The Oregon Health Authority on Friday reported 834 new cases of coronavirus and 25 deaths, and the state passed a milestone of 400,000 cases since the beginning of the pandemic.
Oregon Health & Science University also issued a new COVID forecast, which predicts a continued high level of coronavirus hospitalizations and said Oregon could expect a new wave of infections from the omicron variant.
The weekly report said that based on the dramatic rise in case rates in the United Kingdom and South Africa, it is becoming clear that omicron is more transmissible in previously infected individuals and some vaccinated populations, though perhaps less so for those who have had booster shots. It’s still unclear if it is causing similar disease severity.
The forecast predicts the number of Oregonians hospitalized with COVID-19 will remain above 200 through the end of February, a month longer than the forecast issued last week.
“We’re on the edge here,” Peter Graven, director of the OHSU Office of Advanced Analytics and the author of the forecast, said in a news release. “The delta variant remains high in Oregon. If omicron turns out to cause severe illness and hospitalization, we would see serious strain on hospital resources.”
Graven said the forecast underscored the importance of vaccinations and boosters to prevent serious illness, adding that Oregonians should use the opportunity to step up their use of masks in public spaces.
Where the new cases are by county: Baker (4), Benton (14), Clackamas (66), Clatsop (6), Columbia (19), Coos (38), Crook (9), Curry (1), Deschutes (48), Douglas (40), Grant (1), Harney (2), Hood River (6), Jackson (42), Jefferson (9), Josephine (23), Klamath (8), Lane (63), Lincoln (19), Linn (49), Malheur (4), Marion (60), Morrow (3), Multnomah (125), Polk (25), Tillamook (9), Umatilla (11), Union (5), Wasco (2), Washington (86), Wheeler (9) and Yamhill (28).
Who died: Oregon’s 5,357th COVID-19 related death is a 34-year-old Lake County man who tested positive Nov. 19 and died Dec. 7 at St. Charles Bend.
Oregon’s 5,358th death is a 39-year-old Lane County man who tested positive Oct.13 and died Oct. 13 at his residence.
Oregon’s 5,359th death is an 85-year-old Yamhill County woman who died Oct. 17 at her residence. The death certificate listed COVID-19 disease as a cause or significant condition contributing to death.
Oregon’s 5,360th death is a 62-year-old Multnomah County man who tested positive Sept. 21 and died Oct. 14 at Providence Portland Medical Center.
Oregon’s 5,361st death is a 59-year-old Coos County woman who tested positive Oct. 6 and died Oct. 11 at PeaceHealth Sacred Heart Medical Center at Riverbend.
Oregon’s 5,362nd death is a 99-year-old Washington County woman who tested positive Oct. 15 and died Oct. 22 at her residence..
Oregon’s 5,363rd death is a 60-year-old Multnomah County man who tested positive Oct. 21 and died Oct. 23 at Providence Portland Medical Center.
Oregon’s 5,364th death is a 97-year-old Deschutes County man who tested positive Sept. 17 and died Oct. 22 at his residence.
Oregon’s 5,365th death is an 84-year-old Jefferson County woman who tested positive Oct. 10 and died Oct. 23 at her residence.
Oregon’s 5,366th death is a 78-year-old Multnomah County woman who tested positive Oct. 22 and died Oct. 24 at Kaiser Sunnyside Medical Center.
Oregon’s 5,367th death is an 89-year-old Josephine County woman who tested positive Sept. 14 and died Oct. 22 at her residence.
Oregon’s 5,368th death is a 74-year-old Lincoln County man who tested positive Sept. 28 and died Oct. 21 at his residence.
Oregon’s 5,369th death is a 91-year-old Lane County man who tested positive July 5 and died Oct. 18 at his residence. The death certificate listed COVID-19 disease as a cause or a significant condition contributing to death.
Oregon’s 5,370th death is a 54-year-old Josephine County man who tested positive Aug. 23 and died Oct. 14 at Asante Three Rivers Medical Center. The death certificate listed COVID-19 disease as a cause or a significant condition contributing to death.
Oregon’s 5,371st death is a 75-year-old Washington County woman who tested positive Oct. 11 and died Oct. 19 at Providence St. Vincent Medical Center.
Oregon’s 5,372nd death is a 61-year-old Douglas County man who tested positive Oct. 18 and died Dec. 8 at Mercy Medical Center.
Oregon’s 5,373rd death is a 59-year-old Linn County woman who tested positive Nov. 23 and died Dec. 7 at Legacy Emanuel Medical Center.
Oregon’s 5,374th death is a 68-year-old Multnomah County man who tested positive Dec. 1 and died Dec. 8 at Legacy Mt. Hood Medical Center.
Oregon’s 5,375th death is a 70-year-old Multnomah County man who tested positive Nov. 20 and died Dec. 8 at Adventist Health Portland.
Oregon’s 5,376th death is a 46-year-old Multnomah County man who tested positive Nov. 11 and died Dec. 8 at Oregon Health & Science University Hospital.
Oregon’s 5,377th death is a 49-year-old Deschutes County woman who tested positive Oct. 26 and died Dec. 7 at St. Charles Bend. She had no underlying conditions.
Oregon’s 5,378th death is a 79-year-old Coos County man who died Nov. 6 at his residence. The death certificate listed COVID-19 disease as a cause or a significant condition contributing to death.
Oregon’s 5,379th death is a 51-year-old Coos County woman who tested positive Dec. 1 and died Dec. 9 at her residence.
Oregon’s 5,380th death is a 64-year-old Clackamas County man who tested positive Dec. 7 and died Dec. 8 at Adventist Health Portland.
Oregon’s 5,381st death is a 29-year-old Benton County man who tested positive Nov. 30 and died Nov. 30 at Good Samaritan Regional Medical Center.
Except as noted, all individuals had underlying conditions or the presence of underlying conditions is being confirmed.
Hospitalizations: 392 people with confirmed COVID-19 infections are hospitalized, 12 fewer than Thursday. That includes 96 people in intensive care, up two since Thursday.
Vaccines: 4,667 people have been reported newly vaccinated since Thursday.
Since it began: Oregon has reported 400,188 confirmed or presumed infections and 5,381 deaths, among the lowest per capita numbers in the nation. To date, the state has reported 6,338,886 vaccine doses administered, fully vaccinating 2,711,248 people and partially vaccinating 274,706 people.
To see more data and trends, visit https://projects.oregonlive.com/coronavirus/
— Ted Sickinger; tsickinger@oregonian.com; 503-221-8505; @tedsickinger