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December 15, 2021

Note: This is an updated news release with additional case and death information

Contact: OHA External Relations, orcovid19.media@dhsoha.state.or.us

Oregon reports 907 new confirmed and presumptive COVID-19 cases, 39 new deaths

PORTLAND, Ore. — There are 39 new COVID-19 related deaths in Oregon, raising the state’s death toll at 5,508, Oregon Health Authority (OHA) reported at 12:01 a.m. today.

OHA reported 907 new confirmed and presumptive cases of COVID-19 as of 12:01 a.m. today, bringing the state total to 403,329.

More than 3 million Oregonians have received COVID-19 vaccines

More than 3 million Oregonians have received at least one dose of the three authorized COVID-19 vaccines as of Tuesday, OHA is reporting.

Oregon reached the milestone just two days short of the one-year anniversary of the first COVID-19 vaccine doses — made by Pfizer-BioNTech — administered in Oregon on Dec. 16, 2020. All told, 3,002,602 persons have been vaccinated, or 70.4% of all people living in Oregon, as reported to the state’s vaccine registry known as ALERT Immunization Information System (IIS).

“Vaccines continue to be our most effective tool in our ongoing response to pandemic,” said Dean Sidelinger, M.D., M.S.Ed., health officer and state epidemiologist at OHA. “All of the vaccines now authorized for people ages 5 and older in the United States provide protection from COVID-19 infection and illness, including the more transmissible variants. Thank you to everyone who has taken this important step to protect themselves, their families and loved ones. We continue to ask all Oregonians who have not received a shot to get vaccinated as quickly as they can, and for those who already started their vaccine series, to get their next shot or schedule a booster as soon as they are able.”

Along with increasing vaccinations and boosters, OHA continues to encourage Oregonians to wear masks in indoor public settings as the state continues to fight the impacts of the Delta variant and prepares to the face the even more transmissible Omicron variant.

COVID-19 illness remains the greatest threat to anyone who is not yet vaccinated.

The vast majority of Oregonians hospitalized or who recently died with COVID-19 illness had not received a COVID-19 vaccine. The overall incidence of COVID-19 also continues to be lowest in the five counties where vaccination rates are more than 70%.

Note: Data updated daily on OHA vaccine trends dashboard from the ALERT IIS registry does not include some doses administered from federal providers, such as the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. The total number of persons who are vaccinated in Oregon is likely to be greater than the current figure showing the total number of people vaccinated.

This week’s Omicron estimate not accurate, OHA believes

The estimates on OHA’s Daily Data Dashboard and Variant Dashboard that Omicron represents 50% of Oregon’s specimens from Dec. 5 to Dec. 11 is much higher than expected due to a small number of specimens (n=6) available in GISAID during that week.

OHA epidemiologists do not believe this estimate to be accurate. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s COVID Data Tracker Nowcast model estimates that about 2.9% of SARS-CoV-2 variants circulating in the U.S. during the last week were Omicron. OHA believes the state’s true Omicron estimate to be similar to the national figure.

COVID-19 weekly cases and hospitalizations decline, deaths rise

OHA’s COVID-19 Weekly Report released today shows a decrease in daily cases and hospitalizations and an increase in deaths.

OHA reported 5,063 new cases of COVID-19 during the week of Monday, Dec. 6, through Sunday, Dec. 12. That is a 21% decrease from the previous week.

There were 121,583 tests for COVID-19 for the week of Dec. 5 through Dec. 11. The percentage of positive tests fell to 5%, down from 5.9% last week.

There were 360 new COVID-19 hospitalizations, down slightly from 362 last week.

There were 152 reported COVID-19-related deaths, up from the 126 reported the previous week.

Today’s COVID-19 Weekly Outbreak Report shows 54 active COVID-19 outbreaks in senior living communities and congregate living settings, with three or more confirmed cases and one or more COVID-19 related deaths.

COVID-19 hospitalizations

The number of hospitalized patients with COVID-19 across Oregon is 380, which is two fewer than yesterday. There are 94 COVID-19 patients in intensive care unit (ICU) beds, which is three fewer than yesterday.

There are 66 available adult ICU beds out of 689 total (10% availability) and 225 available adult non-ICU beds out of 4,155 (5% availability).

The total number of patients in hospital beds may fluctuate between report times. The numbers do not reflect admissions per day, nor the length of hospital stay. Staffing limitations are not captured in this data and may further limit bed capacity.

Note: Please do not visit an emergency department for COVID-19 testing, unless you require emergency care for your symptoms.

