December 16th COVID-19 Update

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December 16, 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.

You may recall that last week’s newsletter revealed increases in nearly all the COVID metrics.  At the time, it was unclear if these increases were the beginning of a new trend or an anomaly resulting from reporting catching up from Thanksgiving reporting disruptions.  Fortunately, it now appears that last week’s increases were not the beginning of a new trend, similar to what we’re unfortunately seeing in many other parts of the country, nor were they the result of a surge in holiday infections.  We appear to be back on track with our slow but steady decrease in cases. 

You’ll see improvements in all the metrics other than COVID deaths.  As I mentioned, this is in contrast to other parts of the country, where Delta is raging and hospitals are seriously compromised. 

This week the U.S. hit another very sad milestone: 800,000 dead from COVID, the largest number of any country.  Here in Oregon we’ve been fortunate that our death rate has been much lower than other states; our own 5,527—while painfully high in and of itself—is half what one would expect for our share of the nation’s population. Many thousands of lives have been saved, presumably thanks to factors that include our relatively high vaccination rate and masking policy relative to other states. 

The news right now is of course full of speculation about the Omicron variant.  The first few cases have shown up in Oregon, as it is in many other states.  It does appear to be highly contagious, even more so than the highly contagious Delta, but so far not as virulent. It appears able to get past the defenses of those who’ve only had one or two vaccines but not those who’ve received boosters.  The current vaccines do appear to be effective at warding off serious cases.  But notice that I’m using the words “appears able” and “appear to”:  it’s still early days for this new variant.

You’ll see further down in the newsletter an announcement of a press conference that the Governor’s Office, OHA, and OHSU are doing tomorrow at noon on current knowledge of Omicron.

On the legislative front, I’m happy to report that Monday’s special session went extremely smoothly.  Fears that it would get clogged up with politics and go beyond one day ended up being for naught, happily.  Though there were certainly highly charged speeches on the floor, especially in the House, in the end the parties were able to come together for a streamlined process. 

And the results were extremely important for Oregonians under a lot of stress right now: renters at risk of being evicted from their homes, small landlords at risk of losing the rent that they’ve been owed, people suffering from the effects of illegal cannabis grows, people all over the state experiencing the consequences of our climate-induced drought, Afghan refugees coming to this state in quest of safety and a secure life. 

I want to pay special thanks to Speaker of the House Tina Kotek, Senate President Peter Courtney, and Senate Minority Leader Tim Knopp for finding common ground on these important issues.  Let’s hope this ability to work together persists into the February session.  I also want to pay special tribute to Senator Kaye Jama and Representative Julie Fahey, the Housing Committee Chairs, for their patience, perseverance, and ability to keep people at the table in finalizing the policy package to prevent evictions.    

You can find the list of all the investments funded in the Special Session  here. Here’s reporting from OPB reporting from OPB..

In other late-breaking news from Salem, the Environmental Quality Commission today approved the new Climate Protection Program that was created in response to the Governor’s Executive Order necessitated by the Republican Climate Walkout of 2020. It will steadily and dramatically reduce our state’s greenhouse gas emissions over time. Needless to say, I’m extremely grateful for all the work that so many have done.  You can read about it in this article from the Capital Chronicle and this one from the Oregonian.

Looking forward, please don’t expect a newsletter next week.  I’m going to be taking some time off with family and most likely won’t be getting out my next newsletter until Thursday, January 30.  Hope you too get to find some relaxing, restorative time off.

