The Oregon Health Authority reported a record-breaking count of daily coronavirus cases Wednesday with 281, topping the previous record of 278 set June 17.
The disclosure of cases comes as high infection rates occurred throughout central and eastern Oregon.
The Oregon Health Authority on Twitter cited workplace outbreaks and increased testing as contributors to the high case count and urged citizens to practice physical distancing, wear masks and stay home when feeling sick.
The record case count also comes as Gov. Kate Brown addressed in an hour-long news conference a new rule requiring Oregonians ages 12 and up to wear masks in indoor public spaces starting Wednesday. Compliance with the rule will be essential in determining whether businesses will remain open statewide and whether schools will reopen next fall, Brown said.
The highest case count Wednesday came from Washington County, with 48 new confirmed or presumed infections. That’s the county’s highest daily total since the outbreak began, surpassing the 44 cases reported June 27.
Wednesday’s surge pushed the state’s average from the past week to more than 215 cases a day, which is also a record.
Where the new cases are by county: Baker (3), Benton (2), Clackamas (20), Clatsop (1), Columbia (1), Deschutes (4), Douglas (2), Jackson (3), Jefferson (7), Klamath (4), Lake (2), Lane (12), Lincoln (12), Linn (7), Malheur (16), Marion (27), Morrow (2), Multnomah (38), Polk (8), Tillamook (2), Umatilla (42), Union (5), Wallowa (2), Wasco (4), Washington (48) and Yamhill (7).
New fatalities: Oregon’s sole victim of COVID-19 is a 91-year-old woman with underlying health conditions from Marion County, state officials reported. She tested positive eleven days prior to her death on June 29. The location of her death has yet to be determined.
Prevalence of infections: State officials reported that 5,711 people have been tested since Tuesday and 260 came back positive, amounting to a positivity rate of 4.6%.
Who got infected: Since yesterday, state data showed an increase of 277 confirmed or presumed cases across the following ages: 0-9 (13); 10-19 (41); 20-29 (56); 30-39 (40); 40-49 (43); 50-59 (34); 60-69 (31); 70-79 (16); 80 and older (3)
Who’s in the hospital: The state on Wednesday reported that 118 Oregonians with confirmed cases of COVID-19 are currently in the hospital – thirteen more than yesterday. Hospitalizations continue to increase on average statewide, but hundreds of ICU beds and ventilators remain available.
Since it began: Oregon has now reported 8,931 presumed and confirmed cases of COVID-19 and 208 deaths. In total, 242,954 people have been tested in the state.
— Bryce Dole, bdole@oregonian.com, 541-660-9844, @DoleBryce