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October 8, 2020
I hope that you and your loved ones are doing well, staying healthy, and looking out for your neighbors and friends in these difficult times.
As you may have already heard, today the OHA reported the highest count of new COVID cases that we’ve experienced so far in the pandemic: 484 (457 positive tests and an additional 27 presumed positive). On top of that, we had 11 deaths reported today, seven of them elderly residents of Wasco County (presumably at least partly the result of an outbreak at a long-term care facility there that began a month ago, according to the Weekly Report).
As you’ll see in the discussion of the Weekly Report in today’s newsletter, this is a further progression of the recent increases we’ve seen over the last few weeks. According to OHA, most cases continue to be traced to outbreaks in long-term care facilities, workplaces and social gatherings. A large workplace outbreak in Klamath County – 59 cases – contributes to the high number. The remainder of the 484 new cases reported today are being investigated so it is too soon to know the sources of the increase. We again see very high numbers in Lane County and in other areas around the state.
It’s sobering news for us all and a reminder—as if the national news weren’t enough of a reminder—that this disease is still very much with us.
On top of that, the regular flu season is approaching, and medical experts are warning us of the dangers of exposure to both flu and COVID. This year’s flu vaccine is now available, and I’d advise you to protect yourself and get it as soon as you can. Kiki and I got ours this afternoon.
On a more positive note, we are at last seeing the end of fire season approaching. You can read all about that in this newsletter as well.
Please let me know if you have any questions about anything in this newsletter.
TODAY’S CORONAVIRUS AND CORONAVIRUS RESPONSE UPDATE
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Positive Cases: OHA reports that 457 additional Oregonians have tested positive for COVID. The cumulative total since the beginning of the pandemic is 34,300.
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Total Tests: The number of reported tests has increased by 5,785. The cumulative total is now 722,562.
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Ratio: The percentage of positive test results in Oregon is 7.9%. The national ratio today is 5.3%.
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Deaths: I’m sorry to report 11 additional deaths due to the coronavirus today. You can read about the Oregonians we’ve lost further down in the newsletter. The total number of COVID deaths in Oregon is now 594.
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Hospitalized: OHA reports an additional 22 COVID hospitalizations. The cumulative number of those who have been hospitalized with COVID since the beginning of the pandemic is now 2,727.
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Presumptive Cases: OHA is including “presumptive COVID-19 cases” in its daily reports, consistent with recently amended guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. A presumptive case is someone who does not yet have a positive PCR test but is showing symptoms and has had close contact with a confirmed case. If they later test positive by PCR, those will be recategorized as confirmed cases. OHA reports 27 additional presumed positives today. There are currently 1,816 Oregonians who have been presumed positive for COVID-19 to date.
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Other Hospital Information:
- Patients Currently w COVID-19 Symptoms (who may or may not have received a positive test result yet): 206 (9 more than yesterday). Of those, 132 have already received a positive test back.
- Available ICU Beds: 129 (7 fewer than yesterday)
- Other Available Beds: 549 (53 fewer than yesterday).
- ICU Patients w COVID-19 Symptoms: 43 (4 more than yesterday).
- COVID-19 Patients Currently on Ventilators: 16 (2 more than yesterday).
- Available Ventilators: 781 (10 fewer than yesterday).
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Dashboards
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Today’s National Numbers:
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Additional Brief Updates:
- OHA has reported a large workplace COVID outbreak in Klamath County today, 59 new cases at Planasa Oregon Operations. You can read more details here.
- The Office of Emergency Management issued a press release today with the good news that FEMA has approved the state’s request for temporary housing grants for hundreds on Oregonians displaced by wildfire. Residents of Jackson, Linn, and Marion Counties who lost their homes during the September wildfires may be eligible.
- A meeting of the Legislature’s Emergency Board has been scheduled for Monday morning at 10 a.m. The major allocations will be $20 million to school districts in the wildfire zones whose buildings have been damaged by smoke, along with funds for the testing of wells and water infrastructure that may have been damaged by the wildfires. Here’s the agenda for the meeting. You can click on “Meeting Materials” for the specifics on the agenda items. I should have more to report over the weekend.
- OHA reported on the results of two new surveys of Oregonians’ attitudes towards COVID and efforts to contain it such as mask-wearing and avoiding small and large social gatherings. You can read about it here. OPB’s Meerah Powell also has a good story about the meaning of the survey results.