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

OREGON CORONAVIRUS AND CORONAVIRUS RESPONSE UPDATE

• New COVID Cases: OHA reports 909 new COVID cases today, vs. 901 last Thursday. That’s an average of 695 per day for the last week (vs. 876 per day the previous week). The cumulative number of cases in Oregon since the beginning of the pandemic is 404,229.
• 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 1,092 positive test results today (vs. 1,085 last Thursday). That’s an average of 841 per day for the 7 days since the last newsletter (vs. 1,064 per day the previous week). The cumulative total of positive test results since the beginning of the pandemic is now 548,790.
• Total Tests: OHA reported an additional 23,238 tests today (vs. 23,634 last Thursday). That’s an average of 18,392 per day for the last week (vs. 19,498 for the previous week). Our cumulative total of reported tests is 8,383,435.
• Positivity Rate: The test positivity ratio for Oregon today was 4.7% (vs. 4.8% last Thursday). That’s an average of 4.5% per day for the last week (it was 5.4% per day for the previous week). 
• Hospitalization Information:
  • Patients Currently with Confirmed COVID-19: 389 (15 fewer than last newsletter)
  • ICU Patients Confirmed w COVID-19: 96 (2 more than last newsletter.)
  • Confirmed COVID-19 Patients Currently on Ventilators: 54 (2 more than last newsletter)
  • Available Ventilators: 850 (6 more than last newsletter).
• Hospital Capacity:
  • Available ICU Beds: 57 (1 more than last newsletter)
  • Other Available Beds: 239 (8 fewer than last newsletter).
• Here’s a link to more OHA data on hospital capacity.
• Deaths: I’m sorry to report 19 additional COVID deaths today (vs. 38 last Thursday).  That’s an average of 24 per day for the week since the last newsletter (vs. 18 the previous week). The total number of COVID deaths in Oregon is 5,527.
• Vaccinations:
  • Today, OHA reported that 28,283 new doses of COVID-19 vaccinations were added to the state immunization registry Dec. 15. Of that total, 1,770 were initial doses, 1,564 were second doses and 9,738 were third doses and booster doses. The remaining 13,172 were administered on previous days but were entered into the vaccine registry Dec. 15.
  • The seven-day running average is now 21,513 doses per day, down slightly from last week.
  • Total doses administered: 6,474,685 (up by 166,225 from last week)
    
    • 3,673,741 Pfizer/Comimaty vaccines
    • 138,188 Pfizer Pediatric vaccines (up from 111,760 last week)
    • 2,403,152 Moderna vaccines
    • 251,514 Johnson & Johnson vaccines
  • Total Oregonians vaccinated so far: 3,006,825 (up by 25,538 from last week)
    • 2,706,196 now fully vaccinated with two doses (up by 29,040)
  • 73% of all Oregonians have received at least one dose
    • 77.2% of those 5 and older
    • 81.9% of those 12 and older
    • 83.4% of those 18 and older
    • 95% of those 65 and older
  • 65.7% of all Oregonians are now fully vaccinated
    • 69.5% of those 5 and older
    • 74.5% of those 12 and older
    • 75.9% of those 18 and older
    • 88.9% of those 65 and older
  • 31.1% of all Oregonians have received a booster shot
    • 36.1% of those 18 and older
    • 49.5% of those 50 and older
    • 61.5% of those 65 and older
  • All these percentages are from the CDC Data Tracker.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 Newsprovides a wealth of easy-to-read information on the trajectory of vaccinations—by state, nationally, and internationally.

