August 18, 2020
When it comes to COVID-19, one of the topics OHA receives the most questions about is testing. You can learn more about coronavirus testing on our testing websites (in English and Spanish). In the meantime, we’ll be breaking down the topic in articles in the next few issues of Coronavirus Update. First up: What to do if you test positive for COVID-19.
If you have a confirmed positive COVID-19 test, you need to self-isolate for at least 10 days, even if you don’t have symptoms. This means:
- Staying away from everyone, including the people you live with and family members.
- Not sharing utensils or bathrooms with others.
- Only leaving home to seek medical treatment.
If you have a fever, you additionally need to self-isolate for at least 24 hours after your fever is gone (without the use of fever-reducing medication) and your symptoms improve.
If you feel better and have no symptoms at the end of your self-isolation period, you can resume normal activities. If you still feel sick, call your doctor for next steps.
To learn more, read OHA’s tips about how to self-isolate. This graphic also explains more about what to expect if you test positive for COVID-19.
Governor Kate Brown has issued revised guidance requiring face coverings or face shields for employees in private office spaces, in addition to public office spaces. Join OHA and Oregon OSHA for a Facebook Live at 1:30 p.m. on Wednesday, August 19, to have your face covering questions answered by our experts. Visit OHA’s Facebook page to set a reminder to join the live event.
OHA released its Weekly Testing Report yesterday, which showed that as of August 15, Oregon’s cumulative positive testing rate is 4.5 percent of tests performed. This is considerably lower than the national average of 9 percent. Of the 25,678 tests performed and reported the week of Aug. 9–15, 1,388 (5.4 percent) were positive. The total for that week is likely to rise as test results continue to be reported to OHA. It is reassuring that test positivity is relatively stable, which suggests that the number of people newly infected with COVID-19 each week is no longer increasing rapidly.
Data note: In last week’s Testing Summary, OHA reported 25,744 tests performed in the week of Aug. 2–8. As results have continued to be reported to OHA, in today’s summary the total for that week has risen to 34,466. Such lags are expected as OHA is now publishing testing data by the date on which specimens were collected. As such, prior weeks’ data are being updated continuously.
COVID-19 has claimed nine more lives in Oregon, raising the state’s death toll to 397, the Oregon Health Authority reported at 12:01 a.m. today.
OHA reported 237 new confirmed and presumptive cases of COVID-19 as of 12:01 a.m. today, bringing the state total to 23,676.
The new confirmed and presumptive COVID-19 cases reported today are in the following counties: Baker (1), Benton (3), Clackamas (11), Columbia (2), Deschutes (5), Douglas (3), Hood River (2), Jackson (20), Jefferson (4), Josephine (8), Klamath (6), Lane (2), Lincoln (1), Linn (4), Malheur (32), Marion (48), Morrow (3), Multnomah (29), Polk (3), Umatilla (12), Union (2), Wasco (1), Washington (25), and Yamhill (10).
Oregon’s 389th COVID-19 death is a 63-year-old man in Washington County who tested positive on July 20 and died on August 15 at Tuality Healthcare. He had underlying conditions.
Oregon’s 390th COVID-19 death is an 88-year-old woman in Washington County who tested positive on August 6 and died on August 16 in her residence. She had underlying conditions.
Oregon’s 391st COVID-19 death is a 90-year-old man in Clackamas County who tested positive on August 4 and died on August 11. More information about location of death is being confirmed. He had underlying conditions.
Oregon’s 392nd COVID-19 death is an 82-year-old man in Clackamas County who tested positive on July 28 and died on August 16 at Providence Portland Medical Center. He had underlying conditions.
Oregon’s 393rd COVID-19 death is a 75-year-old man in Jefferson County who tested positive on July 28 and died on August 15 at St. Charles Medical Center. He had underlying conditions.
Oregon’s 394th COVID-19 death is a 97-year-old woman in Lincoln County who tested positive on August 2 and died on August 15 in her residence. Presence of underlying conditions is being confirmed.
Oregon’s 395th COVID-19 death is a 90-year-old man in Lincoln County who tested positive on August 2 and died on August 14 in his residence. Presence of underlying conditions is being confirmed.
Oregon’s 396th COVID-19 death is a 63-year-old man in Malheur County who tested positive on August 11 and died on August 12 in his residence. He had underlying conditions.
Oregon’s 397th COVID-19 death is a 69-year-old woman in Washington County who became symptomatic on August 5, after close contact with a confirmed case, and died on August 17 in her residence. She had underlying conditions.
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