Latest OHA Weekly COVID Report Released
OHA released its WEEKLY COVID REPORT yesterday. It is again a very comprehensive snapshot of different aspects of transmission of the disease in Oregon over the past week or so. It confirms what we’ve been seeing in our daily reports: an ongoing increase of transmission in Oregon, with increases in new infections, accompanied by declining testing and increases in test positivity, hospitalizations, and declining deaths. It continues to show ongoing disproportionality among racial and ethnic groups.
Here are some of OHA’s broad observations of where we are now, based on data from September 28-October 4:
- We are now seeing even bigger increases in the number of new cases. Last week OHA recorded 2,055 new cases of COVID-19 infection—up 3% from the previous week’s tally of 1,9991. This is the highest weekly total in eight weeks. However, it is much less an increase than last week’s increase of 32%.
- The statewide infection rate is now 827 cases per 100,000 Oregonians.
- Last week’s testing numbers unfortunately fell by 7% to 22,548. That number will go up as more results come in for last week, but even when those numbers are added, it will be clear that we continue to test well below our capacity. We can no longer blame these low levels on the wildfires.
- The percentage of positive test results rose slightly to 6.3% for the week (up from 6.2% for the two previous weeks).
- Last week the number of reported deaths rose from 18 to 25.
- The cumulative death rate since the beginning of the pandemic is now 13.5 deaths per 100,000 Oregonians, with a cumulative total of 547 on September 27. This constitutes a mortality rate of 1.6% (down slightly from 1.7%) of reported cases.
- One piece of good news: the number of new COVID hospitalizations declined last week, 119 vs. the previous week’s 143.
- The age group with the highest incidence of reported infection continues to be 20–29-year-olds, with rates decreasing in subsequent decades of life.
The report again provides information about signs, symptoms, and risk factors; racial/ethnic/age/gender demographics; recovery; outbreaks in long-term care; workplace outbreaks; outbreaks in childcare centers and schools; hospital rates; and the breakdown of cases by zip code.
Racial/Ethnic
The report again demonstrates significant disparities among racial groups. You can see this in the charts below, with data that I’ve taken from the September 20 report, the September 27 report, and from this report. It allows you to see at a glance the proportion of case counts within different racial groups and ethnic groups (technically, “Hispanic” is not a race and is counted as an ethnic group, with numbers from a separate chart). They remain relatively stable.
To help you understand the racial/ethnic data reported in the weekly report, I’ve also created a new chart that shows the hospitalization and death rates per 100K population, along with the infection rates per-100K population for each racial/ethnic group.
You’ll see again how much higher the case rates per 100,000 are for most racial/ethnic groups compared to White Oregonians. Black Oregonians are 3.6 times more likely to contract the disease than are White Oregonians, Native Americans 4.3 times more likely, Latinx Oregonians are 5.9 times more likely, and Pacific Islanders are now 8.9 times more likely. The differences, while still enormous, have been going down slightly over the last few weeks.
You’ll also again see that hospitalization rates among those who have contracted the disease are somewhat lower for Blacks and Native Americans, quite a bit lower for Latinx, and quite a bit higher for Pacific Islanders than for the population of White Oregonians. Among those who have contracted the disease, the percentage who ultimately die of it is much higher for Whites than for people of color.
However, you’ll also see in the final chart that when examined as a proportion of their populations in Oregon, the hospitalization and death rates for Blacks, Native Americans, Pacific Islander, and especially for Latinx Oregonians. It helps us to see why it’s so important that special outreach needs to be made to members of these racial/ethnic groups.
  The weekly report includes graphs showing how Public Health agencies are doing in contact tracing for different racial and ethnic groups. For the most part, attempts at initial interviews and follow-ups with Oregonians of color appear to be comparable with White (actually, higher among Latinx Oregonians). Those attempts are less successful for Black Oregonians.
Outbreaks at Long-Term Care Facilities
The report lists outbreaks at long-term care facilities with more than five residents that have three or more confirmed cases or at least one COVID death. Fortunately, we are seeing a continued reduction in active outbreaks in these facilities.
This week’s report lists outbreaks in 36 (up from 34) long-term care facilities that are still considered active. They are responsible for 679 cases (up from 625) and 44 deaths (the same as last week).
In addition, there are 60 outbreaks considered resolved (the same as last week). They are responsible for 892 cases (up from 890) and 94 deaths (up from 89). To be listed as a “resolved” outbreak, a facility must not have had a new case in at least 28 days.
The total for the 86 active and resolved facilities on the lists this week is thus 1,515 cases and 133 deaths.
