The Oregon Health Authority on Wednesday reported 473 new coronavirus cases and five more deaths.
By most indicators, Oregon has moved past the winter case surge and is reporting its lowest numbers since October.
The state averaged fewer than 400 cases a day in the past week. The rate of positive tests during that span was just 3.3%. Active hospitalizations are now below 200 statewide. And deaths, which trail infections, also are trending down.
Gov. Kate Brown last week relaxed some business restrictions in the metro area because of improving metrics. But state health officials warned that cases may rise again, not only as a result of those changes but also because of more contagious variants silently circulating.
Where the new cases are by county: Baker (5), Benton (7), Clackamas (17), Clatsop (2), Columbia (3), Coos (10), Crook (2), Deschutes (50), Douglas (40), Grant (1), Harney (9), Hood River (6), Jackson (52), Jefferson (10), Josephine (13), Klamath (5), Lake (6), Lane (39), Lincoln (2), Linn (10), Malheur (15), Marion (25), Morrow (2), Multnomah (55), Polk (14), Tillamook (5), Umatilla (11), Union (8), Wallowa (2), Wasco (1), Washington (27) and Yamhill (19).
Who died: Oregon’s 2,139th death linked to COVID-19 is a 72-year-old Jackson County man who tested positive Jan. 26 and died Feb. 14 at Asante Rogue Valley Regional Medical Center.
The 2,140th fatality is a 76-year-old Lincoln County man who tested positive Jan. 28 and died Feb. 15 at Samaritan Pacific Communities Hospital.
Oregon’s 2,141st death is an 89-year-old Marion County woman who tested positive Jan. 15 and died Feb. 12 at her residence.
The 2,142nd fatality is a 53-year-old Multnomah County woman who tested positive Jan. 20 and died Feb. 15 at Legacy Emanuel Medical Center.
Oregon’s 2,143rd death is an 88-year-old Washington County man who became symptomatic Feb. 3 after contact with a confirmed case and died Feb. 12 at his residence.
Each person had underlying health conditions.
The prevalence of infections: The state reported 372 new positive tests out of 11,926 tests performed, equaling a 3.1% positivity rate.
Who got infected: New confirmed or presumed infections grew among the following age groups: 0-9 (30); 10-19 (56); 20-29 (65); 30-39 (41); 40-49 (60); 50-59 (61); 60-69 (33); 70-79 (19); 80 and older (18).
Who’s in the hospital: The state reported 190 Oregonians with confirmed coronavirus infections in the hospital Wednesday, five less than Tuesday. Of those, 44 coronavirus patients are in intensive care units, down seven from Tuesday.
Vaccines: Oregon reported 707,244 doses of vaccine have been administered, or about 77% of the doses received. Oregon reported 15,790 newly administered doses, which includes 10,653 Tuesday and the remainder from previous days.
Since it began: Oregon has reported 151,257 confirmed or presumed infections and 2,143 deaths, among the lowest per capita numbers in the nation. To date, the state has reported 3,431,911 lab reports from tests.
— Brad Schmidt; bschmidt@oregonian.com; 503-294-7628; @_brad_schmidt