Nov. 25, 2020
Patrick Allen, Director of Oregon Health Authority, shares this message with Coronavirus Update readers:
Tomorrow is Thanksgiving.
During this pandemic, it sometimes feels really hard to be thankful. Many of us are mourning the loss of loved ones, or the inability to visit family in hospitals or long-term care facilities. Others are struggling with lost jobs and shuttered businesses. Parents, kids, teachers and staff all struggle with distance learning and reduced activities and sports.
Still, even during such a trying time as this, there are things I’m thankful for.
I’m thankful for health care providers, doctors, nurses, technicians, assistants, as well as the people who cook the food, do the laundry and clean the rooms. Together, they are doing everything they can to treat our sick and care for our older adults. I’m thankful for dedicated first responders, firefighters, police, emergency medical technicians, 911 operators, and all the rest for being there for us, 24 hours a day, seven days a week. I’m grateful for public health professionals at the national, state and local levels, including at the Oregon Health Authority, who wake up every morning and go to bed every night thinking about coronavirus and how to stop its spread. I’m thankful for scientists, researchers and the federal government for doing everything possible to create and distribute a vaccine.
Most of all, I’m thankful for Oregonians all over the state who are making sacrifices and taking actions to slow the spread of this disease. Collectively, you have worn masks, washed your hands, stayed distant, and sacrificed jobs and businesses, experiences and time with loved ones. Your sacrifices and actions have helped Oregon, even now, fare better than most states. The road back to a more normal life still stretches out in front of us and will continue to be difficult. But your sacrifices matter and make a difference.
Thank you.
|
After the statewide “two-week freeze” ends on Dec. 2, Oregon will introduce a new framework of safety measures dependent on each county’s risk. Governor Kate Brown appeared at a news conference today with OHA and Oregon Health & Sciences University officials to discuss the new measures.
With COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations at an all-time high for the pandemic, Governor Brown also urged Oregonians to keep their Thanksgiving gatherings small and use precautions to protect themselves and loved ones from the spread of COVID-19.
The new framework has four risk levels based on counties' current COVID-19 spread, to take effect after the "freeze” ends next week. At each risk level — Extreme Risk, High Risk, Moderate Risk, and Lower Risk — health and safety measures and guidance for businesses and individuals will apply.
The framework is intended to establish sustainable protection measures for Oregonians in counties with rapid spread of COVID-19, while balancing the economic needs of families and businesses in the absence of a federal aid package.
At least 21 counties will likely initially fall in the “extreme risk” category. Click here for a list of counties in each risk level using data available as of Nov. 23. On Monday, Nov. 30, OHA will re-examine county data to determine which counties qualify for each risk level on Dec. 3, following the end of the "freeze.”
See the graphic below for information about what activities will be allowed, with health and safety protocols in place, in counties with extreme risk.
Oregon counties that reduce their COVID-19 risk levels in coming weeks and months will be able to incrementally move to lower levels.
It’s important to note that there is no zero risk category. Until COVID-19 vaccines are widely available, health and safety precautions will remain in place so that schools, businesses and communities can reopen, and stay open.
At every risk level, to prevent COVID-19 outbreaks, Oregonians must continue to wear face coverings, watch their physical distance, wash hands, stay home when sick, and keep social get-togethers and gatherings small.
Learn more:
OHA’s COVID-19 weekly report released today set new pandemic highs for daily cases and hospitalizations.
- OHA reported 8,687 new daily cases during the week of Monday, Nov. 16 through Sunday, Nov. 22, a 34 percent increase over the previous record-high week.
- Weekly hospitalizations from COVID-19 rose to 366, a 26 percent increase and the highest weekly yet reported in the pandemic.
- There were 61 reported COVID-19 reported deaths, nearly doubling the previous week’s total of 31.
- People age 20 to 49 have accounted for 55 percent of the cases, while people 70 and older have accounted for 74 percent of the deaths.
- During the week of Nov. 15 to Nov. 21, 129,564 COVID-19 tests were administered. The percentage of positive tests was 7.2 percent.(Previously, OHA used a “person-based” method. OHA is now using a “test-based” method, whereby all electronic lab reports received by OHA will be used to calculate percent positivity. This change was prompted by changes in testing patterns.)
COVID-19 has claimed 20 more lives in Oregon, raising the state’s death toll to 867, the Oregon Health Authority reported at 12:01 a.m. today.
OHA also reported 1,189 new confirmed and presumptive cases of COVID-19 as of 12:01 a.m. today, bringing the state total to 68,503.