Facilities that have been in “resolved” status for 56 days are being dropped from that list. So, the totals are obviously not the totals since the beginning of the pandemic. However, I’ve received a commitment from OHA to include the cumulative totals in future weekly reports.
In addition to the listed facilities, there are now 53 (up from 48) congregate settings with five or fewer beds that have also had three or more confirmed cases or one or more deaths, so the above totals should actually be somewhat higher.
To date, there has still been only one death of a staff member reported.
Workplace Outbreaks
Similarly, there are separate listings for workplace outbreaks that are “active” and “resolved,” but without deaths identified by workplace. Case counts include all persons linked to the outbreak, which may include household members and other close contacts. To protect privacy, OHA is only reporting workplace outbreaks with five or more cases (workers and family members) and only for workplaces with at least 30 workers. They are listed in descending order of number of cases.
You’ll find 74 workplaces (up from 61 last week) listed as “Active” this week, totaling 2,483.
A facility goes onto the resolved list once it has not had a new case in 28 days.
46 workplaces (down from 55 last week) are now listed as “Resolved,” totaling 3,188 cases.
As is the case with the long-term care lists, once a workplace outbreak has been in resolved status for 56 days, it is dropped from the list.
OHA is now reporting 24 deaths as the result of workplace outbreaks (up from 9 last week).
Three out of the top four workplace outbreaks in Oregon today are again in Eastern Oregon state prisons. There are currently five prisons on the active list. They make up 41% of all the active workplace outbreak cases.
Childcare Outbreaks
OHA has changed the way that it reports outbreaks in childcare facilities. Previously, the Weekly Report only included names and case counts for childcare facilities that enroll 30 or more children and have five or more cases. They are now reporting all outbreaks that include two or more cases in facilities with 16 or more children. As a result, we now have 9 facilities listed as active. They comprise a total of 63 cases.
These case counts may include children, staff, and household members.
Two centers have been moved to the Resolved list.
Cases in K-12 Schools
OHA has added a new feature to the weekly report. It is now reporting all COVID-19 cases in schools that offer in-person instruction, distinguishing between students and staff.
For reporting purposes, OHA will treat schools that have no students being served onsite as workplace outbreaks, and will be reported in that section. OHA will report outbreaks of COVID-19 when five or more cases are identified in a school that has 30 or more employees.
The new reporting protocol applies to all public and private schools and programs.
This week’s report on schools with in-person instruction shows 9 (up from 5) cases of students and 23 (up from 6) cases of staff at a total of 14 (up from 6 last week) public and private schools (including elementary, middle, and high schools) around the state.
Infections by Zip Code
You’ll see that the zip code list again reveals the various hot spots around the state, presented in terms of cases per 100K residents since the beginning of the pandemic. The top five are exactly the same (from Umatilla/Morrow, Jefferson, and Malheur Counties) as they’ve been for the last month:
- 97818 (Boardman in Morrow County)
- 97761 (Warm Springs in Jefferson County)
- 97914 (Ontario in Malheur County)
- 97838 (Hermiston in Umatilla and Morrow Counties)
- 97882 (Umatilla in Umatilla County)
97875 (Stanfield in Umatilla County) remains on deck at a distant #6.
Here is a zip code locator for you to use as you look at the zip code numbers.
Thursday Wildfire Update
Department of Forestry Wildfire Director Doug Grafe provided us with his final overview of the fire season today. With our typical fall cool weather and rains upon us, Doug feels confident that this fire season is coming to an end. That doesn’t mean that further containment work isn’t necessary, but the risk of major new fires in Oregon seems to have passed. Most of our attention will be shifting to repair, restoration, and rebuilding.
Below again are two tables that reveal the progress made in containment of the six remaining major fires over the last 24 hours.
 Again, for maps and up-to-the-minute details on the individual fires, I’d direct you to OEM’s State of Oregon Fires and Hotspots Dashboard.
You can find an up-to-the-moment status report on road closures from ODOT’s Trip Check tool.
Additional Wildfire-Response Statistics and Information:
The Office of Emergency Management is now only sending us updated statistics on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, so the numbers below are unchanged from Wednesday’s.
- I’m happy to report that the number of those confirmed missing has been reduced to two. The number of confirmed fatalities remains at 9.
- The number of Oregonians still in congregate shelters has gone down to 118.
- OEM’s report today pegs the number of residences destroyed at 4,078, up from 3,124 (this time there is no breakdown by type of residence destroyed). The number of Residences destroyed: 3,124. The number of non-residentials structures destroyed remains at 1,400.
