September 17th COVID-19 Update

September 17, 2021

Dear Neighbors and Friends,

I hope that you and your loved ones are doing well, staying healthy, and looking out for your neighbors and friends during this past week.

Tonight’s newsletter complements the one that I sent out on Wednesday.  It allows me to provide Thursday’s numbers and thereby stay on schedule for weekly comparisons.  It also allows me to share this week’s Breakthrough Report and the latest COVID forecast, which came out yesterday and today respectively.  It also allows me to give you the latest on today’s FDA deliberations over booster shots and other COVID news; the latest on redistricting; and more on tomorrow’s bike town hall.

Regarding the issue of booster shots, the FDA panel making recommendations on this matter today recommended that boosters be limited to those 65 and older for now.  You can read more about it in the links session below.  Here is OHA’s response to this decision https://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/ORDHS/bulletins/2f2265a and what it means for Oregon.

Until next week, please stay healthy and safe, and let me know if you have any questions about information in tonight’s newsletter.

FINAL NOTICE: BIKE TOWN HALL TOMORROW MORNING!!!!

This year’s bike town hall will be tomorrow morning, September 18, with intros starting at 9.a.m. We’ll be meeting at Montavilla Park (NE 82^nd and Glisan) and then traveling on side streets for the next few hours.  And yes, e-bikes and scooters are welcome!

This year will focus on the many changes that will come about as a result of the $150+ million investment that will be going into 82^nd Avenue and its environs.  We’ll be hearing from different transportation, school, and community advocates.  It will be pretty exciting.

Here’s the itinerary:

Route: 4 miles

Link: http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=7611471

Stops:

1. Montavilla Park: arrive 9, leave 9:40
   • Introductions and discussion of the 82^nd Avenue transfer
2. 74^th/Glisan: arrive 9:45, leave 10:00
   • African Youth Community Organization
   • REACH CDC
3. 82^nd/Ash: arrive 10:05, leave 10:20
   • PBOT safety investments made and planned
   • Oregon Walks: pedestrian safety
4. Montavilla Plaza: Arrive 10:25, leave 10:45
   • Public plaza and painted parking plazas
   • City Repair
5. 82^nd/Hawthorne (Jeff Baldwin Auto): Arrive 10:55, Leave 11:10
   • Heat Island effects
6. Bridger Elementary School: Arrive 11:15, leave 11:25
   • LID improvements
   • PSU/PBOT transportation class
7. PCC SE Parking Lot: Arrive 11:30, leave 12:00
   • TriMet plans
   • E-Bus on site to check out and board!
8. APANO: Arrive 12:05
   • Impact of proposed changes on Asian-American communities

As always, the event is made possible thanks to great support from PBOT (Portland Bureau of Transportation), and especially from Greg Raisman, the Livable Streets Program Coordinator.

By the way, masks will be optional while you’re riding, but we will want you to wear your mask at the information stops when people are gathered together.

There may be some rain on Saturday, so be prepared for that as well.  It will be great to see receive some of that Oregon liquid sunshine at last!

Hope to see you for all or part of it!

• New COVID Cases: OHA reports 2,242 new COVID cases yesterday (vs. 2,437 last Thursday). That’s an average of 1,911 per day for the 7 days since the last newsletter (vs. 1,840 per day the previous week). The cumulative number of cases in Oregon since the beginning of the pandemic is 307,768.
• Variant COVID Cases:
  • OHA is now showing us not only this week’s variant cases but the growth of the different variants in Oregon over time. You can see in the graph above just how the Delta variant has come to dominate cases here in Oregon.  It is updated every Wednesday.
  • OHA’s Variant Dashboard provides current and new variant case numbers for the state as a whole but also for different parts of the state. It too is updated each Wednesday.
• Positive Test Results: OHA reported 2,738 positive tests yesterday (vs. 2,662 a week ago). That’s an average of 2,362 per day for the seven days since the last newsletter (vs. 2,387 per day the previous week). The cumulative total of positive test results since the beginning of the pandemic is now 426,643
• Total Tests: OHA reported an additional 24,018 tests yesterday (vs. 22,187 a week ago). That’s an average of 20,464 per day for the seven days since the last newsletter (vs. 24,018 for the previous week). Our cumulative total of reported tests is 6,651,325.
• Positivity Rate: The test positivity ratio for Oregon yesterday was 11.4% (vs. 12% a week ago). That’s an average of 11.5 per day for the seven days since the last newsletter (vs. 11.4% per day for the previous week). 
• Hospitalization Information:
  • Patients Currently with Confirmed COVID-19: 1,027 (1,123 fewer than last newsletter)
  • ICU Patients Confirmed w COVID-19: 286 (2 fewer than last newsletter.)
  • Confirmed COVID-19 Patients Currently on Ventilators: 176 (same as last newsletter)
  • Available Ventilators: 808 (9 more than last newsletter).
• Hospital Capacity:
  • Available ICU Beds: 41 (15 fewer than last newsletter)
  • Other Available Beds: 334 (27 more than last newsletter).
  • Here’s a link to more OHA data on hospital capacity.

• Deaths: I’m sorry to report 11 additional COVID deaths yesterday (vs. 21 last Thursday).  That’s an average of 22 per day for the week since the last newsletter (vs. 21 per day the previous week).  The total number of COVID deaths in Oregon is 3,547.
• Vaccinations:
  • Today’s seven-day running average is 8,535 doses per day (slightly down from 8,654).
• Total First and Second Doses Administered So Far: 4,999,764
  • 2,905,173 Pfizer/Comimaty vaccines
  • 1,882,388 Moderna vaccines
  • 209,164 Johnson & Johnson vaccines

• Total Oregonians vaccinated so far: 2,698,924
  • 2,458,176 now fully vaccinated with two doses
  • 65.8% of all Oregonians have received at least one dose (77.3% of those 18 and older).***
  • 59.6% of all Oregonians are now fully vaccinated (70.4% of those 18 and older).***
    • ***These percentages are from the CDC Data Tracker. https://covid.cdc.gov/covid-data-tracker/#vaccinations They include vaccinations administered by the VA and Tribal Health Services.