The new confirmed and presumptive COVID-19 cases reported today are in the following counties: Baker (4), Benton (10), Clackamas (112), Clatsop (3), Columbia (11), Coos (12), Crook (8), Curry (8), Deschutes (75), Douglas (42), Grant (3), Harney (1), Hood River (3), Jackson (89), Jefferson (12), Josephine (28), Klamath (44), Lake (4), Lane (101), Lincoln (12), Linn (17), Malheur (14), Marion (105), Morrow (5), Multnomah (177), Polk (35), Tillamook (2), Umatilla (25), Union (26), Wasco (9), Washington (180), and Yamhill (12).
Oregon’s 848th COVID-19 death is a 96-year-old woman in Lane County who tested positive on Nov. 7 and died on Nov. 22 in her residence. She had underlying conditions.
Oregon’s 849th COVID-19 death is a 90-year-old man in Lane County who tested positive on Nov. 11 and died on Nov. 23 in his residence. He had underlying conditions.
Oregon’s 850th COVID-19 death is an 84-year-old man in Marion County who tested positive on Nov. 19 and died on Nov. 21 in his residence. He had underlying conditions.
Oregon’s 851st COVID-19 death is a 94-year-old woman in Multnomah County who tested positive on Nov. 20 and died on Nov. 23. Place of death and underlying conditions are being confirmed.
Oregon’s 852nd COVID-19 death is a 78-year-old woman in Lane County who tested positive on Nov. 11 and died on Nov. 21 in her residence. Presence of underlying conditions is being confirmed.
Oregon’s 853rd COVID-19 death is a 90-year-old man in Lake County who tested positive on Nov. 17 and died on Nov. 21 at Lake District Hospital. Presence of underlying conditions is being confirmed.
Oregon’s 854th COVID-19 death is a 97-year-old woman in Malheur County who tested positive on Nov. 9 and died on Nov. 11 at West Valley Medical Center in Caldwell, Idaho. Presence of underlying conditions is being confirmed.
Oregon’s 855th COVID-19 death is a 66-year-old woman in Multnomah County who tested positive on Oct. 1 and died on Nov. 23 in her residence. She had underlying conditions.
Oregon’s 856th COVID-19 death is a 73-year-old man in Malheur County who tested positive on Oct. 31 and died on Nov. 8 at St. Alphonsus Regional Medical Center in Boise, Idaho. Presence of underlying conditions is being confirmed.
Oregon’s 857th COVID-19 death is a 92-year-old man in Wasco County who tested positive on Nov. 17 and died on Nov. 23 in his residence. Presence of underlying conditions is being confirmed.
Oregon’s 858th COVID-19 death is a 76-year-old man in Multnomah County who died on Nov. 21 at Providence Portland Medical Center. The death certificate listed COVID-19 disease or SARS-CoV-2 as a cause of death or a significant condition contributing to death.
Oregon’s 859th COVID-19 death is an 84-year-old man in Multnomah County who tested positive on Nov. 8 and died on Nov. 13 in his residence. He had underlying conditions.
Oregon’s 860th COVID-19 death is a 76-year-old man in Multnomah County who tested positive on Oct. 28 and died on Nov. 13 in his residence. Presence of underlying conditions is being confirmed.
Oregon’s 861st COVID-19 death is a 79-year-old man in Multnomah County who tested positive on Oct. 12 and died on Nov. 23 at Providence Portland Medical Center. He had underlying conditions.
Oregon’s 862nd COVID-19 death is a 47-year-old man in Marion County who tested positive on Nov. 17 and died on Nov. 22 in his residence. He had underlying conditions.
Oregon’s 863rd COVID-19 death is a 64-year-old man in Marion County who tested positive on Nov. 18 and died on Nov. 23 at Portland VA Medical Center. He had underlying conditions.
Oregon’s 864th COVID-19 death is a 95-year-old man in Marion County who tested positive on Nov. 16 and died on Nov. 24 in his residence. He had underlying conditions.
Oregon’s 865th COVID-19 death is a 27-year-old man in Lincoln County who tested positive on Nov. 18 and died on Nov. 17 in his residence. He had underlying conditions.
Oregon’s 866th COVID-19 death is a 90-year-old woman in Malheur County who died on Nov. 13 in her residence. The death certificate listed COVID-19 disease or SARS-CoV-2 as a cause of death or a significant condition contributing to death. Presence of underlying conditions is being confirmed.
Oregon’s 867th COVID-19 death is a 98-year-old woman in Multnomah County who tested positive on Nov. 4 and died on Nov. 15 in her residence. She had underlying conditions.
COVID-19 hospitalizations continue to rise: The number of hospitalized COVID-19 patients across Oregon increased to 489, 15 more than yesterday. There are 113 COVID-19 patients in Intensive Care Unit (ICU) beds, no change from yesterday. More information about hospital capacity can be found here.
Did someone forward this to you? You can subscribe here.
|