- More than 500 additional Oregonians have successfully registered with FEMA for individual assistance since Monday, bringing the total number to 7,986 Oregonians who have already had their applications approved. $16.5 million dollars has already been approved for distribution.
- Again, if you know of anyone who has NOT yet registered, please direct them to the following:
- The Office of Emergency Management issued a press release today in an effort to get the word out to those whose homes have been damaged or destroyed that they need to contact the agency if they want to access free debris removal. There are forms that will need to be filled out. Read all about it here.
Wildfire Informational Resources
Here again are some other resources that I would recommend:
- Again, for one-stop information about fires, firefighting response, smoke levels, relief for evacuees, and much more, you can find a variety of Wildfire-related Resources at the Governor’s Wildfire Website. It also takes you to the Department of Forestry’s Wildfire site, which gives you the daily updates on each of the fires. I really encourage you to check this one out first—there’s a wealth of info and links here, including on how to volunteer, donate, or otherwise help.
- For the daily informational releases on the major fires, go to the ODF Wildfire News Page.
- Here are regular updates on road conditions from ODOT.
- The Office of Emergency Management provides regular updates at the OEM Twitter page and at the OEM Facebook page.
Where Are Today’s New Cases?
If we put together the positive test results and new “presumptive” cases reported today, the overall number of new cases is 484. This is the highest case count that Oregon has experienced since the beginning of the pandemic. Here is the breakdown by county for today:
Baker (1)
Benton (11)
Clackamas (31)
Columbia (8)
Coos (1)
Curry (1)
Deschutes (17)
Douglas (9)
Gilliam (1)
Hood River (3)
Jackson (17)
Jefferson (11)
Josephine (2)
Klamath (44)
Lane (71)
Lincoln (3)
Linn (20)
Malheur (16)
Marion (31)
Morrow (5)
Multnomah (82)
Polk (5)
Umatilla (18)
Union (2)
Wasco (4)
Washington (58)
Yamhill (12)
And the Deaths:
Oregon’s 584th COVID-19 death is an 87-year-old woman in Wasco County who tested positive on Sept.18 and died on Oct. 6 in her residence. She had underlying conditions.
Oregon’s 585th COVID-19 death is an 85-year-old woman in Washington County who tested positive on Oct. 6 and died on Oct. 7 in her residence. She had underlying conditions.
Oregon’s 586th COVID-19 death is an 88-year-old woman in Washington County who tested positive on Oct. 2 and died on Oct. 7 at Providence St. Vincent Medical Center.
Oregon’s 587th COVID-19 death is an 89-year-old woman in Wasco County who tested positive on Sept. 23 and died on Oct. 5 in her residence.
Oregon’s 588th COVID-19 death is a 103-year-old woman in Wasco County who tested positive on Sept. 26 and died on Oct. 5 in her residence.
Oregon’s 589th COVID-19 death is a 92-year-old woman in Wasco County who tested positive on Sept. 18 and died on Oct. 6 in her residence.
Oregon’s 590th COVID-19 death is a 95-year-old woman in Wasco County who tested positive on Sept. 23 and died on Oct. 5 in her residence..
Oregon’s 591st COVID-19 death is an 81-year-old woman in Wasco County who tested positive on Sept.18 and died on Oct. 2 in her residence.
Oregon’s 592nd COVID-19 death is a 98-year-old woman in Wasco County who tested positive on Sept. 18 and died on Oct. 3 in her residence.
Oregon’s 593rd COVID-19 death is a 75-year-old man in Linn County who tested positive on May 9 and died on Aug. 26 in his residence.
Oregon’s 594th COVID-19 death is an 82-year-old man in Lane County who tested positive on Sept. 25 and died on Oct. 7 in his residence.
Additional Graphs:
    Want to See Past Newsletters?
If there was COVID-related information in a past newsletter that you want to go back to, but find you’ve deleted it, you can always go to my legislative website (senatordembrow.com), click on “News and Information,” and you’ll find them all there. Also, if someone forwarded you this newsletter and you’d like to get it directly, you can sign up for it there.
AND FINALLY,
Here again are some resources that you will find useful:
If the above links are not providing you with answers to your questions or directing you to the help that you need, please consider me and my office to be a resource. We’ll do our best to assist you or steer you in the right direction.
Best,
 Senator Michael Dembrow
District 23
email: Sen.MichaelDembrow@oregonlegislature.gov
web: www.senatordembrow.com
phone: 503-986-1723
mail: 900 Court St NE, S-407, Salem, OR, 97301
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