Oregon health officials reported nearly 12,000 new coronavirus cases last week, among the highest reported caseloads since the pandemic began over two years ago.
In the past week Oregon averaged 1,685 daily cases, a level higher than all but 12 weeks since the start of the pandemic. And the case numbers these days are far more likely to be an undercount than numbers in the past, primarily because at-home tests have become widely available.
Cases have now climbed for eight straight weeks, and the Oregon Health Authority last week said people in counties deemed by the federal government to be at “medium” risk of COVID-19 should consider wearing masks. At the time, that included the three Portland metro counties and Columbia, Benton and Deschutes counties. An additional nine counties have since been added to the list: Hood River, Tillamook, Yamhill, Polk, Lincoln, Lane, Wallowa, Union and Baker counties.
Hospitalizations continue to lag behind the rising case numbers and remain far below previous pandemic highs. As of Monday, 278 people were hospitalized, up 11% from a week before, and the number of people in intensive care units, 24, was unchanged.
Hospitalizations are projected to peak at 330 occupied beds June 9, according to the latest Oregon Health & Science University forecast, published last week. Many of them are presumed to be people who happened to test positive for COVID-19 while getting treatment for something else. The forecast, released every two weeks, has remained virtually unchanged in its last three iterations.
Since May 16, the Oregon Health Authority has reported 28 additional deaths connected to COVID-19.
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