• For more details, including the demographics of those receiving the vaccine and the number of vaccinations by county, go to the OHA vaccinations dashboard.

• Bloomberg News provides a wealth of easy-to-read information on the trajectory of vaccinations—by state, nationally, and internationally.

Additional Brief Updates

• Here's reporting on today's FDA meeting regarding booster shots, that led to a recommendation that boosters be limited to those age 65 and older. (I will say that based on the assessments that I’ve seen of the research to date, I support this decision.)
• For those of you interested in the more technical assessments of the booster debate, here's reporting from MedPage Today.
• Here’s an interesting opinion piece critical of the Biden administration’s promising widespread booster vaccines before the FDA had had a chance to assess the research.
• OHA has updated its pediatric dashboard, showing the increased number of cases among those under the age of 18.
• On Wednesday I shared with you Portland Public Schools’ COVID dashboard. Here’s  reporting from OPB about how other districts are or are not providing such real-time data.
• OPB’s Erin Ross has a detailed piece about the ways in which schools can keep kids relatively safe from COVID.

• Sadly, the nation is seeing an increase in pregnant women in ICUs.
• A growing number of employees are requesting religious exemptions from having to be vaccinated. Many of them arguing that because fetal cell lines were used for the basic research behind development of the vaccines, it violates their religious principles (though the vaccines themselves do not contain fetal material).  The same of course is true of such commonly used medicines as Benedryl, Sudafed, and Tylenol. One hospital in Arkansas is asking its employees to file attestations indicating that they do not and will not use such medications in keeping with their sincerely-held religious beliefs.  Here's more.
• And here’s an article about how colleges and universities are confronting this problem.
• King County (the Seattle area) will soon be requiring all customers of indoor restaurants, theaters, and gyms to show proof of vaccination or a negative test.
• The federal vaccine mandate will affect more than 2,000 large employers in Oregon. Here's more.
• Axios has reporting on how the American economy is emerging from the pandemic stronger and with less inequity than when it entered it. Here's more.

Special Session for Redistricting Starts Monday

The Legislature convenes on Monday at 8 am in order to approve redistricting maps for House, Senate, and Congressional districts.  The bills with the final proposals are currently in the hands of Legislative Counsel and are being drafted.  There will be three—all coming from the Senate Redistricting Committee. 

LC 1 is the “sine die” resolution, allowing for the ultimate adjournment of the special session.

LC 2 are the proposed maps for House and Senate districts.

LC 3 is the proposed map for the new Congressional districts, including the new Sixth district.

You can view the maps for LC 2 and LC 3 on the Redistricting Website: https://www.oregonlegislature.gov/redistricting/ They include changes from the maps put out by the Senate and House Redistricting Committees on September 3.  These changes are the result of efforts to resolve differences between the two chambers and to reflect sentiments heard from the nearly 2,000 pieces of public testimony.

The focus of Monday morning will be in the Senate, where the three LCs will be introduced and given Senate Bill (SB) numbers.  LC 2 and LC 3 will then be debated and voted on by the Senate Redistricting Committee, then come to the Senate floor for debate and votes.

Assuming they pass, they will then go over to the House Redistricting Committee to be taken up that afternoon.  We can only speculate at this point what will happen in the committee and whether or not the bills will make their way out of committee to the House floor. 

If they are amended in the House Committee and approved in a House floor vote, they’ll have to come back to the Senate floor for reconsideration.  If not, and they are approved, we’ll move on to the Sine Die resolution and adjourn.  If a majority of the House committee cannot agree to pass the Legislative map in any form, then the task of creating the map will go to the Secretary of State.  If a majority of the House committee cannot agree to pass the Congressional map in any form, then the Chief Justice of the Oregon Supreme Court will create a panel of judges to create the Congressional map.

We could finish this process as soon as late Monday afternoon or early evening, or it could extend to Tuesday and potentially to Friday. 

Unlike the situation during the regular session, the Capitol will be open to visitors (as long as they are masked), but they will not be able to enter the House or Senate chambers themselves.  They’ll be able to watch the proceedings on closed-circuit monitors.  Because of repairs being made to the Capitol right now, we legislators won’t be able to go to our offices during what will surely be a lot of down time. We’ll likely be spending most of our time working at our desks on the chamber floors (as legislators did many decades ago before individual offices were built).

You can follow the work of the Special Session from the comfort of your home or office here.. 

I’m not going to comment on the proposed maps at this time, other than to say that as I understand them, I’m confident that they are legally defensible. If there is an ultimate court challenge to them, I believe that they will be prevail.

After the session is over, I’ll speak more to the implications of these new maps for upcoming elections and the timelines for next steps.  I can say that the new legislative maps will pit incumbents from the same and/or from different parties against each other.  Those in that situation will have some tough choices to make in the coming months..

Weekly Breakthrough Case Report

OHA’s most recent update on COVID-19 breakthrough cases, released yesterday, found that 81.3% of the 14,046 reported COVID-19 cases between Sept. 1 through Sept. 15 occurred in people who were unvaccinated. There were 2,632 breakthrough cases, accounting for 18.7% of all cases.  This is a slight decrease from last week’s 19.3%.