Additional Brief Updates and Links

• On Monday OHA reported the first three cases of Omicron in Oregon. Here’s the press release with initial descriptions of the three cases (discovered by OHSU sequencing in Multnomah and Washington Counties).   
• Here’s reporting from OPB.
• Each day it’s becoming clearer that the Omicron winter wave is coming. Here’s an update from Axios.
• On Monday the CDC reported that Omicron had been found in at least 25 states (more than 30 today), but the cases are mainly mild.
• And here's an update from Wednesday.
• Dr. Fauci says that the does not appear to be a need for a new vaccine specific to Omicron.
• Not surprisingly, we’re seeing bottlenecks in booster administration here in Oregon. Not surprising because most people who went through the bottlenecks of last spring now want the booster ASAP.  Even more so, now that there is evidence that being without a booster puts one at higher risk for the Omicron variant.  Here's more about the situation in Oregon. The problem now is more around finding enough healthcare workers to administer the vaccine.
• This of course isn’t an Oregon-only problem. Millions of Americans are trapped in a trapped in a "booster gap."
• I can’t remember now if I’ve already linked to this article, but it’s a perspective that I think is important. I’ve been getting lots of emails from people wondering when we’re going to end the mask mandates. It will take a while for us to get back to where we were last July when we dropped the indoor masking mandates (our case and hospital numbers are still at least double what they were then), but it gives us a goal, and the OHSU forecast predicts that we’ll get there sometime in the next couple of months.
• Thousands of students have not complied with the L.A. School Districts vaccine requirement. .As a result, the district is postponing the requirement.
• Even as Omicron is calling for more boosters, the U.S. military is looking at having to dismiss up to 40,000 soldiers for non-compliance with the federal vaccine requirement.
• Fred Meyer will no longer provide paid leave for unvaccinated workers with COVID.
• Connecticut is about to roll out a new “COVID Passport” App, something that will make it easier for individuals to access establishments that require proof of vaccination.
• MedPage Today presents a podcast focusing on the psychology of vaccine refusal. You can  read the transcript and listen to the podcast here.
• Axios has done polling that shows the potential for political harm for supporting vaccine mandates.
• Pfizer reports that its pill designed to keep COVID cases from becoming severe is showing strong evidence that that it prevents hospitalizations and deaths.
• While we’re seeing lower courts put a halt to federal vaccine mandates, the U.S. Supreme Court has again allowed a vaccine mandate to go forward.
• Gallup reports that the number of employees subject to vaccine mandates is leveling off.
• We’re hearing a lot about the Omicron variant, though we clearly have much more to learn. Here's an article about what it takes to identify and understand a new variant.
• And here's more about the current state of speculation about the variant.
• The Washington Post looks at "COVID Whiplash" "COVID Whiplash"--a frustrating sense of deja vu.
• Who are Time Magazine’s "Heroes of the Year.? “The Miracle Workers” who created the COVID vaccines and have saved millions of lives.

Governor’s Office Briefing on Omicron on Friday

Friday at noon the Governor’s Office, OHA, and OHSU will be holding a press conference on COVID. Experts from OHA and OHSU will be providing the latest information and modeling on the Omicron variant in Oregon.

You can watch the press conference live or recorded on the Governor’s YouTube page: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KE1pIbtH3Rw. A Spanish simulcast will be available on OHA’s Facebook page.

Message from OHA re: Vaccination Clinics

You can protect yourself against severe disease from all COVID-19 variants by getting vaccinated and receiving a booster if you are eligible. Primary vaccinations and booster doses build up antibodies that lower the chance of infection and reduce the severity of illness, including hospitalizations.  

Sites around the state are vaccinating large numbers of people seeking immunization against COVID-19. These “high-volume” sites offer all three COVID-19 vaccines and are open to everyone eligible for a COVID-19 vaccination or booster. 

There is no cost and you do not need to register. 

Vaccines are safe and effective. Insurance is not required. If you cannot access a high-volume site, you can: 

• Contact your doctor’s office; 
• Text ORCOVID to 898211 (English and Spanish) or email ORCOVID@211info.org(language help available); 
• Call 211 or 1-866-698-6155, toll-free, 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily, including holidays; or 
• Search for a site near you on the Get Vaccinated Oregon locator map. 

For more information about COVID-19 vaccines, third doses and boosters, visit our webpage.  See a list of “high-volume” vaccination sites throughout Oregon on our blog. 

Healthcare Workforce Vaccination Data Updated

OHA has released the latest update on its dashboard showing vaccination rates for the various healthcare license holders.  For the December refresh, the Health Care Workforce (HCW) COVID-19 Vaccine Uptake dashboard includes data up to Dec. 7.

The overall vaccination rate for all medical license holders is 84%.  Dentists remain #1 for vaccination rate, now at 100%.  Medical Doctors are #2 at 95%.  The lowest remain Chiropractic Assistants (62%) and Chiropractic Physicians (61%).

Weekly County Report: County and Statewide Numbers Going Down Again

The latest OHA county report, showing weekly increases/decreases in COVID spread for each county and for the state as a whole, was released on Monday. It shows case counts and rates for the last four weeks, including the week that ended Sunday, December 12.

