon has now administered 3,252,076 doses of Pfizer Comirnaty, 1,952,169 doses of Moderna and 225,440 doses of Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccines. As of today, 2,804,267 people have had at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine and 2,589,267 people have completed a COVID-19 vaccine series. These data are preliminary and subject to change. Updated vaccination data are provided on Oregon’s COVID-19 data dashboards and have been updated Wednesday.
COVID-19 Cases & Deaths
The new confirmed and presumptive COVID-19 cases reported Wednesday are in the following counties: Baker (7), Benton (25), Clackamas (111), Clatsop (7), Columbia (11), Coos (22), Crook (18), Curry (2), Deschutes (140), Douglas (60), Gilliam (3), Grant (6), Harney (2), Hood River (9), Jackson (51), Jefferson (13), Josephine (27), Klamath (48), Lake (1), Lane (80), Lincoln (15), Linn (86), Malheur (17), Marion (147), Morrow (5), Multnomah (165), Polk (38), Sherman (3), Tillamook (3), Umatilla (50), Union (14), Wallowa (2), Wasco (14), Washington (110) and Yamhill (48). Oregon’s 4,323rd COVID-19 related death is a 43-year-old woman from Coos County who tested positive on Oct. 16 and died on Oct. 25 at her residence. She had underlying conditions.