Again, “breakthrough cases” are those where an individual is found to have COVID even though they are fully vaccinated against the virus.  Nearly all of them have very mild symptoms or no symptoms at all.  To that extent, the vaccines are doing their job as intended, even against the more contagious delta variant.

The latest breakthrough report can be found here.

You’ll see that the average age of the breakthrough cases during that period was 48. Ninety breakthrough cases involved residents of care facilities, senior living communities or other congregate care settings. There were 68 breakthrough cases in people aged 12 to 17.

To date, there have been 19,549 COVID-19 vaccine breakthrough cases in Oregon. The average age of all cases is 48. Breakthrough cases have been reported in all 36 counties.

Cases of COVID-19 are far more common in unvaccinated people. The report shows that the rate of COVID-19 in unvaccinated people is currently approximately five times higher than in vaccinated people.

To date, 4.7% of all vaccine breakthrough cases have been hospitalized and 0.9% have died. The average age of the people who died was 81.

If you hear someone say that the existence of breakthrough cases means it’s not worth getting a vaccine, know this: the number of vaccine breakthrough cases identified in Oregon remains tiny (0.7%) when compared to the more than 2.7 million Oregonians who have completed their COVID-19 vaccination series.

Newest COVID-19 Forecasts from OHA and OHSU Show Continued Decline in Transmission

Today, OHA released its latest COVID-19 forecast showing a projected decline in daily cases and hospitalizations through late September.

According to the report, the effective reproduction rate — the expected number of secondary cases that a single case generates — was estimated at .79 on Sept. 1, projecting a decline in the estimated growth of new cases and hospitalizations over last week’s modeling scenario.  That compares with .88 a week ago, thus projecting ongoing declines over the coming month.

At this level of transmission, for the two-week period between September 22 and October 5, the projected number of new diagnosed cases would decrease to 280 per 100,000 people (from 490 in last week’s forecast). This rate translates to a daily average of 830 cases (vs. 1,460 in last week’s forecast).

By October 5, there would be 41 people per day requiring hospital admission (vs. 80 forecast last week).

The report again proposed an alternative, less optimistic scenario factoring in assumptions around the impacts of reopening schools, colleges, and universities and many public events scheduled during the month of September.  In that scenario, diagnosed cases would decrease somewhat more slowly. 

Under this scenario, for the two-week period between September 22 and October 5, the projected number of new diagnosed cases would be 350 per 100,000 people. This rate translates to a daily average of 1,060 cases.  By October 5, there would be 51 people per day requiring hospital admission.

Thus, even under this less optimistic scenario, the projected declines are greater than under the more optimistic scenario from last week. 

Thenew forecast from OHSU reveals that Oregon has dropped to 25^th in the nation for the number of new cases.  We are #19 in number of those who have received at least one dose of the vaccine.  In other findings:

• The ratio of new cases among the unvaccinated in Oregon is six times the number of those vaccinated.
• Testing has returned to levels last seen during the Fall/Winter surge, but the percent of positive results is higher, at 12%.
• Unfortunately, we may be seeing an increase in fatigue at following prevention efforts.
• The prevalence of mask-wearing in public places appears to be declining slightly from 85% to 82%.
• Compared to the fall/winter surge, we see the following changes in infections by age groups:
  • Age 20-29: 223% increase
  • Age 30-39: 232% increase
  • Age 40-49: 196% increase
  • Age 50-59: 154% increase
  • Age 60-69: 110% increase
  • Age 70-79: 20% decrease
  • Age 80+: 40% decrease
• There are 5.5 hospitalizations for each death in Oregon.
• Deaths lag infections by 21 days.
• Even though hospitalizations have slowly begun tapering off since the peak of 1,178 hospitalized patients statewide on Sept. 1, the new forecast shows that deaths are now at their highest levels of the surge at an average of 23 per day. They are likely peaking right now and will begin to decrease soon.

Vaccinations Among Oregon’s Healthcare Workforce: September Update

The September update to the Oregon Healthcare Workforce COVID-19 Vaccine Uptake Dashboard adds new data for all visualizations up to Sept. 5, 2021. It now includes three new license types: Psychologist at 93% vaccinated, Licensed Social Worker at 88% vaccinated and Licensed Dietitian at 80% vaccinated.

All trend weeks have been updated with the most current information, which may have been previously missing due to the lag in data reporting.

There has been an increase in overall vaccination rates for health care workers since the vaccine mandate was announced in early August.

You’ll see that Dentists remain the highest-vaccinated group (96%), with Chiropractic Physicians (52%) and Chiropractic Assistants (48%) the very lowest.

And the Deaths:

Here is information about all of the 153 deaths (up from 146) that OHA has reported for the week since September 9. 

Friday, September 10

Oregon’s 3,395th COVID-19 death is a 63-year-old man from Crook County who tested positive on Sept. 1 and died on Sept. 9. Location of death is being confirmed.

Oregon’s 3,396th COVID-19 death is a 94-year-old woman from Coos County who tested positive on Aug. 23 and died on Sept. 8 at her residence. 

Oregon’s 3,397th COVID-19 death is a 92-year-old woman from Clackamas County who tested positive on Aug. 25 and died on Sept. 9 at Legacy Meridian Park Medical Center. 

Oregon’s 3,398th COVID-19 death is a 78-year-old man from Jackson County who tested positive on Aug. 13 and died on Sept. 8 at Asante Ashland Community Hospital.

Oregon’s 3,399th COVID-19 death is a 53-year-old woman from Jackson County who tested positive on Aug. 20 and died on Sept. 9 at Providence Medford Medical Center.