The news is better this week.

This report shows that the statewide infection and test positivity rates are back on a descending track in Oregon as a whole and in nearly every county.  It appears that we’ve moved past the reduced testing and reporting of Thanksgiving week and the make-up of the week after.  We’re back on the descending path that the OHSU forecasts have been expecting. 

Most counties have test positivity rates under 5% now, as was the case prior to Delta.

Nearly all of Oregon’s 36 counties showed decreases in case counts per 10K, and more of them are now in the “Moderate Risk” category.  All of the Portland Metro counties are close to that point, with Multnomah County again slightly leading the pack.

OHA’s Weekly COVID Data and Outbreaks Reports Released: Back to Declines

OHA’s COVID-19 Weekly Report, released yesterday, shows a decrease in daily cases and hospitalizations and an increase in deaths.  As I suspected and reported, last week’s increases appear to have been a function of catching up on reporting from the Thanksgiving holiday.

• 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, up from the previous week’s 134,705 tests.
• 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, the same as the past two weeks.

1/13/21         202 facilities

2/10/21         116 facilities

3/10/21            44 facilities

 4/14/21            24 facilities

5/12/21            42 facilities

6/09/21            19 facilities

7/8/21              22 facilities

8/4/21             33 facilities

9/1/21            144 facilities

9/9/21            188 facilities

10/6/21           163 facilities

11/3/21             87 facilities

12/1/21             54 facilities

12/8/21             54 facilities

12/15/21           54 facilities

The total number of deaths for people in congregate care have gone back up over the last week, though that includes people who died earlier in the pandemic.

 8/4      1,374 (pandemic total)      

 8/11    1,385 (pandemic total)       +11

 9/1      1,441 (pandemic total)       +22

10/6    1,574 (pandemic total)       +27

11/03   1,701 (pandemic total)      +29

11/24  1,826 (pandemic total)       +36

 12/1    1,847 (pandemic total)      +21

 12/8    1,863 (pandemic total)      +16

 12/15  1,890 (pandemic total)      +27

The Outbreak Report also includes the latest data on COVID in workplaces, childcare centers, and public and private K-12 schools. 

Share of Breakthrough COVID Cases Goes Down Slightly

OHA’s most recent update on COVID-19 breakthrough cases, released today, found that 1,507 (or 30.2%) of the 4,983 reported COVID-19 cases between Dec. 5 through Dec. 11, occurred in people who were fully vaccinated. 

That’s a slight reduction from last week’s 30.6% (1,989 of the 6,496 reported COVID-19. As you can see, both the number of breakthrough cases and the number of total cases went down last week.

The most recent COVID-19 breakthrough report, with a lot of information, can be found here. 

Nineteen breakthrough cases involved residents of care facilities, senior living communities or other congregate care settings—a decrease from last week’s 44.  There were 53 cases in young people aged 12 to 17.

Cases of COVID-19 remain far more common in unvaccinated people. The report shows that the rate of COVID-19 in unvaccinated people is again four times higher than in vaccinated people, up from a 3.5 times difference.  To date, there have been 49,250 COVID-19 vaccine breakthrough cases in Oregon out of a total of 404,229.

Where the vaccines really make a difference is in preventing serious COVID cases.  Nearly all breakthrough cases show no symptoms, or symptoms that are relatively mild.  Once again, just 4.4% of the relatively small number of vaccine breakthrough cases have been hospitalized and just 1.3% have died.

Serious breakthrough cases are generally found in people who are aged and infirm, and who are not as responsive to the vaccine as younger people are.  The average age of vaccinated people who died remains 81. 

To date, more than 3 million Oregonians have received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine. 

And the Deaths:

Here is information about the 171 additional deaths that have been reported since last Thursday’s newsletter, up from 128 the previous week. (Information on the  reported today won’t be available until tomorrow.) As you’ll see, an unfortunately high number of the victims were in their 30s, 40s, 50s, and 60s.

Thursday, December 9

Oregon’s 5,319th COVID-19 related death is a 58-year-old man from Marion County who tested positive Oct. 31 and died Nov. 20 at Legacy Meridian Park Medical Center.

