Pandemic: Reduced Daily Cases Across the State | News

The Oregon Department of Health today released its weekly report. This shows a 13% reduction in daily cases for the week of August 16-23.

OHA recorded 1,704 new cases of COVID-19 cases—decreased from last week’s aggregate of 1,963.

A few Oregon were tested a week, with a total of 24,177 tested. This total includes tests performed at all locations, including non-hospital commercial facilities, hospital laboratories, and the Oregon Institute of Public Health.

The positive test rate also dropped from 5.4% to 5.1%.

The age group most affected by the virus remains 20-29 years old, while the elderly remain the most affected. COVID-19 hospitalization and mortality rates increase with age. Almost half of the 420 deaths are in people over the age of 80, and 75% are over the age of 70.

August 26 number

COVID-19 claimed six more lives in Oregon and raised the state’s death toll to 433, according to an OHA report on August 26.

OHA also reported an estimated 222 newly confirmed cases of COVID-19, reaching 25,571 cases across the state. Newly confirmed putative COVID-19 cases reported today include Benton (1), Clackamas (15), Colombia (1), Coos (5), Deschutes (4), Douglas (4), Jackson (25), Josephine (2), Lane (8), Lincoln (3), Lynn (1), Malhol (9), Marion (38) , Morrow (2), Multnomah (54), Pork (1), Umatilla (24), Union (3), Wasco (1), Washington (18), Yamhill (3)

Update on Columbia County

Columbia County is still behind the Oregon Department of Health (OHA) indicators for reopening schools, according to the latest details outlined before the county committee on Wednesday, August 26.

According to county public health director Michael Paul, the number of COVID-19 cases in Columbia County has increased to 125 confirmed and estimated cases.

In the county, there are dozens of people being monitored by the Columbia County Public Health Service because of links to confirmed or estimated cases.

There was one death, but Paul said he was an individual with an underlying illness. There were eight hospitalizations. Paul said that out of 125 lawsuits, seven were currently considered infectious by the agency. These people need to be quarantined by day 10 of onset.

There are indicators set by the Oregon Department of Education (ODE) and OHA at both the county and state levels to reopen schools more permanently. Both case size and test positive rate must be met.

At the county level, the number of cases must be less than 10 cases per 100,000 population for the last 7 days, 3 weeks in a row. There must also be a positive test rate of 5% or less for the last 7 days for 3 consecutive weeks. A state indicator that needs to be met is a 5% test positive rate for 7 consecutive days for 3 consecutive weeks.

According to Mike Paul, director of public health in Columbia County, the county has not yet reached the indicators needed for resumption.

Columbia County has 25 cases per 100,000 and does not meet the metrics set by OHA and ODE. Also, the test positive rate is less than 5%, which meets the metric. The last few weeks of Paul’s report apply to the former, but not the latter.

“We just need to lower the count in our case,” Paul said.

Commissioner Henry Heimuller asked if the school met both criteria, or if the school would have to revert to distance learning if either criterion was not met.

Paul said the state would require schools to return to distance learning if the number of cases increased to 20 per 100,000. The school district should contact the public health department to resolve the outbreak before returning to direct guidance.

Paul also said that although he was not on the committee that created the metric, the committee that created the metric had to look into other countries and see how he reopened the school. Said it did not.

“We have seen some universities open and close due to the pandemic,” Paul said.

Preventive measures

To prevent the spread of coronaviruses, Paul said individuals who limit travel are key.

“We ask people to think about their Labor Day plans. We know that trips, summer gatherings have led to many cases. To keep counting our cases “One way to stay is to stay local instead of traveling,” said Paul.

Mr Paul said the number of cases seems to have peaked.

Check out our daily Pandemic Case Report, which we covered in detail in the Wednesday edition of The Chronicle.