Coronavirus hospitalizations rose gradually over the weekend amid an unprecedented run of infections, with the state on Monday averaging more than 6,750 cases a day in the past week.
Oregon’s record-breaking pace of infections from the omicron variant is being reflected in statewide hospitalizations.
The number of people actively hospitalized who tested positive for the coronavirus climbed to 692, up 11% since Friday. In intensive care units, the volume of patients with positive coronavirus tests climbed to 138, up 16% since Friday.
Even so, Oregon’s hospitalization numbers remain more than 40% below the delta peak despite average daily cases being nearly three times the summer summit.
The omicron variant is highly contagious but thought to be less severe, with early research indicating it spares the lungs. It has upended conventional pandemic metrics, not only for cases, with even hospitalization numbers somewhat squishy because people seeking care for conditions other than COVID-19 are more likely now than ever to incidentally test positive for the virus.
The Oregon Health Authority tallied an astounding 47,272 coronavirus cases over the past week, including 18,538 confirmed or presumed infections announced Monday for the preceding three days. Oregon registered a test positivity rate of 22.1% during the most recent span.
Oregon recorded nearly three times as many cases last week as the previous week. Modeling by Oregon Health & Science University projects coronavirus hospitalizations will surpass the delta peak, topping out at about 1,650 on Jan. 27, before rapidly falling back to pre-omicron levels.
Where the new cases are by county: Baker (28), Benton (600), Clackamas (1,926), Clatsop (95), Columbia (146), Coos (214), Crook (73), Curry (91), Deschutes (1,337), Douglas (136), Grant (8), Harney (5), Hood River (86), Jackson (898), Jefferson (181), Josephine (202), Klamath (84), Lake (1), Lane (1367), Lincoln (67), Linn (448), Malheur (33), Marion (1366), Morrow (46), Multnomah (4,393), Polk (267), Sherman (1), Tillamook (53), Umatilla (214), Union (102), Wallowa (10), Wasco (25), Washington (3,781) and Yamhill (254).
Who died: Oregon’s 5,762nd COVID-19-related death is an 86-year-old Multnomah County man who died Aug. 4, 2020, at Oregon Health & Science University Hospital. The death certificate listed COVID-19 as a cause or significant condition contributing to death.
The 5,763rd death is a 62-year-old Multnomah County woman who died Oct. 1, 2020, at her residence. The death certificate listed COVID-19 as a cause or significant condition contributing to death.
The 5,764th death is an 81-year-old Marion County man who died Oct. 22 at his residence. The death certificate listed COVID-19 as a cause or significant condition contributing to death.
The 5,765th death is a 96-year-old Benton County man who died Oct. 20, 2020, at his residence. The death certificate listed COVID-19 as a cause or significant condition contributing to death.
The 5,766th death is a 41-year-old Klamath County man who tested positive Oct. 22 and died Nov. 6 at Sky Lakes Medical Center.
The 5,767th death is a 51-year-old Wasco County man who tested positive Oct. 14 and died Nov. 11 at St. Charles Bend.
The 5,768th death is a 68-year-old Multnomah County man who tested positive Nov. 4 and died Nov. 13 at Providence Portland Medical Center.
The 5,769th death is a 78-year-old Klamath County man who tested positive Oct. 28 and died Nov. 14 at Sky Lakes Medical Center.
The 5,770th death is a 64-year-old Yamhill County man who tested positive Nov. 11 and died Nov. 11 at his residence.
The 5,771st death is a 73-year-old Marion County man who tested positive Dec. 21 and died Jan. 3 at Salem Hospital.
The 5,772nd death is a 79-year-old Josephine County man who tested positive Dec. 31 and died Jan. 7 at Asante Three Rivers Medical Center.
The 5,773rd death is a 76-year-old Josephine County man who tested positive Dec. 2 and died Jan. 7 at Providence Medford Medical Center. He had no underlying conditions.
The 5,774th death is a 76-year-old Jackson County woman who tested positive Dec. 27 and died Jan. 6 at Asante Rogue Regional Medical Center.
The 5,775th death is an 82-year-old Jackson County man who tested positive Dec. 17 and died Jan. 6 at Asante Rogue Regional Medical Center.
The 5,776th death is a 63-year-old Crook County man who died Nov. 3 at his residence. The death certificate listed COVID-19 as a cause or significant condition contributing to death.
The 5,777th death is a 90-year-old Coos County man who tested positive Jan. 7 and died Jan. 7 at Bay Area Hospital.
The 5,778th death is an 84-year-old Clackamas County woman who died Nov. 4 at Legacy Meridian Park Medical Center. The death certificate listed COVID-19 as a cause or significant condition contributing to death.
The 5,779th death is a 73-year-old Clackamas County man who tested positive Nov. 28 and died Dec. 20 at Kaiser Sunnyside Medical Center.
Each person had underlying health conditions or the presence of conditions was being confirmed.
Hospitalizations: 692 people with confirmed COVID-19 infections are hospitalized, up 67 since Friday. That includes 138 people in intensive care, up 19 since Friday.
Vaccines: 8,054 people have been reported newly vaccinated since Friday.
Since it began: Oregon has reported 478,203 confirmed or presumed infections and 5,779 deaths, among the lowest per capita numbers in the nation. To date, the state has reported 6,892,347 vaccine doses administered, fully vaccinating 2,788,981 people and partially vaccinating 284,918 people.
To see more data and trends, visit https://projects.oregonlive.com/coronavirus/
— Brad Schmidt; bschmidt@oregonian.com; 503-294-7628; @_brad_schmidt