Oregon’s 5,320th COVID-19 related death is a 70-year-old man from Columbia County who tested positive Sept. 22 and died Nov. 14 at Portland VA Medical Center.

Oregon’s 5,321st COVID-19 related death is a 69-year-old woman from Lake County who tested positive Oct. 21 and died Nov. 25 at her residence.

Oregon’s 5,322nd COVID-19 related death is a 92-year-old man from Washington County who tested positive Oct. 24 and died Nov. 28 at his residence.

Oregon’s 5,323rd COVID-19 related death is a 79-year-old man from Columbia County who tested positive Oct. 30 and died Nov. 2 at his residence.

Oregon’s 5,324th COVID-19 related death is an 80-year-old man from Clackamas County who tested positive Nov. 8 and died Nov. 18 at Kaiser Sunnyside Medical Center.

Oregon’s 5,325th COVID-19 related death is a 77-year-old woman from Lincoln County who tested positive Nov. 17 and died Nov. 22 at PeaceHealth Sacred Heart Medical Center at Riverbend.

Oregon’s 5,326th COVID-19 related death is a 64-year-old woman from Yamhill County who tested positive Oct. 18 and died Nov. 17 at Providence St. Vincent Medical Center.

Oregon’s 5,327th COVID-19 related death is a 59-year-old woman from Clackamas County who tested positive Nov. 7 and died Nov. 15 at Providence Willamette Falls Medical Center.

Oregon’s 5,328th COVID-19 related death is a 77-year-old man from Clackamas County who tested positive Nov. 29 and died Nov. 30 at Legacy Mt. Hood Medical Center.

Oregon’s 5,329th COVID-19 related death is a 73-year-old woman from Washington County who tested positive Sept. 30 and died Nov. 12 at her residence.

Oregon’s 5,330th COVID-19 related death is a 34-year-old woman from Multnomah County who tested positive Nov. 4 and died Nov. 9 at her residence.

Oregon’s 5,331st COVID-19 related death is a 70-year-old woman from Clackamas County who tested positive Nov. 9 and died Nov. 28 at Legacy Meridian Park Medical Center.

Oregon’s 5,332nd COVID-19 related death is a 70-year-old woman from Josephine County who tested positive Oct. 14 and died Nov. 17 at Asante Three Rivers Medical Center.

Oregon’s 5,333rd COVID-19 related death is a 96-year-old woman from Washington County who tested positive Oct. 15 and died Oct. 24 at Kaiser Westside Medical Center.

Oregon’s 5,334th COVID-19 related death is a 79-year-old woman from Polk County who tested positive Nov. 4 and died Nov. 23 at her residence.

Oregon’s 5,335th COVID-19 related death is a 90-year-old woman from Washington County who tested positive Nov. 4 and died Nov. 5 at OHSU Hillsboro Medical Center.

Oregon’s 5,336th COVID-19 related death is a 96-year-old woman from Clackamas County who tested positive Sept. 25 and died Oct. 12 at her residence.

Oregon’s 5,337th COVID-19 related death is a 92-year-old man from Jackson County who tested positive Dec. 3 and died Dec. 6 at his residence.

Oregon’s 5,338th COVID-19 related death is a 96-year-old woman from Douglas County who tested positive Nov. 26 and died Dec. 8 at Mercy Medical Center.

Oregon’s 5,339th COVID-19 related death is a 95-year-old woman from Douglas County who tested positive Nov. 16 and died Dec. 7 at her residence.

Oregon’s 5,340th COVID-19 related death is a 90-year-old man from Grant County who tested positive Nov. 22 and died Dec. 4 at Blue Mountain Hospital.

Oregon’s 5,341st COVID-19 related death is an 82-year-old woman from Coos County who tested positive Nov. 18 and died Dec. 5 at PeaceHealth Sacred Heart Medical Center at Riverbend.

Oregon’s 5,342nd COVID-19 related death is a 62-year-old woman from Clackamas County who died Nov. 11 at Providence Portland Medical Center.