Oregon’s 3,400th COVID-19 death is a 76-year-old man from Lane County who tested positive on Aug. 30 and died on Sept. 9 at his residence.

Oregon’s 3,401st COVID-19 death is an 80-year-old man from Josephine County who tested positive on Sept. 8 and died on Sept. 8 at his residence.

Oregon’s 3,402nd COVID-19 death is an 81-year-old man from Josephine County who tested positive on Aug. 29 and died on Sept. 8 at his residence.

Oregon’s 3,403rd COVID-19 death is a 76-year-old man from Josephine County who tested positive on Aug. 23 and died on Sept. 8 at Asante Three Rivers Medical Center. Presence of underlying conditions is being confirmed.

Oregon’s 3,404th COVID-19 death is a 63-year-old man from Josephine County who tested positive on Aug. 24 and died on Sept. 9 at Providence Medford Medical Center.

Oregon’s 3,405th COVID-19 death is a 47-year-old man from Josephine County who tested positive on Aug. 21 and died on Sept. 9 at Asante Three Rivers Medical Center.

Oregon’s 3,406th COVID-19 death is an 84-year-old man from Marion County who tested positive on Sept. 1 and died on Sept. 9 at Salem Hospital.

Oregon’s 3,407th COVID-19 death is a 66-year-old woman from Multnomah County who tested positive on Sept. 2 and died on Sept. 8 at Legacy Emanuel Medical Center.

Oregon’s 3,408th COVID-19 death is an 80-year-old woman from Multnomah County who tested positive on Aug. 30 and died on Sept. 4 at Adventist Medical Center.

Oregon’s 3,409th COVID-19 death is an 87-year-old woman from Multnomah County who tested positive on Aug. 31 and died on Sept. 6 at Adventist Medical Center.

Oregon’s 3,410th COVID-19 death is a 64-year-old man from Yamhill County who tested positive on Sept. 1 and died on Sept. 8 at Willamette Valley Medical Center.

Oregon’s 3,411th COVID-19 death is a 52-year-old woman from Yamhill County who tested positive on Aug. 24 and died on Aug. 27 at her residence.

Oregon’s 3,412th COVID-19 death is a 71-year-old man from Yamhill County who tested positive on Aug. 21 and died on Sept. 1 at Willamette Valley Medical Center.

Oregon’s 3,413th COVID-19 death is a 74-year-old woman from Lincoln County who tested positive on Aug. 29 and died on Sept. 1 at Good Samaritan Regional Medical Center.

Oregon’s 3,414th COVID-19 death is a 79-year-old woman from Lincoln County who tested positive on Aug. 21 and died on Aug. 31 at Samaritan Pacific Communities Hospital.

Saturday, September 11-Monday, September 13

Oregon’s 3,415th COVID-19 death is an 87-year-old woman from Douglas County who tested positive on Aug. 11 and died on Sept. 2 at her residence.

Oregon’s 3,416th COVID-19 death is a 68-year-old woman from Douglas County who tested positive on Aug. 25 and died on Sept. 8 at Mercy Medical Center.

Oregon’s 3,417th COVID-19 death is an 88-year-old woman from Deschutes County who tested positive on Sept. 2 and died on Sept. 12 at St. Charles Bend Hospital.

Oregon’s 3,418th COVID-19 death is an 89-year-old man from Deschutes County who tested positive on Aug. 31 and died on Sept. 7 at St. Charles Bend Hospital.

Oregon’s 3,419th COVID-19 death is a 55-year-old woman from Clackamas County who tested positive on Sept. 2 and died on Sept. 8 at PeaceHealth Sacred Heart Medical Center at Riverbend.

Oregon’s 3,420th COVID-19 death is a 90-year-old woman from Clackamas County who tested positive on Sept. 8 and died on Sept. 9 at her residence.

Oregon’s 3,421st COVID-19 death is a 70-year-old woman from Clackamas County who tested positive on Aug. 25 and died on Sept. 10 at Legacy Mt. Hood Medical Center.

Oregon’s 3,422nd COVID-19 death is a 54-year-old woman from Douglas County who tested positive on Aug. 16 and died on Sept. 8 at Mercy Medical Center.

Oregon’s 3,423rd COVID-19 death is a 57-year-old man from Douglas County who tested positive on Aug. 20 and died on Sept. 8 at Mercy Medical Center.

Oregon’s 3,424th COVID-19 death is a 77-year-old man from Douglas County who tested positive on Aug. 24 and died on Sept. 3 at Roseburg VA Medical Center.

Oregon’s 3,425th COVID-19 death is a 24-year-old woman from Douglas County who tested positive on Aug. 26 and died on Sept. 9 at Mercy Medical Center.

Oregon’s 3,426th COVID-19 death is a 75-year-old man from Douglas County who tested positive on Sept. 3 and died on Sept. 10 at Mercy Medical Center.

Oregon’s 3,427th COVID-19 death is a 58-year-old man from Douglas County who tested positive on Sept. 9 and died on Sept. 11 at Mercy Medical Center.

Oregon’s 3,428th COVID-19 death is a 32-year-old man from Douglas County who tested positive on Sept. 7 and died on Sept. 5 at his residence.

Oregon’s 3,429th COVID-19 death is a 78-year-old man from Douglas County who tested positive on Sept. 5 and died on Sept. 11 at Mercy Medical Center.

Oregon’s 3,430th COVID-19 death is a 41-year-old woman from Douglas County who tested positive on Sept. 5 and died on Sept. 10 at Mercy Medical Center.

