The Oregon Health Authority reported 212 new confirmed and presumptive cases of coronavirus and five deaths Thursday, bringing the state’s death toll to 438.
The state also reported an outbreak of 21 new cases of coronavirus linked to Independent Transport, a Morrow County employment agency. State officials began investigating after July 28, but the initial case count was too low to open to the public, officials said.
Officials at a press conference on Thursday highlighted signs that transfer rates continue to decline, but not at the rate needed to reopen schools in the fall.
State Epidemiologist Dr. Dean Sidelinger also told reporters at the conference about multiple outbreaks that occurred at family celebrations and holidays.
One outbreak, which began when nearly 20 people rented a beach house for three days, resulted in 12 people becoming ill. More than 300 cases and 5 workplace outbreaks are now linked to that group, Sidelinger said.
“These examples show that even a small number of people – if they have multiple exposures – can lead to large numbers of cases,” Sidelinger said.
The announcement of the new cases comes a day after the University of Oregon announced that fall classes will be conducted primarily online.
“We’ve all seen other institutions abruptly in the last week or so, and I decided that the potential for disruption to our students and our campus community was just too high,” said University President Michael Schill. “It is much more prudent for the UO to take a slower approach.”
The disclosure also comes as officials with the Oregon Department of Corrections announced that another inmate in a Pendleton prison died after testing positive for the coronavirus, which was the second such death that day.
Five positively charged prisoners have now died since the pandemic began. Four have died in the last two weeks.
Where the new cases are by province: Benton (1), Clackamas (18), Clatsop (1), Columbia (2), Deschutes (4), Douglas (1), Hood River (1), Jackson (15), Jefferson (2), Josephine (2) , Klamath (5), Lane (8), Lincoln (1), Linn (5), Malheur (12), Marion (40), Morrow (3), Multnomah (27), Polk (3), Umatilla (8) , Union (2), Washington (47), and Yamhill (4).
New dead: Oregon’s 434th coronavirus victim is a 74-year-old man in Malheur County who tested positive on Aug. 19 and died Aug. 25 at a location yet to be determined. He had not indicated underlying health conditions.
The 435th death from coronavirus in Oregon is an 82-year-old man in Washington County. He died in his home on August 25 after testing positive August 10. He had not indicated underlying health conditions.
An 80-year-old in Washington County with unspecified underlying health conditions is the 436th COVID-19 death in Oregon. She tested positive August 12 and died in her home on August 25.
The 437th death from the Oregon coronavirus is a 97-year-old woman in Washington County. She died in her home Aug. 22 after testing positive Aug. 6. She had not indicated underlying health conditions.
The 438th COVID-19 death in Oregon is a 90-year-old man in Washington County who tested positive for ten days before dying in his home Aug. 23. He also did not indicate underlying health conditions.
Prevention of infections: State members reported results for 5,981 coronavirus tests since Wednesday, with 193 returning positive. That is a positivity of 3.2%.
Who is infected: State officials on Thursday reported new cases among the following age groups: 0-9 (5); 10-19 (19); 20-29 (40); 30-39 (26); 40-49 (21); 50-59 (27); 60-69 (25); 70-79 (13); 80 and older (11); unknown (3).
Who is in the hospital: State officials announced Thursday that 118 Oregonians are hospitalized with COVID-19, up to 19 from yesterday. Hundreds of ICU beds and fans remain available.
Since it started: The state health authority has reported 25,761 confirmed and presumptive cases of coronavirus since the pandemic began. In total, 537,437 Oregonians were tested.
– Bryce Dole; [email protected]; 541-660-9844; @DoleBryce
