The death toll from COVID-19 in Oregon is increasing, with vaccine waiting periods often being “months.”news

Salem — Governor Kate Brown on Friday portrayed the dark future of Oregon if the COVID-19 pandemic went out of control in the months it took to vaccinate most people in the state.

“Our most difficult days are still ahead,” Brown said. “Oregon hospitals are full.”

According to Brown, Friday was the worst day of the crisis that hit Oregon 10 months ago.

The Oregon Department of Health has reported 30 deaths. This is the highest daily total ever. 2,176 new infections also set daily records.

The state has now passed a total of 80,000 cases and 1,000 deaths since February.

Infections have skyrocketed in recent weeks in all states except Hawaii and Maine.

The death toll in the United States exceeded 3,100 on Thursday. It is the largest pandemic casualty of the day, killing 277,958 people in the United States and 1.5 million people worldwide.

Oregon health officials said the current infection rate was 1.25, meaning that four infected people had spread COVID-19 to five uninfected people.

This rate means that by Christmas Eve there will be more than 2,000 new infections per day, including 75 severe cases requiring hospitalization.

Dr. Dean Sidelinger, a leading infectious disease expert in the state, It will take another week to 10 days for the Thanksgiving holidays to be found to have a complete impact on the COVID-19 epidemic.

However, the surge in Thanksgiving could push the infection rate to 1.5, with one in two COVID-19 infecting the other three.

Higher rates will push new cases to 2,700 per day and severe cases to 110 per day.

According to Sidelinger, infections increase exponentially when the general public does not wear masks, stays socially distant, meets outdoors, and limits the circle of people they meet during the upcoming Christmas holidays.

“It could exceed the capacity of the hospital,” Saidlinger said.

There are currently 550 serious cases in Oregon. Sidelinger said there were too many variables and refused to predict the potential impact on the hospital based on the predictions.

“We broke a record we didn’t expect to break,” Saidlinger said.

Brown and health officials have expressed cautious optimism about the news that the two vaccines are approaching federal approval.

Vaccines from Pfizer may arrive in the state as early as December 15, followed by vaccines developed by Moderna.

Oregon will receive approximately 267,400 doses by the end of the year. This is two doses sufficient to initiate immunization to an estimated 30,000 doctors, nurses, and healthcare staff in the state dealing with COVID-19 patients.

Rachel Banks, director of public health at OHA, said the efficacy rates of the first two vaccines were “almost unprecedented” at 95%. Influenza vaccines are usually less than 60% effective.

Banks said “safe and effective” vaccines would reach Oregons as quickly as possible through a “robust, comprehensive and impartial public distribution program.”

OHA director Pat Allen said hope should be softened in reality. Bringing the vaccine to Oregon and inoculating all of the state’s more than 4.2 million inhabitants takes time and effort.

“It will be months,” he said.

Mr Brown said he was discussing the possibility of a special session in the coming weeks with both Democrats and Republicans in Congress.

Parliamentarians will be asked to close the financial and legal gaps between the termination of many federal funds and the state’s moratorium on year-end evictions. The $ 2.2 trillion CARES aid package, approved by Congress and signed by President Trump last spring, sent $ 1.4 billion to Oregon.

Despite the staggering economy due to the continued spread and closure of the virus, the White House and Congress were unable to come up with a follow-up plan before the current plan expired. Joe Biden, who will take office on January 20, said direct assistance to Americans and the state was a top priority.

Mr Brown said he knew that Oregon was suffering from a pandemic, suffering from financial difficulties, and not seeing family and friends.

“I know it’s exhausted and the sacrifice is real,” she said. “We need you to hold a little longer. Hope is on the way.”

Priority list:

Oregon authorities have released a draft COVID-19 vaccination planHowever, they said they were still consulting with medical, civil and cultural groups in the final edition.

The Federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends initial doses to 21 million US healthcare professionals and 3 million resident and nursing home staff.

The CDC said state decisions should be distributed in a way that “promotes justice, mitigates health inequality, and promotes transparency.”

According to the CDC, other high-priority groups:

100 million Americans with high-risk medical conditions such as diabetes, heart disease, obesity, chronic kidney disease, sickle cell disease, and solid organ transplants.

Approximately 87 million “essential workers” involved in food, agriculture, transportation, education, energy, police, firefighters, manufacturing, telecommunications, and water and sewage.

The National Academy of Medicine has been asked by the National Assembly of Parliament to develop a model list of vaccine priorities. Their report is as follows:

Phase 1a: High-risk healthcare professionals and first responders.

Phase 1b: People with serious comorbidities (two or more) and the elderly in a collective or overcrowded environment.

Phase 2: Teachers, school staff, nursery teachers from kindergarten to high school. Significant workers in a high-risk environment; persons with moderate comorbidities; homeless shelter or group home residents and staff. Imprisoned / detained people and staff; and all older adults.

Phase 3: Youth, children and workers in industries that are important to the functioning of society.

Phase 4: All other individuals residing in the United States who are interested in vaccination for personal protection.