Oregon’s 3,431st COVID-19 death is an 85-year-old woman from Jackson County who tested positive on Aug. 7 and died on Sept. 9 at her residence.

Oregon’s 3,432nd COVID-19 death is a 67-year-old woman from Jackson County who tested positive on Aug. 1 and died on Sept. 8 at Asante Rogue Regional Medical Center.

Oregon’s 3,433rd COVID-19 death is a 57-year-old woman from Josephine County who tested positive on Aug. 29 and died on Sept. 10 at Mercy Medical Center.

Oregon’s 3,434th COVID-19 death is a 67-year-old woman from Josephine County who tested positive on Aug. 27 and died on Sept. 9 at Ashland Community Hospital.

Oregon’s 3,435th COVID-19 death is a 77-year-old man from Josephine County who tested positive on Aug. 27 and died on Sept. 9 at Asante Rogue Regional Medical Center.

Oregon’s 3,436th COVID-19 death is a 60-year-old man from Jackson County who tested positive on Aug. 31 and died on Sept. 9 at Providence Medford Medical Center.

Oregon’s 3,437th COVID-19 death is a 74-year-old man from Jackson County who tested positive on Aug. 25 and died on Sept. 9 at Asante Rogue Regional Medical Center.

Oregon’s 3,438th COVID-19 death is a 94-year-old man from Washington County who tested positive on Aug. 26 and died on Sept. 9 at Legacy Meridian Park Medical Center.

Oregon’s 3,439th COVID-19 death is a 68-year-old woman from Union County who tested positive on Aug. 28 and died on Sept. 10 at Grande Ronde Hospital.

Oregon’s 3,440th COVID-19 death is a 63-year-old man from Union County who tested positive on Aug. 21 and died on Sept.11 at Grande Ronde Hospital.

Oregon’s 3,441st COVID-19 death is a 66-year-old man from Tillamook County who tested positive on Aug. 26 and died on Sept.9 at Adventist Hospital Tillamook.

Oregon’s 3,442nd COVID-19 death is a 57-year-old woman from Lane County who tested positive on Sept. 8 and died on Sept. 11 at PeaceHealth Sacred Heart Medical Center at Riverbend.

Oregon’s 3,443rd COVID-19 death is a 73-year-old man from Lane County who tested positive on Aug. 29 and died on Sept.11 at PeaceHealth Sacred Health Medical Center at Riverbend.

Oregon’s 3,444th COVID-19 death is a 76-year-old woman from Lane County who tested positive on Aug. 29 and died on Sept.11 at PeaceHealth Sacred Heart Medical Center at Riverbend.

Oregon’s 3,445th COVID-19 death is a 36-year-old woman from Lane County who tested positive on Aug. 21 and died on Sept. 11 at McKenzie-Willamette Medical Center.

Oregon’s 3,446th COVID-19 death is a 49-year-old man from Lane County who tested positive on Aug. 18 and died on Sept. 11 at PeaceHealth Sacred Heart Medical Center at Riverbend.

Tuesday, September 14

Oregon’s 3,447 COVID-19 death is a 91-year-old man from Jackson County who tested positive on Aug. 25 and died on Sept. 9 at his residence.

Oregon’s 3,448 COVID-19 death is an 81-year-old man from Douglas County who tested positive on Sept. 7 and died on Sept. 12 at Mercy Medical Center.

Oregon’s 3,449 COVID-19 death is a 75-year-old man from Douglas County who tested positive on Sept. 3 and died on Sept. 12 at Mercy Medical Center.

Oregon’s 3,450 COVID-19 death is a 50-year-old woman from Douglas County who tested positive on Aug. 12 and died on Sept. 12 at Mercy Medical Center.

Oregon’s 3,451 COVID-19 death is a 79-year-old man from Deschutes County who tested positive on Sept. 4 and died on Sept. 10 at St. Charles Bend Hospital.

Oregon’s 3,452 COVID-19 death is a 96-year-old man from Coos County who tested positive on Sept. 11 and died on Sept. 11 at Bay Area Hospital.

Oregon’s 3,453 COVID-19 death is a 62-year-old woman from Coos County who tested positive on Aug. 23 and died on Sept. 11 at her residence.

Oregon’s 3,454 COVID-19 death is a 95-year-old woman from Coos County who tested positive on Aug. 20 and died on Sept. 12 at Legacy Good Samaritan Medical Center.

Oregon’s 3,455 COVID-19 death is a 61-year-old woman from Jackson County who tested positive on Aug. 30 and died on Sept. 10 at Asante Rogue Regional Medical Center.

Oregon’s 3,456 COVID-19 death is a 68-year-old woman from Jackson County who tested positive on Aug. 24 and died on Sept. 12 at Asante Rogue Regional Medical Center.

Oregon’s 3,457 COVID-19 death is an 81-year-old man from Jefferson County who tested positive on Sept. 9 and died on Sept. 10 at his residence.

Oregon’s 3,458 COVID-19 death is a 69-year-old woman from Josephine County who tested positive on Sept. 4 and died on Sept. 11 at Asante Three Rivers Medical Center.

Oregon’s 3,459 COVID-19 death is an 86-year-old man from Josephine County who tested positive on Sept. 3 and died on Sept. 13 at his residence.

Oregon’s 3,460 COVID-19 death is a 54-year-old woman from Josephine County who tested positive on Sept. 1 and died on Sept. 12 at Asante Three Rivers Medical Center.

Oregon’s 3,461 COVID-19 death is an 83-year-old woman from Josephine County who tested positive on Sept. 3 and died on Sept. 12 at her residence.