Oregon’s 5,343rd COVID-19 related death is a 67-year-old man from Baker County who tested positive Nov. 17 and died Dec. 7 at St. Alphonsus Regional Medical Center.

Oregon’s 5,344th COVID-19 related death is a 65-year-old woman from Deschutes County who died Nov. 30 at 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.

Oregon’s 5,345th COVID-19 related death is an 83-year-old man from Yamhill County who tested positive Nov. 17 and died Nov. 30 at his residence.

Oregon’s 5,346th COVID-19 related death is a 29-year-old woman from Multnomah County who died Oct. 20 at Providence Portland Medical Center.

Oregon’s 5,347th COVID-19 related death is an 83-year-old man from Multnomah County who tested positive Nov. 25 and died Nov. 27 at Kaiser Sunnyside Medical Center.

Oregon’s 5,348th COVID-19 related death is a 66-year-old woman from Marion County who tested positive Nov. 22 and died Dec. 2 at Salem Hospital.

Oregon’s 5,349th COVID-19 related death is a 77-year-old woman from Marion County who tested positive Nov. 9 and died Nov. 29 at Salem Hospital.

Oregon’s 5,350th COVID-19 related death is an 80-year-old woman from Marion County who tested positive Nov. 7 and died Nov. 30 at Salem Hospital.

Oregon’s 5,351st COVID-19 related death is an 86-year-old man from Marion County who tested positive Sept. 3 and died Nov. 13 at his residence.

Oregon’s 5,352nd COVID-19 related death is a 65-year-old man from Linn County who tested positive Oct. 6 and died Dec. 8 at McKenzie Willamette Medical Center.

Oregon’s 5,353rd COVID-19 related death is a 68-year-old woman from Klamath County who tested positive Nov. 30 and died Dec. 6 at Sky Lakes Medical Center.

Oregon’s 5,354th COVID-19 related death is a 65-year-old woman from Klamath County who tested positive Nov. 24 and died Dec. 6 at Sky Lakes Medical Center.

Oregon’s 5,355th COVID-19 related death is a 71-year-old man from Klamath County who tested positive Nov. 12 and died Dec. 6 at Sky Lakes Medical Center.

Oregon’s 5,356th COVID-19 related death is a 45-year-old man from Josephine County who tested positive Nov. 23 and died Dec. 7 at Asante Three Rivers Medical Center. He had no underlying conditions.

Friday, December 10

Oregon’s 5,357th COVID-19 related death is a 34-year-old man from Lake County who tested positive Nov. 19 and died Dec. 7 at St. Charles Bend.

Oregon’s 5,358th COVID-19 related death is a 39-year-old man from Lane County who tested positive Oct.13 and died Oct. 13 at his residence.

Oregon’s 5,359th COVID-19 related death is an 85-year-old woman from Yamhill County who died Oct. 17 at her residence.

Oregon’s 5,360th COVID-19 related death is a 62-year-old man from Multnomah County who tested positive Sept. 21 and died Oct. 14 at Providence Portland Medical Center.

Oregon’s 5,361st COVID-19 related death is a 59-year-old woman from Coos County who tested positive Oct. 6 and died Oct. 11 at PeaceHealth Sacred Heart Medical Center at Riverbend.

Oregon’s 5,362nd COVID-19 related death is a 99-year-old woman from Washington County who tested positive Oct. 15 and died Oct. 22 at her residence.

Oregon’s 5,363rd COVID-19 related death is a 60-year-old man from Multnomah County who tested positive Oct. 21 and died Oct. 23 at Providence Portland Medical Center.

Oregon’s 5,364th COVID-19 related death is a 97-year-old man from Deschutes County who tested positive Sept. 17 and died Oct. 22 at his residence.

Oregon’s 5,365th COVID-19 related death is an 84-year-old woman from Jefferson County who tested positive Oct. 10 and died Oct. 23 at her residence.

