Oregon reports 1,197 new confirmed and presumptive COVID-19 cases, 31 new deaths
PORTLAND, Ore. — There are 31 new COVID-19 related deaths in Oregon, raising the state’s death toll to 5,590, Oregon Health Authority (OHA) reported at 12:01 a.m. Wednesday. OHA reported 1,197 new confirmed and presumptive cases of COVID-19 as of 12:01 a.m. Wednesday, bringing the state total to 409,232. Note: The review of the approximately 550 death records is now complete. Every record was reviewed to determine whether they met the COVID-19 case definition and OHA reported out the information as the individual reviews were completed. Due to lags that occur in death reporting and the death certification processes, there will always be deaths reported with a lag, but the catch-up work is complete.
Oregon makes progress toward goal of 1 million people boosted before February
Last week, Governor Kate Brown announced a goal of getting 1 million more Oregonians a booster dose of a COVID-19 vaccine by the end of January as the state prepares to confront a projected surge in cases from the Omicron variant. Oregonians who are currently eligible for a booster dose have accepted the challenge to protect themselves, their families, their coworkers and their fellow Oregonians from COVID-19. Around the state, Oregonians have turned out to receive their booster doses at community vaccination events, pharmacies, Tribal clinics, federally qualified health centers and medical providers. When the challenge started on Dec. 17, 949,749 people had received a booster dose. Since Dec. 17, 96,339 Oregonians have received a booster. As of Wednesday, Oregon needs 903,661 people to get a booster to reach the goal and make our state safer from the Omicron variant.
OHA updates hours for high-volume vaccine sites in Oregon for more public convenience
You can protect yourself against all COVID-19 variants by getting vaccinated and getting a booster, if you are eligible. Several sites around the state can accommodate large numbers of people seeking vaccinations. These high-volume sites offer all three COVID-19 vaccines, boosters and pediatric doses. They have added availabilities over the holiday season. For more information about vaccination clinics and providers near you at GetVaccinated.Oregon.gov.
OHA releases 2020 COVID-19 Year-In-Review Data Report
Wednesday, OHA released the 2020 COVID-19 Year-in-Review Data Report. The report serves as a summary of trends and key statistics from the first calendar year of the COVID-19 pandemic response in Oregon, as well as the pandemic’s disproportionate impacts on communities of color. The report includes case counts and rates, along with hospitalization and death data from 2020 with comparisons across geography, race, ethnicity, sex and age. Breaking down COVID-19 data by race, ethnicity, sex, age and geography helps Oregon’s public health system respond to health inequities in Oregon. On Feb. 28, 2020, OHA reported the first confirmed case of COVID-19 in Oregon. By Dec. 31, 2020, 121,440 cases of COVID-19 were reported to OHA. Of these cases, 7,416 (6.1%) were hospitalized and 2,061 (1.7%) died. In 2020, COVID-19 intensified many of the inequities that already existed in Oregon, affecting communities of color the most. American Indian and Alaska Native persons, Asian and Asian American persons, Black, African and African American persons, Hispanic and Latino/a/x persons and Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander persons had higher hospitalization and death rates when compared to white persons. Lack of access to health care, language barriers, crowded working conditions, lower-income jobs and distrust in government due to historical racism all exacerbated the impact of COVID-19 in communities of color. Among those with COVID-19 in 2020, people 80 and older were most likely to be hospitalized (30% of all hospitalizations) and most likely to die (23% of all hospitalizations) in association with COVID-19, compared to all other age groups. Overall annual case rates varied significantly by county of residence. This report is a unique opportunity to reflect on the initial burden of COVID-19 during 2020 and inform the ways we respond to COVID-19 and similar public health threats in the future.
COVID-19 weekly cases rise, hospitalizations and deaths decline
OHA’s COVID-19 Weekly Report released Wednesday, shows an increase in daily cases and decreases in hospitalizations and deaths. OHA reported 5,589 new cases of COVID-19 during the week of Monday, Dec. 13, through Sunday, Dec. 19. That is a 10% increase from the previous week. There were 147,233 tests for COVID-19 for the week of Dec. 12 through Dec. 18. The percentage of positive tests fell to 4.8%, down slightly from 5.0% last week. There were 286 new COVID-19 hospitalizations, down from 360 last week. There were 114 newly reported COVID-19-related deaths this week, down from 152 the previous week. Wednesday’s COVID-19 Weekly Outbreak Report shows 53 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. Note: The “Recovery” section of the Weekly Report has been permanently removed beginning today. This section is now published in the 2020 COVID-19 Year-in-Review Data Report because it includes data last collected in 2020. In addition, the “HOSCAP” section of the Weekly Report now includes a link to the HOSCAP Tableau Dashboard in place of the weekly hospital capacity tables.
COVID-19 Hospitalizations
The number of hospitalized patients with COVID-19 across Oregon is 342, which is four more than Tuesday. There are 87 COVID-19 patients in intensive care unit (ICU) beds, which is two more than Tuesday. There are 59 available adult ICU beds out of 673 total (9% availability) and 269 available adult non-ICU beds out of 4,135 (7% availability). 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. You can find a test here. 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 29,308 new doses of COVID-19 vaccinations were added to the state immunization registry Dec. 21. Of that total, 2,021 were initial doses, 1,459 were second doses and 11,336 were third doses and booster doses. The remaining 14,392 were administered on previous days but were entered into the vaccine registry Dec. 21. The seven-day running average is now 19,182 doses per day. Oregon has now administered 3,739,956 doses of Pfizer Comirnaty, 153,545 doses of Pfizer pediatric, 2,454,531 doses of Moderna and 253,827 doses of Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccines. As of Wednesday, 3,028,069 people have had at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine and 2,752,626 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-29 Cases
The new confirmed and presumptive COVID-19 cases reported today are in the following counties: Baker (11), Benton (19), Clackamas (120), Clatsop (9), Columbia (17), Coos (25), Crook (11), Curry (5), Deschutes (98), Douglas (27), Grant (9), Harney (3), Hood River (6), Jackson (73), Jefferson (6), Josephine (38), Klamath (18), Lake (2), Lane (106), Lincoln (4), Linn (52), Malheur (2), Marion (86), Morrow (8), Multnomah (253), Polk (22), Tillamook (6), Umatilla (13), Union (2), Wasco (4), Washington (122), Yamhill (20).