Emergency departments in Oregon are under significant strain. You can find a test here. If you have a medical condition that doesn’t require emergency care, contact your provider. An urgent care center may also help you get the care you need and will save emergency departments from added strain.

More information about hospital capacity can be found here.

Vaccinations in Oregon

Today, OHA reported that 23,319 new doses of COVID-19 vaccinations were added to the state immunization registry Dec. 14. Of that total, 1,405 were initial doses, 1,863 were second doses and 7,715 were third doses and booster doses. The remaining 12,182 were administered on previous days but were entered into the vaccine registry Dec. 14.

The seven-day running average is now 21,527 doses per day.

Oregon has now administered 3,660,373 doses of Pfizer Comirnaty, 135,341 doses of Pfizer pediatric, 2,391,960 doses of Moderna and 250,95 doses of Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccines.

As of today, 3,002,602 people have had at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine and 2,731,603 people have completed a COVID-19 vaccine series.

These data are preliminary and subject to change.

Updated vaccination data are provided on Oregon’s COVID-19 data dashboards and have been updated today.

Cases and deaths

The new confirmed and presumptive COVID-19 cases reported today are in the following counties: Baker (3), Benton (8), Clackamas (63), Clatsop (25), Columbia (5), Coos (23), Crook (12), Curry (7), Deschutes (39), Douglas (51), Gilliam (3), Grant (12), Harney (3), Hood River (5), Jackson (63), Jefferson (5), Josephine (36), Klamath (18), Lake (2), Lane (68), Lincoln (8), Linn (45), Malheur (4), Marion (90), Morrow (3), Multnomah (128), Polk (28), Tillamook (13), Umatilla (16), Union (2), Wasco (2), Washington (87), and Yamhill (30).

Oregon’s 5,470^th death is a 64-year-old man from Clackamas County who tested positive Sept. 28 and died Oct. 12 at Providence St. Vincent Medical Center. Presence of underlying conditions is being confirmed.

Oregon’s 5,471^st death is an 89-year-old woman from Union County who tested positive Oct. 3 and died Oct. 13 at her residence. Presence of underlying conditions is being confirmed.

Oregon’s 5,472^nd death is a 71-year-old man from Josephine County who tested positive Sept. 14 and died Oct. 17 at his residence. Presence of underlying conditions is being confirmed.

Oregon’s 5,473^rd death is a 64-year-old man from Multnomah County who tested positive Sept. 24 and died Oct. 18 at Kaiser Permanente Sunnyside Medical Center. Presence of underlying conditions is being confirmed.

Oregon’s 5,474^th death is an 82-year-old woman from Multnomah County who tested positive Oct. 5 and died Oct. 18 at her residence. She had underlying conditions.

Oregon’s 5,475^th death is a 58-year-old man from Clackamas County who tested positive Oct. 19 and died Oct. 19 at his residence. Presence of underlying conditions is being confirmed.

Oregon’s 5,476^th death is a 51-year-old woman from Linn County who tested positive Sept. 4 and died Oct. 20 at her residence. Presence of underlying conditions is being confirmed.

Oregon’s 5,477^th death is a 91-year-old man from Jackson County who tested positive Sept. 21 and died Oct. 21 at his residence. He had underlying conditions.

Oregon’s 5,478^th death is an 81-year-old man from Marion County who tested positive Oct. 2 and died Oct. 21 at his residence. Presence of underlying conditions is being confirmed.

Oregon’s 5,479^th death is a 58-year-old man from Marion County who tested positive Sept. 30 and died Oct. 22 at his residence. Presence of underlying conditions is being confirmed.

Oregon’s 5,480^th death is a 68-year-old man from Clackamas County who tested positive Sept. 23 and died Oct. 22 at his residence. Presence of underlying conditions is being confirmed.

Oregon’s 5,481^st death is an 82-year-old man from Deschutes County who tested positive Aug. 30 and died Oct. 28 at his residence. He had underlying conditions.

Oregon’s 5,482^nd death is a 43-year-old woman from Multnomah County who tested positive Oct. 2 and died Oct. 27 at Providence Portland Medical Center. She had underlying conditions.

Oregon’s 5,483^rd death is a 78-year-old woman from Multnomah County who tested positive Sept. 23 and died Oct. 22 at Oregon Health & Science University Hospital. She had underlying conditions.

Oregon’s 5,484^th death is a 41-year-old woman from Linn County who tested positive Sept. 21 and died Oct. 28 at Legacy Emanuel Medical Center. She had underlying conditions.

Oregon’s 5,485^th death is a 91-year-old woman from Marion County who tested positive Aug. 16 and died Oct. 27 at her residence. She had underlying conditions.

