The Oregon Health Authority announced 846 new cases of COVID-19 in Oregon on Friday, and five new deaths, bringing the state’s death toll from the virus to 2,002.
“At this stage of the pandemic, many of us have seen family members, friends or neighbors die from COVID-19. Or we know people who have lost loved ones, ”said Oregon Health Authority director Patrick Allen during a news conference on Friday.
“Every loss weighs on us,” he said. “I want to extend my deepest condolences to all families who have mourned for parents, siblings or children who died of a COVID-19 infection.”
The somber milestone came on a day that otherwise offered cautious optimism.
During the same press conference, Governor Kate Brown said the distribution of the COVID-19 vaccine in Oregon will increase by 20%. This should allow Oregon to vaccinate teachers and the elderly more quickly, the latter of whom are more likely to die from COVID-19.
“This is really good news,” said Brown.
Where the new cases are by municipality: Baker (1), Benton (20), Clackamas (42), Clatsop (6), Columbia (10), Coos (19), Crook (8), Curry (5), Deschutes (25), Douglas (26), Harney (9), Hood River (2), Jackson (36), Jefferson (16), Josephine (17), Klamath (4), Lake (15), Lane (83), Lincoln (9), Linn (20) , Malheur (21), Marion (132), Morrow (5), Multnomah (136), Polk (15), Tillamook (1), Umatilla (31), Union (12), Wallowa (1), Wasco (4) , Washington (92) and Yamhill (23).
Who died: OHA noted that a previously reported death was a duplicate and removed from the official count.
The death of a 65-year-old man from Linn County was 1,998. The test was positive on January 11 and died on February 2 at the PeaceHealth Sacred Heart Medical Center in RiverBend.
The 1999 death was a 67-year-old woman from Hood River County who tested positive on January 19 and died on February 2 at Providence Portland Medical Center.
The 2,000th fatality was a 90-year-old Yamhill County woman who tested positive on February 1 and died on February 2 at her home.
The 2,001th fatality was a 69-year-old man from Josephine County who tested positive on February 4 and died on February 1 at his home.
The 2,002nd fatality is an 82-year-old man from Multnomah County who tested positive on January 8 and died on January 15 at Kaiser Permanente Sunnyside Medical Center.
Each person who died had underlying health problems.
The prevalence of infections: On Friday, the state registered 778 new positive tests among 17,816 tests performed, which is equivalent to 4.4% positivity.
Who was infected: New confirmed or presumed infections grew between the following age groups: 0-9 (27); 10-19 (111); 20-29 (181); 30-39 (143); 40-49 (131); 50-59 (97); 60-69 (78); 70-79 (34); 80 and older (16).
Who is in the hospital: The state reported that 238 Oregon residents with confirmed coronavirus infections were currently in the hospital on Friday, 23 fewer than on Thursday. Of those, 59 patients with coronavirus were in intensive care units, one more than on Thursday.
Vaccines administered: Oregon administered 509,582 doses of 733,975 received, 69.4% of its supply. Oregon reported 22,724 new doses administered, including 12,898 on Thursday and the remainder of the previous days.
Since it started: Oregon reported 146,137 confirmed or suspected infections and 2,002 deaths, among the lowest per capita numbers in the country. To date, the state has reported 3,271,481 test lab reports.
– Lizzy Acker
503-221-8052, [email protected], @lizzzyacker