Oregon’s 5,366th COVID-19 related death is a 78-year-old woman from Multnomah County who tested positive Oct. 22 and died Oct. 24 at Kaiser Sunnyside Medical Center. S

Oregon’s 5,367th COVID-19 related death is an 89-year-old woman from Josephine County who tested positive Sept. 14 and died Oct. 22 at her residence.

Oregon’s 5,368th COVID-19 related death is a 74-year-old man from Lincoln County who tested positive Sept. 28 and died Oct. 21 at his residence.

Oregon’s 5,369th COVID-19 related death is a 91-year-old man from Lane County who tested positive July 5 and died Oct. 18 at his residence. 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 5,370th COVID-19 related death is a 54-year-old man from Josephine County who tested positive Aug. 23 and died Oct. 14 at Asante Three Rivers Medical Center..

Oregon’s 5,371st COVID-19 related death is a 75-year-old woman from Washington County who tested positive Oct. 11 and died Oct. 19 at Providence St. Vincent Medical Center.

Oregon’s 5,372nd COVID-19 related death is a 61-year-old man from Douglas County who tested positive Oct. 18 and died Dec. 8 at Mercy Medical Center.

Oregon’s 5,373rd COVID-19 related death is a 59-year-old woman from Linn County who tested positive Nov. 23 and died Dec. 7 at Legacy Emanuel Medical Center.

Oregon’s 5,374th COVID-19 related death is a 68-year-old man from Multnomah County who tested positive Dec. 1 and died Dec. 8 at Legacy Mt. Hood Medical Center.

Oregon’s 5,375th COVID-19 related death is a 70-year-old man from Multnomah County who tested positive Nov. 20 and died Dec. 8 at Adventist Health Portland.

Oregon’s 5,376th COVID-19 related death is a 46-year-old man from Multnomah County who tested positive Nov. 11 and died Dec. 8 at Oregon Health & Science University Hospital.

Oregon’s 5,377th COVID-19 related death is a 49-year-old woman from Deschutes County who tested positive Oct. 26 and died Dec. 7 at St. Charles Bend. =

Oregon’s 5,378th COVID-19 related death is a 79-year-old man from Coos County who died Nov. 6 at his residence. 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 5,379th COVID-19 related death is a 51-year-old woman from Coos County who tested positive Dec. 1 and died Dec. 9 at her residence.

Oregon’s 5,380th COVID-19 related death is a 64-year-old man from Clackamas County who tested positive Dec. 7 and died Dec. 8 at Adventist Health Portland.

Oregon’s 5,381st COVID-19 related death is a 29-year-old man from Benton County who tested positive Nov. 30 and died Nov. 30 at Good Samaritan Regional Medical Center.

Saturday, December 11-Monday, December 13

Oregon’s 5,382nd COVID-19 related death is an 83-year-old man from Columbia County who tested positive Oct. 15 and died Oct. 23 at Providence St. Vincent Medical Center.

Oregon’s 5,383rd COVID-19 related death is a 69-year-old man from Multnomah County who tested positive Oct. 18 and died Oct. 19 at Providence Portland Medical Center.

Oregon’s 5,384th COVID-19 related death is a 40-year-old man from Lane County who tested positive Oct. 18 and died Oct. 31 at PeaceHealth Sacred Heart Medical Center at RiverBend.

Oregon’s 5,385th COVID-19 related death is an 89-year-old woman from Douglas County who tested positive Sept. 4 and died Oct. 22 at her residence.

Oregon’s 5,386th COVID-19 related death is a 41-year-old woman from Deschutes County who tested positive Oct. 2 and died Oct. 30 at St. Charles Bend.

Oregon’s 5,387th COVID-19 related death is a 62-year-old man from Multnomah County who tested positive Oct. 13 and died Nov. 9 at Adventist Health Portland.

Oregon’s 5,388th COVID-19 related death is a 50-year-old man from Linn County who tested positive Oct. 15 and died Oct. 23 at his residence.

Oregon’s 5,389th COVID-19 related death is a 97-year-old woman from Jackson County who tested positive Oct. 15 and died Oct. 24 at her residence.