Oregon’s 3,462 COVID-19 death is a 44-year-old man from Klamath County who tested positive on Sept. 12 and died on Sept. 13 at Providence Medford Medical Center.

Oregon’s 3,463 COVID-19 death is a 56-year-old woman from Klamath County who tested positive on Sept. 7 and died on Sept. 13 at Sky Lakes Medical Center.

Oregon’s 3,464 COVID-19 death is a 74-year-old man from Klamath County who tested positive on Sept. 8 and died on Sept. 10 at Sky Lakes Medical Center.

Oregon’s 3,465 COVID-19 death is a 75-year-old woman from Lane County who tested positive on Sept. 1 and died on Sept. 12 at PeaceHealth Sacred Heart Medical Center at RiverBend.

Oregon’s 3,466 COVID-19 death is an 84-year-old man from Lane County who tested positive on Sept. 5 and died on Sept. 12 at PeaceHealth Sacred Heart Medical Center at RiverBend.

Oregon’s 3,467 COVID-19 death is an 84-year-old man from Lane County who tested positive on Sept. 4 and died on Sept. 12 at PeaceHealth Sacred Heart Medical Center at RiverBend.

Oregon’s 3,468 COVID-19 death is an 83-year-old man from Lane County who tested positive on Sept. 2 and died on Sept. 13 at McKenzie-Willamette Medical Center.

Oregon’s 3,469 COVID-19 death is a 60-year-old man from Lane County who tested positive on Sept. 12 and died on Sept. 12 at PeaceHealth Sacred Heart Medical Center at RiverBend.

Oregon’s 3,470 COVID-19 death is a 73-year-old woman from Lane County who tested positive on Sept. 11 and died on Sept. 13 at PeaceHealth Sacred Heart Medical Center at RiverBend.

Oregon’s 3,471 COVID-19 death is a 98-year-old woman from Lane County who tested positive on Sept. 9 and died on Sept. 9 at McKenzie-Willamette Medical Center.

Oregon’s 3,472 COVID-19 death is a 66-year-old woman from Marion County who tested positive on Aug. 16 and died on Sept. 10 at Salem Hospital.

Oregon’s 3,473 COVID-19 death is a 56-year-old man from Marion County who tested positive on Aug. 21 and died on Sept. 8 at Salem Hospital.

Oregon’s 3,474 COVID-19 death is an 82-year-old woman from Marion County who tested positive on Aug. 28 and died on Sept. 10 at Salem Hospital.

Oregon’s 3,475 COVID-19 death is a 78-year-old man from Marion County who tested positive on Aug. 31 and died on Sept. 7 at Salem Hospital.

Oregon’s 3,476 COVID-19 death is a 24-year-old man from Marion County who tested positive on Sept. 8 and died on Sept. 13 at Salem Hospital.

Oregon’s 3,477 COVID-19 death is a 96-year-old woman from Marion County who tested positive on Sept. 5 and died on Sept. 9 at Salem Hospital

Oregon’s 3,478 COVID-19 death is a 33-year-old woman from Marion County who tested positive on Sept. 5 and died on Sept. 12 at Salem Hospital.

Oregon’s 3,479 COVID-19 death is a 72-year-old woman from Marion County who tested positive on Sept. 3 and died on Sept. 11 at Santiam Hospital.

Oregon’s 3,480 COVID-19 death is a 70-year-old man from Marion County who tested positive on Sept. 2 and died on Sept. 10 at Santiam Hospital.

Oregon’s 3,481 COVID-19 death is an 82-year-old woman from Marion County who tested positive on Sept. 2 and died on Sept. 11 at Salem Hospital.

Oregon’s 3,482 COVID-19 death is a 72-year-old woman from Polk County who tested positive on Sept. 7 and died on Sept. 11 at Salem Hospital.

Oregon’s 3,483 COVID-19 death is an 81-year-old woman from Crook County who tested positive on Sept. 11 and died on Sept. 13 at St. Charles Bend Hospital.

Oregon’s 3,484 COVID-19 death is a 78-year-old man from Crook County who tested positive on Sept. 8 and died on Sept. 11 at St. Charles Bend Hospital.

Oregon’s 3,485 COVID-19 death is a 51-year-old man from Crook County who tested positive on Aug. 30 and died on Sept. 4 at his residence.

Oregon’s 3,486 COVID-19 death is an 85-year-old woman from Crook County who tested positive on Aug. 13 and died on Sept. 13 at St. Charles Bend Hospital.

Oregon’s 3,487 COVID-19 death is an 86-year-old man from Washington County who tested positive on Sept. 7 and died on Sept. 12 at Legacy Meridian Park Medical Center. H

Oregon’s 3,488 COVID-19 death is a 45-year-old man from Tillamook County who tested positive on Aug. 28 and died on Sept. 11 at Legacy Good Samaritan Medical Center.

Oregon’s 3,489 COVID-19 death is a 71-year-old man from Sherman County who tested positive on Aug. 26 and died on Sept. 10 at Oregon Health & Science University Hospital.

Oregon’s 3,490 COVID-19 death is an 80-year-old man from Morrow County who tested positive on Aug. 24 and died on Sept. 3 at Good Shepherd Medical Center.

Wednesday, September 15

Oregon’s 3,491st COVID-19 related death is a 45-year-old man from Coos County who tested positive on Sept. 1 and died on Sept. 13 at Bay Area Hospital.

Oregon’s 3,492nd COVID-19 related death is a 71-year-old woman from Coos County who tested positive on Aug. 25 and died on Sept. 11 at Bay Area Hospital.

Oregon’s 3,493rd COVID-19 related death is an 82-year-old woman from Coos County who tested positive on Aug. 16 and died on Sept. 11 at Southern Coos Hospital.

