The Oregon Health Authority reported a record daily coronavirus case count on Wednesday at 281, beating the previous record of 278 set on June 17.
Case disclosure occurs when high infection rates were recorded throughout central and eastern Oregon.
The Oregon Health Authority on Twitter cited workplace outbreaks and increasing evidence as contributing to the high case count, urging citizens to practice physical distancing, wearing masks, and staying home when they feel sick. .
The record-breaking case count also comes when Gov. Kate Brown addressed an hour-long press conference on a new rule requiring Oregonians ages 12 and up to wear masks in closed public spaces beginning Wednesday. Compliance with the rule will be essential in determining whether businesses will remain open statewide and whether schools will reopen next fall, Brown said.
The highest case count on Wednesday came from Washington County., with 48 new confirmed or suspected infections. It is the highest daily total in the county since the outbreak began, surpassing the 44 cases reported on June 27..
Wednesday’s increase brought the state average from last week to more than 215 cases per day, which is also a record.
Where new cases are by county: Baker (3), Benton (2), Clackamas (20), Clatsop (1), Columbia (1), Deschutes (4), Douglas (2), Jackson (3), Jefferson (7), Klamath (4), Lake (2), Lane (12), Lincoln (12), Linn (7), Malheur (16), Marion (27), Morrow (2), Multnomah (38), Polk (8), Tillamook (2), Umatilla (42), Unión (5), Wallowa (2), Wasco (4), Washington (48) and Yamhill (7).
New fatalities: The only COVID-19 victim in Oregon is a 91-year-old woman with underlying Marion County health problems, state officials reported. She tested positive eleven days before her death on June 29. The location of her death has yet to be determined.
Infection prevalence: State officials reported that 5,711 people have been tested since Tuesday and 260 tested positive, equivalent to a 4.6% positivity rate.
Who got infected: Since yesterday, state data showed an increase of 277 confirmed or suspected cases in the following ages: 0-9 (13); 10-19 (41); 20-29 (56); 30-39 (40); 40-49 (43); 50-59 (34); 60-69 (31); 70-79 (16); 80 and older (3)
Who’s in the hospital? The state reported Wednesday that 118 Oregon residents with confirmed cases of COVID-19 are currently in the hospital, thirteen more than yesterday. Hospitalizations continue to increase on average across the state, but hundreds of ICU beds and ventilators remain available.
Since she began: Oregon has now reported 8,931 suspected and confirmed cases of COVID-19 and 208 deaths. In total, 242,954 people have been evaluated in the state.
– Bryce Dole, [email protected], 541-660-9844, @DoleBryce
