The Oregon Health Authority announced 304 new cases of coronavirus and eight more deaths Wednesday, taking the state’s increasing number of deaths to record levels in recent weeks.
At least 66 Oregonians have died since July 12, a sum that has already passed Oregon’s deadliest three-week stretch from late March through April.
Oregonian / OregonLive tracks coronavirus deaths by week, using the date of death rather than the date the health authority reported the death.
More than half of recent deaths have been concentrated among residents of just three counties: Multnomah (13), Marion (13), and Umatilla (12). The average age of residents across Oregon who died during that span has been 77.
Oregon coronavirus case counts had been increasing steadily since late May and now stand at a daily average of approximately 333 confirmed or suspected infections for the past week. They have stalled roughly since July 20.
But the deaths delayed the identified cases, and the state often takes days, or sometimes weeks, to publicly report each death. An almost record number of Oregon residents are currently hospitalized with confirmed cases of COVID-19, and the full scope of deaths from the state’s surge in cases may not be completely clear until mid-August.
Reported deaths are on the rise across the United States, exceeding 1,000 per day, according to a New York Times database. While deaths across the country are still below the highest levels since April, according to the database, they are increasing in at least 24 states, including Oregon.
Where new cases are by county: Benton (3), Clackamas (28), Clatsop (1), Crook (3), Deschutes (16), Douglas (2), Hood River (7), Jackson (13), Jefferson (5), Josephine (4) , Klamath (2), Lane (13), Lincoln (2), Linn (1), Malheur (20), Marion (20), Morrow (5), Multnomah (82), Polk (4), Umatilla (4) , Union (1), Wallowa (1), Wasco (3), Washington (51) and Yamhill (13).
New fatalities: The 304th death of the Oregon coronavirus is a 72-year-old Multnomah County man with underlying health conditions. He tested positive on July 10 and died on July 23 at his home.
Victim number 305 is a 90-year-old Multnomah County woman with underlying medical conditions. She tested positive on July 23 and died on July 27 at her home.
Oregon’s 306th death is a 94-year-old Umatilla County woman with underlying health conditions. She tested positive on July 22 and died on July 28 at her home.
Victim number 307 is an 87-year-old woman from Umatilla County with underlying medical conditions. She tested positive on July 16 and died on July 27 at her home.
Oregon’s 308th death is an 85-year-old Morrow County woman who tested positive on July 10 and died on July 21. State authorities are confirming her death location and whether she had underlying conditions.
The 309th fatality is a 65-year-old Jackson County man with underlying health conditions. He tested positive on June 29 and died on July 25 at Providence Portland Medical Center.
Oregon’s 310th death is a 79-year-old Multnomah County woman with underlying health problems. She tested positive on July 27 and died on July 28 at Portland Providence Medical Center.
The 311 fatality is a 73-year-old Umatilla County woman with underlying health conditions. She tested positive on June 21 and died on July 19. State officials are confirming her death location.
The prevalence of infections.: State officials reported 269 confirmed infections since Tuesday of 6,463 people tested, which equates to a positivity rate of 4.2%.
Who got infected: State officials reported new confirmed or suspected cases since Tuesday among the following age groups: 0-9 (14); 10-19 (27); 20-29 (63); 30-39 (73); 40-49 (47); 50-59 (40); 60-69 (16); 70-79 (17); 80 and older (6).
Who’s in the hospital? The state reported Wednesday that 163 Oregon residents with confirmed coronavirus infections are currently in the hospital, compared to 157 reported Tuesday. Oregon remains well below capacity, with hundreds of hospital beds and ventilators available.
Since she began: Oregon has reported 17,721 suspected or confirmed infections and 311 deaths, among the lowest in the nation. To date, 393,249 Oregonians have been evaluated.
– Brad Schmidt; [email protected]; 503-294-7628; @_brad_schmidt
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