Oregon’s 3,494th COVID-19 related death is a 60-year-old man from Clatsop County who tested positive on Aug. 20 and died on Sept. 7 at Columbia Memorial Hospital.

Oregon’s 3,495th COVID-19 related death is an 84-year-old man from Clackamas County who tested positive on Sept. 5 and died on Sept. 12 at Legacy Mount Hood Medical Center.

Oregon’s 3,496th COVID-19 related death is a 71-year-old man from Clackamas County who tested positive on Aug. 14 and died on Sept. 10 at Providence Portland Medical Center.

Oregon’s 3,497th COVID-19 related death is a 65-year-old man from Benton County who tested positive on Aug. 6 and died on Aug. 30 at Salem Hospital.

Oregon’s 3,498th COVID-19 related death is a 65-year-old woman from Douglas County who tested positive on Aug. 22 and died on Sept. 11 at PeaceHealth Sacred Heart Medical Center at Riverbend.

Oregon’s 3,499th COVID-19 related death is a 39-year-old woman from Douglas County who tested positive on Aug. 20 and died on Sept. 9 at Oregon Health & Science University Hospital.

Oregon’s 3,500th COVID-19 related death is a 43-year-old man from Douglas County who tested positive on Aug. 19 and died on Sept. 5 at Providence Portland Medical Center.

Oregon’s 3,501st COVID-19 related death is a 70-year-old man from Douglas County who tested positive on Aug. 16 and died on Sept. 4 at Portland VA Medical Center.

Oregon’s 3,502nd COVID-19 related death is an 86-year-old woman from Douglas County who tested positive on Aug. 10 and died on Sept. 1 at her residence.

Oregon’s 3,503rd COVID-19 related death is a 73-year-old man from Curry County who tested positive on Aug. 29 and died on Sept. 9 at Kaiser Permanente Westside Medical Center.

Oregon’s 3,504th COVID-19 related death is an 80-year-old man from Douglas County who tested positive on Aug. 27 and died on Sept. 7 at Portland VA Medical Center.

Oregon’s 3,505th COVID-19 related death is an 89-year-old man from Douglas County who tested positive on Sept. 6 and died on Sept. 13 at Mercy Medical Center.

Oregon’s 3,506th COVID-19 related death is a 79-year-old woman from Jackson County who tested positive on Aug. 8 and died on Sept. 10 at Asante Rogue Regional Medical Center.

Oregon’s 3,507th COVID-19 related death is a 98-year-old man from Jackson County who tested positive on Sept. 8 and died on Sept. 11 at his residence.

Oregon’s 3,508th COVID-19 related death is a 56-year-old man from Jackson County who tested positive on Aug. 30 and died on Sept. 13 at Asante Three Rivers Medical Center.

Oregon’s 3,509th COVID-19 related death is an 85-year-old man from Josephine County who tested positive on Sept. 9 and died on Sept. 13 at Asante Three Rivers Medical Center.

Oregon’s 3,510th COVID-19 related death is a 79-year-old man from Josephine County who tested positive on Aug. 28 and died on Sept. 13 at Asante Three Rivers Medical Center.

Oregon’s 3,511th COVID-19 related death is an 86-year-old woman from Lane County who tested positive on Aug. 31 and died on Sept. 14 at PeaceHealth Sacred Heart Medical Center at Riverbend.

Oregon’s 3,512th COVID-19 related death is a 54-year-old man from Lane County who tested positive on Sept. 1 and died on Sept. 13 at PeaceHealth Sacred Heart Medical Center at Riverbend.

Oregon’s 3,513th COVID-19 related death is a 53-year-old man from Lane County who tested positive on Aug. 20 and died on Sept. 12 at PeaceHealth Sacred Heart Medical Center at Riverbend.

Oregon’s 3,514th COVID-19 related death is a 41-year-old woman from Lane County who tested positive on Aug. 17 and died on Sept. 11 at PeaceHealth Sacred Heart Medical Center at Riverbend.

Oregon’s 3,515th COVID-19 related death is an 82-year-old man from Klamath County who tested positive on Aug. 20 and died on Sept. 13 at Sky Lakes Medical Center.

Oregon’s 3,516th COVID-19 related death is a 76-year-old woman from Lane County who tested positive on Sept. 9 and died on Sept. 12 at PeaceHealth Sacred Heart Medical Center at Riverbend.

Oregon’s 3,517th COVID-19 related death is an 82-year-old woman from Lane County who tested positive on Sept. 9 and died on Sept. 13 at McKenzie-Willamette Medical Center.

Oregon’s 3,518th COVID-19 related death is a 65-year-old man from Benton County who tested positive on Aug. 6 and died on Aug. 30 at Salem Hospital.

Oregon’s 3,519th COVID-19 related death is a 47-year-old man from Marion County who tested positive on Sept. 9 and died on Sept. 14 at Salem Hospital.

Oregon’s 3,520th COVID-19 related death is a 95-year-old woman from Marion County who tested positive on Aug. 30 and died on Sept. 8 at her residence.

Oregon’s 3,521st COVID-19 related death is an 84-year-old woman from Marion County who tested positive on Aug. 19 and died on Sept. 7 at her residence.

Oregon’s 3,522nd COVID-19 related death is a 64-year-old woman from Yamhill County who tested positive on Sept. 8 and died on Sept. 12 at Willamette Valley Medical Center.

Oregon’s 3,523rd COVID-19 related death is a 76-year-old man from Yamhill County who tested positive on Sept. 1 and died on Sept. 9 at Willamette Valley Medical Center.

