The number of newly identified coronavirus cases climbed in Oregon for a fifth consecutive week, according to state data released Monday, reaching the highest levels since December.
Oregon recorded 8,304 new confirmed or suspected coronavirus infections, up 40% from the previous week. That number includes 1,032 new known cases recorded Friday, 964 Saturday and 1,233 Sunday. The three days of numbers were announced Monday because the state doesn’t report data on weekends.
The Oregon Health Authority also reported 575 patients hospitalized Monday with COVID-19. The number is nearing the record of 584 from last November and will likely top it as soon as Tuesday.
Meanwhile, a record 148 patients are fighting for their lives in Oregon’s intensive care units Monday, 13 more than the all-time-high that had been set Friday and a sure sign that the delta variant is pounding the state.
Monday, Gov. Kate Brown took no action to institute a statewide mask mandate, reiterating that she is leaving that decision up to leaders of Oregon’s 36 counties. After a month of ballooning numbers, Multnomah County, however, became the first county in the state to announce it is reinstating an indoor public mask mandate starting Friday.
In a written statement, Brown thanked Multnomah County leaders for their “bold action.”
Positivity rate: One more sign that the fifth surge is out of control: The state is averaging a positive test rate of 9.6%. The rate, which is the percent of tests that indicate the person tested is infected with the virus, is at its highest point since August 2020.
Vaccinations: Health care workers are administering an average of 5,255 doses per day, down from the peak daily averages of more than 44,000 in April.
More than 2.33 million Oregonians of all ages — or about 55% — have been fully vaccinated. Many experts believe possibly 85% or more of the population needs to be fully vaccinated to reach herd immunity and squelch any meaningful transmission of the virus.
Where the new cases are by county: Baker (6), Benton (55), Clackamas (254), Clatsop (55), Columbia (18), Coos (46), Crook (13), Curry (7), Deschutes (240), Douglas (278), Gilliam (1), Harney (3), Hood River (15), Jackson (49), Jefferson (21), Josephine (239), Klamath (25), Lane (624), Lincoln (17), Linn (152), Malheur (7), Marion (113), Morrow (26), Multnomah (538), Polk (25), Sherman (2), Tillamook (79), Umatilla (85), Union (47), Wallowa (7), Wasco (32), Washington (106) and Yamhill (44).
Deaths: The state reported 14 new COVID-19 deaths Monday, for the previous three-day period. That’s well below the rate during last winter’s surge.
A 79-year-old Jackson County woman tested positive Thursday and died Friday at Providence Medford Medical Center.
A 61-year-old Jackson County man tested positive July 26 and died Thursday at Providence Medford Medical Center.
A 69-year-old Douglas County woman tested positive July 24 and died Friday at Mercy Medical Center.
A 59-year-old Lane County woman tested positive July 29 and died Saturday at PeaceHealth Sacred Heart Medical Center at Riverbend.
An 83-year-old Lane County man tested positive May 5 and died Friday at PeaceHealth Sacred Heart Medical Center at Riverbend.
A 75-year-old Josephine County woman tested positive Wednesday and died Thursday at Asante Rogue Regional Medical Center.
A 77-year-old Josephine County man tested positive July 31 and died Saturday at Asante Three Rivers Medical Center.
A 52-year-old Josephine County man tested positive July 22 and died Friday at Asante Three Rivers Medical Center.
A 52-year-old Josephine County man tested positive July 22 and died Friday at Asante Three Rivers Medical Center.
A 64-year-old Gilliam County man tested positive Aug. 2 and died Saturday at Mid-Columbia Medical Center.
A 72-year-old Yamhill County woman tested positive July 27 and died Aug. 3 at Legacy Meridian Park Medical Center.
A 64-year-old Yamhill County woman tested positive July 21 and died Wednesday at Mercy Medical Center.
A 90-year-old Wasco County woman tested positive Aug. 2 and died two days later at her home.
A 69-year-old Umatilla County man tested positive March 3 and died March 23 at Kadlec Regional Medical Center.
A 76-year-old Polk County woman tested positive Aug. 2 and died three days later at Salem Hospital.
Nine of those who died are known to have underlying conditions, while the status of five others is still under investigation.
Outbreak: The state reported a 61-person cluster of infections at Asante Rogue Regional Medical Center in Medford. Officials started investigating the outbreak July 19.
Since it began: Oregon has recorded 230,103 confirmed or presumed cases and 2,903 deaths since the pandemic began, the fourth and fifth lowest rates respectively in the nation. But in the past two weeks, the state has logged the 24th highest infection rate and tied with a few others for the 25th highest death rate.
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— Aimee Green; agreen@oregonian.com; @o_aimee