Weekly COVID-19 cases increase, Feb. 4

The Oregon Health Authority’s COVID-19 Weekly Data Report, released Wednesday, shows an increase in daily cases, hospitalizations and deaths over the previous week. OHA reported 4,786 new daily cases during the week of Monday, Jan. 25 through Sunday, Jan. 31, a 16% increase from the previous week. COVID-19 related hospitalizations also increased from 229 to 251 — an average of 36 hospitalizations per day. That represents a 14% increase from the previous week. COVID-19 related deaths increased as well, but only slightly, from 74 to 76. There were 119,390 COVID-19 tests administered for the week of Jan. 24 through Jan. 30, which is slightly more than the previous week. The percentage of positive tests increased to 5.4%. People age 20 to 49 have accounted for 52% of COVID-19 cases, while people 70 and older have accounted for 77% of deaths associated with the virus. Starting with this week’s report, OHA will be releasing age-adjusted rate ratios of cases, hospitalizations and deaths by race and ethnicity in the COVID-19 Weekly Report. Age-adjustment is a method to quantify disparities among different racial and ethnic groups. Disparities among age-adjusted rates are evident when looking at the Pacific Islander/Native Hawaiian, Latinx, Black and American Indian/Alaska Native groups. Wednesday’s COVID-19 Weekly Outbreak Report shows 139 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.