Oregon’s 3,524th COVID-19 related death is an 82-year-old woman from Wasco County who tested positive on Sept. 9 and died on Sept. 11 at Mid-Columbia Medical Center.

Oregon’s 3,525th COVID-19 related death is a 56-year-old woman from Wallowa County who tested positive on Aug. 25 and died on Aug. 25.

Oregon’s 3,526th COVID-19 related death is a 69-year-old man from Wallowa County who tested positive on Aug. 14 and died on Aug. 20.

Oregon’s 3,527th COVID-19 related death is an 84-year-old man from Wallowa County who tested positive on Aug. 15 and died on Aug. 21; location of death is being confirmed.

Oregon’s 3,528th COVID-19 related death is a 79-year-old woman from Wallowa County who tested positive on April 28 and died on May 11 at St. Joseph Regional Medical Center.

Oregon’s 3,529th COVID-19 related death is a 74-year-old man from Tillamook County who tested positive on Sept. 1 and died on Sept. 10 at Adventist Health Tillamook.

Oregon’s 3,530th COVID-19 related death is a 54-year-old woman from Tillamook County who tested positive on Sept. 1 and died on Sept. 14 at Adventist Health Tillamook.

Oregon’s 3,531st COVID-19 related death is an 83-year-old woman from Multnomah County who tested positive on Aug. 27 and died on Aug. 30.

Oregon’s 3,532nd COVID-19 related death is a 75-year-old woman from Multnomah County who tested positive on Aug. 31 and died on Sept. 7 at her residence.

Oregon’s 3,533rd COVID-19 related death is an 81-year-old man from Multnomah County who tested positive on Sept. 4 and died on Sept. 14 at Legacy Emanuel Medical Center.

Oregon’s 3,534th COVID-19 related death is an 83-year-old man from Umatilla County who tested positive on Aug. 31 and died on Sept. 12 at Good Shepherd Medical Center.

Oregon’s 3,535th COVID-19 related death is a 72-year-old man from Umatilla County who tested positive on Aug. 18 and died on Aug. 30 at PeaceHealth Sacred Heart Medical Center at Riverbend.

Oregon’s 3,536th COVID-19 related death is a 56-year-old woman from Umatilla County who tested positive on Aug. 13 and died on Sept. 2 at Good Shepherd Medical Center.

Thursday, September 16

Oregon’s 3,537th COVID-19 related death is a 64-year-old woman from Jackson County who tested positive on Sept. 3 and died on Sept. 14 at Asante Rogue Regional Medical Center.

Oregon’s 3,538th COVID-19 related death is a 62-year-old woman from Jackson County who tested positive on Aug. 31 and died on Sept. 14 at Providence Medford Medical Center.

Oregon’s 3,539th COVID-19 related death is a 75-year-old man from Jackson County who tested positive on Aug. 5 and died on Aug. 15 at Asante Rogue Regional Medical Center.

Oregon’s 3,540th COVID-19 related death is a 75-year-old man from Douglas County who tested positive on Sept. 12 and died on Sept. 15.

Oregon’s 3,541st COVID-19 related death is a 59-year-old man from Jackson County who tested positive on Sept. 5 and died on Sept. 14 at Providence Medford Medical Center.

Oregon’s 3,542nd COVID-19 related death is a 78-year-old man from Jackson County who tested positive on Sept. 8 and died on Sept. 14 at Asante Rogue Regional Medical Center.

Oregon’s 3,543rd COVID-19 related death is a 93-year-old man from Jackson County who tested positive on Sept. 8 and died on Sept. 14 at Ashland Community Hospital.

Oregon’s 3,544th COVID-19 related death is a 38-year-old man from Jackson County who died on Sept. 5 at his residence. 

Oregon’s 3,545th COVID-19 related death is a 70-year-old man from Multnomah County who tested positive on April 24 and died on May 8 at Legacy Mount Hood Medical Center.

Oregon’s 3,546th COVID-19 related death is an 86-year-old woman from Wallowa County who tested positive on Aug. 25 and died on Aug. 27.

Oregon’s 3,547th COVID-19 related death is a 69-year-old woman from Josephine County who tested positive on Sept. 14 and died on Sept. 8 at her residence.

***Updated information is known about Oregon’s 3462nd death, a 44-year-old man from Jackson County. He was originally reported as a Klamath County resident.

And here’s another breakdown of last week’s 153 deaths by county.

You’ll see that only 9.8% were from the Portland Tri-County area, by far the state's most populous region.

Benton (2)

Clackamas (6)

Coos (7)

Crook (5)

Curry (1)

Deschutes (3)

Douglas (21)

Jackson (19)

Jefferson (1)

Josephine (16)

Klamath (4)

Lane (19)

Lincoln (2)

Marion (14)

Morrow (1)

Multnomah (7)

Polk (1)

Sherman (1)

Tillamook (4)

Umatilla (3)

Union (2)

Wallowa (5)

Wasco (1)

Washington (2)

Yamhill (5)

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

• Here is the OHA’s coronavirus page, with links to a number of resources. 

• Here’s a daily data tracker from the CDC.

• Oregon's Office of Emergency Management now has a website for information about COVID-19.
• Multnomah County has an excellent website with lots of really important advice and guidance.
• Here’s one from the Governor’s Office.
• The Employment Department has put together a webpage with Q&A’s on a number of employment issues related to COVID-19 (e.g., eligibility for Unemployment Insurance benefits).
• The Oregon Education Department has a site for COVID-19 updates.
• The Department of Corrections has a COVID tracking website.

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: 503-281-0608
mail: 900 Court St NE, S-407, Salem, OR, 97301