Oregon reports 901 new confirmed and presumptive COVID-19 cases, 38 new deaths
PORTLAND — There are 38 new COVID-19 related deaths in Oregon, raising the state’s death toll to 5,356, Oregon Health Authority (OHA) reported at 12:01 a.m. Thursday.
OHA reported 901 new confirmed and presumptive cases of COVID-19 as of 12:01 a.m. Thursday bringing the state total to 399,361.
COVID-19 weekly cases, hospitalizations and deaths rise
OHA’s COVID-19 Weekly Report released Wednesday shows an increase in daily cases, hospitalizations and deaths.
OHA reported 6,435 new cases of COVID-19 during the week of Monday, Nov. 29, through Sunday, Dec. 5. That is a 50% increase from the previous week. The rise is likely a rebound from Thanksgiving weekend, which saw a significant reduction in reported tests.
The overall incidence of reported COVID-19 in Oregon varied by county vaccination rate but continues to be lowest in the five counties where the vaccination rates were more than 70%.
There were 134,705 tests for COVID-19 for the week of Nov. 28 through Dec. 4. The percentage of positive tests rose slightly to 5.9%, up from 5.6% the previous week.
There were 362 new COVID-19 hospitalizations, up from 226 last week. This also likely reflects a rebound in reporting after Thanksgiving weekend.
There were 126 reported COVID-19-related deaths, one more than the 125 reported the previous week.
Wednesday’s COVID-19 Weekly Outbreak Report shows 54 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.
Wastewater surveillance program expected to detect Omicron spread in communities
This week, scientists in Oregon will begin testing wastewater for the Omicron variant. Wastewater surveillance has previously identified emerging variants, including Delta. When samples in wastewater test negative, it means the level of the virus is too low to be detected in the sample provided.
In collaboration with Oregon State University (OSU), Oregon Health Authority’s (OHA) wastewater surveillance program monitors sewage for variants of the SARS-CoV-2 virus. The program launched in September 2020 tests wastewater for COVID-19 in more than 40 communities throughout the state, covering more than 60 percent of Oregon’s population. You can read more about the state’s wastewater surveillance here.
OHA releases new COVID-19 vaccine breakthrough report
OHA’s most recent update on COVID-19 breakthrough cases, released today, found that 69.4% of the 6,496 reported COVID-19 cases between Nov. 28 and Dec. 4 occurred in unvaccinated people.
There were 1,989 breakthrough cases, accounting for 30.6% of all cases.
The average age of the breakthrough cases during that period was 43. Forty-four breakthrough cases involved residents of care facilities, senior living communities or other congregate care settings. There were 64 breakthrough cases in people aged 12 to 17.
To date, there have been 47,687 COVID-19 vaccine breakthrough cases in Oregon. The average age of all cases is 47. Breakthrough cases have been reported in all 36 counties.
Cases of COVID-19 are far more common in unvaccinated people. The report shows that the rate of COVID-19 in unvaccinated people is more than 3-1/2 higher than in vaccinated people.
To date, 4.4% of all vaccine breakthrough cases have been hospitalized and 1.2% have died. The average age of vaccinated people who died was 81.
Vaccination remains the most effective tool to reduce the spread of COVID-19. To date more than 2.9 million Oregonians have received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine.
The latest breakthrough report can be found here.
COVID-19 hospitalizations
The number of hospitalized patients with COVID-19 across Oregon is 404, which is seven more than yesterday. There are 94 COVID-19 patients in intensive care unit (ICU) beds, which is six fewer than yesterday.
There are 56 available adult ICU beds out of 682 total (8% availability) and 247 available adult non-ICU beds out of 4,171 (6% availability).
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12/9/2021 Available Beds (and Percentage of Staffed Beds Available) |
||||||||
|
|
Statewide |
Region 1 |
Region 2 |
Region 3 |
Region 5 |
Region 6 |
Region 7 |
Region 9 |
|
Adult ICU beds available |
56 (8%) |
24 (7%) |
7 (8%) |
11 (12%) |
3 (5%) |
1 (10%) |
5 (11%) |
5 (19%) |
|
Adult non-ICU beds available |
247 (6%) |
32 (2%) |
15 (3%) |
52 (9%) |
37 (8%) |
12 (24%) |
43 (10%) |
56 (47%) |
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.
More information about hospital capacity can be found here.
Vaccinations in Oregon
Today, OHA reported that 32,291 new doses of COVID-19 vaccinations were added to the state immunization registry Dec. 8. Of that total, 2,136 were initial doses, 2,716 were second doses and 10,986 were third doses and booster doses. The remaining 16,351 were administered on previous days but were entered into the vaccine registry Dec. 8.
The seven-day running average is now 23,668 doses per day.
Oregon has now administered 3,600,843 doses of Pfizer Comirnaty, 111,760 doses of Pfizer pediatric, 2,341,352 doses of Moderna and 247,962 doses of Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccines.
As of today, 2,981,287 people have had at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine and 2,706,196 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 today.
Madras vaccination clinic doubles as block party and resource fair
To improve access to vaccines and community resources, Thrive Central Oregon and OHA recently held a Fiesta del Barrio – Community Block Party and Resource Fair. “We are so grateful for the opportunity to bring vaccine information and resources to those we already have relationships with throughout Central Oregon,” said Sarah Mahnke, executive director of Thrive Central Oregon. “These events give us another opportunity to meet with folks face-to-face, providing them with the resources and care – vaccinations! – they are seeking.”
Thrive’s next Community Block Party will be on Monday, Dec. 13, from 3 to 6 p.m. at the Rolling Sage Apartments in Madras.
Visit our blog to read the full story.
Thrive Central Oregon staffer Abigail Fate at the Madras Community Block Party and Resource Fair.
Cases and deaths
The new confirmed and presumptive COVID-19 cases reported today are in the following counties: Baker (2), Benton (16), Clackamas (94), Clatsop (8), Columbia (11), Coos (34), Crook (13), Deschutes (55), Douglas (43), Grant (2), Harney (4), Hood River (9), Jackson (57), Jefferson (8), Josephine (13), Klamath (13), Lane (61), Lincoln (9), Linn (69), Malheur (4), Marion (88), Morrow (2), Multnomah (127), Polk (23), Tillamook (8), Umatilla (6), Wallowa (1), Wasco (7), Washington (92), and Yamhill (22).