Oregon’s 5,486^th death is a 71-year-old man from Clackamas County who tested positive Oct. 17 and died Oct. 29 at Providence St. Vincent Medical Center. He had underlying conditions.

Oregon’s 5,487^th death is an 84-year-old woman from Multnomah County who tested positive Oct. 13 and died Oct. 27 at Providence Milwaukie Medical Center. She had underlying conditions.

Oregon’s 5,488^th death is a 97-year-old woman from Multnomah County who tested positive Oct. 1 and died Oct. 28 at her residence. She had underlying conditions.

Oregon’s 5,489^th death is a 73-year-old woman from Coos County who tested positive Sept. 28 and died Oct. 23 at Bay Area Hospital. She had underlying conditions.

Oregon’s 5,490^th death is a 90-year-old man from Josephine County who tested positive Dec. 7 and died Dec. 11 at his residence. He had underlying conditions.

Oregon’s 5,491^st death is a 63-year-old man from Jackson County who tested positive Dec. 6 and died Dec. 13 at Providence Medford Medical Center. He had underlying conditions.

Oregon’s 5,492^nd death is a 76-year-old woman from Jackson County who tested positive Dec. 5 and died Dec. 13 at Asante Rogue Regional Medical Center. She had underlying conditions.

Oregon’s 5,493^rd death is a 55-year-old man from Jackson County who tested positive Nov. 22 and died Dec. 12 at Asante Rogue Regional Medical Center. He had underlying conditions.

Oregon’s 5,494^th death is a 77-year-old man from Douglas County who tested positive Dec. 6 and died Dec. 13 at Mercy Medical Center. He had underlying conditions.

Oregon’s 5,495^th death is a 47-year-old man from Crook County who first became symptomatic Oct. 16 and died Nov. 17 at St. Charles Bend. SARS-CoV-2 as a cause of death or a significant condition contributing to death. He had no underlying conditions.

Oregon’s 5,496^th death is a 68-year-old woman from Clackamas County who tested positive Dec. 1 and died Dec. 5 at Providence Newberg Medical Center. Presence of underlying conditions is being confirmed.

Oregon’s 5,497^th death is a 67-year-old man from Clackamas County who tested positive Nov. 9 and died Nov. 18 at Providence Portland Medical Center. Presence of underlying conditions is being confirmed.

Oregon’s 5,498^th death is a 61-year-old woman from Washington County who tested positive Nov. 20 and died Nov. 25 at Providence St. Vincent Medical Center. Presence of underlying conditions is being confirmed.

Oregon’s 5,499^th death is a 38-year-old man from Tillamook County who tested positive Dec. 1 and died Dec. 13 at Adventist Health Portland. He had no underlying conditions.

Oregon’s 5,500^th death is a 49-year-old man from Multnomah County who tested positive Nov. 7 and died Nov. 15 at Oregon Health & Science University Hospital. Presence of underlying conditions is being confirmed.

Oregon’s 5,501^st death is a 70-year-old man from Marion County who tested positive Dec. 6 and died Dec. 12 at Salem Hospital. He had underlying conditions.

Oregon’s 5,502^nd death is an 80-year-old man from Marion County who tested positive Nov. 21 and died Dec. 11 at Salem Hospital. He had underlying conditions.

Oregon’s 5,503^rd death is a 41-year-old man from Marion County who tested positive Nov. 13 and died Dec. 9 at Oregon Health & University Hospital. He had underlying conditions.

Oregon’s 5,504^th death is an 88-year-old woman from Marion County who tested positive Oct. 24 and died Dec. 9 at Salem Hospital. She had underlying conditions.

Oregon’s 5,505^th death is a 49-year-old woman from Klamath County who tested positive Oct. 18 and died Nov. 30 at Sky Lakes Medical Center. She had underlying conditions.

Oregon’s 5,506^th death is an 82-year-old man from Klamath County who tested positive Oct. 8 and died Oct. 31 at his residence. Presence of underlying conditions is being confirmed.

Oregon’s 5,507^th death is an 87-year-old man from Josephine County who tested positive Dec. 13 and died Dec. 14 at Asante Three Rivers Medical Center. Presence of underlying conditions is being confirmed.

Oregon’s 5,508^th death is a 76-year-old man from Linn County who tested positive Oct. 22 and died Oct. 22 at his residence. Presence of underlying conditions is being confirmed.

Note: Additional information about cases and deaths to follow in an updated news release.

Learn more about COVID-19 vaccinations  

To learn more about the COVID-19 vaccine situation in Oregon, visit our web page (English or Spanish), which has a breakdown of distribution and other information.

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