Oregon health officials reported 10,606 new coronavirus cases last week, up 8% from the previous week.
The rise in identified coronavirus cases ended two weeks of reported declines, underscoring how little is known about the the true number of infections in Oregon and nationally.
The new cases are an undercount of the virus’s current spread in Oregon, not least because of the ubiquity of at-home tests, which don’t need to be reported to officials. Among publicly reported tests, the positivity rate has consistently stayed above 10% since May 6, with no immediate signs of retreat. Oregon’s initial drop in known cases three weeks ago coincided with a dip in testing over the Memorial Day holiday weekend.
Three Oregon counties are now at federally designated “high” risk of COVID-19 transmission: Lane, Douglas and Jackson counties. People in those areas should wear masks in public indoor settings, according to the Centers for Disease Control, and should get tested if they have symptoms.
Most of the rest of Oregon is at “medium” risk, including Multnomah, Washington, Clackamas and 17 other counties. People in those counties should consider wearing masks if they are at risk severe disease.
And yet, one of the clearest markers of the disease’s toll, hospitalizations, remains steady. COVID-19 patients occupied just under 300 beds Monday, down from a peak of 327 about a week ago. Oregon Health & Science University previously forecasted the current wave would peak in the first half of June at 313 occupied beds.
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Since it began: Oregon has reported 785,032 confirmed or presumed infections and 7,707 deaths.
Hospitalizations: 299 people with confirmed coronavirus infections are hospitalized, down 21 since Monday, June 6. That includes 27 people in intensive care, down seven since June 6.
Vaccinations: As of June 6, the state has reported fully vaccinating 2,918,829 people (68.4% of the population), partially vaccinating 287,910 people (6.7%) and boosting 1,657,743 (38.8%).
New deaths: Since June 6, the Oregon Health Authority has reported 48 additional deaths connected to COVID-19.
— Fedor Zarkhin