Oregon’s 5,390th COVID-19 related death is an 83-year-old woman from Multnomah County who tested positive Oct. 17 and died Oct. 26 at Providence Portland Medical Center.

Oregon’s 5,391st COVID-19 related death is an 80-year-old woman from Deschutes County who tested positive Oct. 24 and died Oct. 30 at St. Charles Bend. Presence of underlying conditions is being confirmed.

Oregon’s 5,392nd COVID-19 related death is a 41-year-old woman from Clackamas County who tested positive Oct. 7 and died Oct. 19 at Providence Portland Medical Center.

Oregon’s 5,393rd COVID-19 related death is a 42-year-old woman from Washington County who tested positive Oct. 4 and died Oct. 23 at Providence St. Vincent Medical Center.

Oregon’s 5,394th COVID-19 related death is a 65-year-old woman from Multnomah County who tested positive Oct. 4 and died Oct. 31 at Legacy Emanuel Medical Center.

Oregon’s 5,395th COVID-19 related death is a 67-year-old woman from Multnomah County who tested positive Oct. 2 and died Oct. 30 at Adventist Health Portland.

Oregon’s 5,396th COVID-19 related death is a 60-year-old man from Lane County who tested positive Oct. 23 and died Oct. 25 at McKenzie-Willamette Medical Center.

Oregon’s 5,397th COVID-19 related death is a 63-year-old man from Clackamas County who tested positive Oct. 25 and died Oct. 31 at Providence St. Vincent Medical Center.

Oregon’s 5,398th COVID-19 related death is a 52-year-old man from Multnomah County who tested positive Sept. 25 and died Oct. 11 at Providence St. Vincent Medical Center.

Oregon’s 5,399th COVID-19 related death is a 74-year-old man from Linn County who tested positive Aug. 14 and died Oct. 27 at Providence Portland Medical Center.

Oregon’s 5,400th COVID-19 related death is a 74-year-old woman from Umatilla County who tested positive Sept. 7 and died Oct. 18 at Providence St. Vincent Medical Center.

Oregon’s 5,401st COVID-19 related death is a 64-year-old woman from Marion County who tested positive Sept. 29 and died Oct. 31 at Portland VA Medical Center.

Oregon’s 5,402nd COVID-19 related death is a 96-year-old woman from Linn County who tested positive Sept. 30 and died Oct. 24 at her residence. She had underlying conditions.

Oregon’s 5,403rd COVID-19 related death is a 72-year-old woman from Linn County who tested positive Aug. 10 and died Oct. 15 at Salem Hospital.

Oregon’s 5,404th COVID-19 related death is a 59-year-old woman from Deschutes County who tested positive Oct. 1 and died Oct. 15 at St. Charles Bend.

Oregon’s 5,405th COVID-19 related death is a 56-year-old man from Multnomah County who tested positive Oct. 3 and died Oct. 15 at Legacy Emanuel Medical Center.

Oregon’s 5,406th COVID-19 related death is a 78-year-old woman from Klamath County who tested positive Oct. 12 and died Oct. 14 at St. Charles Bend.

Oregon’s 5,407th COVID-19 related death is a 56-year-old man from Clackamas County who tested positive Oct. 18 and died Oct. 31 at Providence Willamette Falls Medical Center..

Oregon’s 5,408th COVID-19 related death is a 90-year-old man from Polk County who tested positive Oct. 25 and died Oct. 23 at his residence.

Oregon’s 5,409th COVID-19 related death is a 60-year-old woman from Multnomah County who tested positive Oct. 17 and died Nov. 10 at Adventist Health Portland.

Oregon’s 5,410th COVID-19 related death is an 84-year-old man from Lane County who tested positive Nov. 15 and died Dec. 9 at PeaceHealth Sacred Heart Medical Center at RiverBend.

Oregon’s 5,411th COVID-19 related death is a 95-year-old woman from Douglas County who tested positive Nov. 27 and died Dec. 10 at her residence.

Oregon’s 5,412th COVID-19 related death is a 60-year-old woman from Douglas County who tested positive Nov. 22 and died Dec. 9 at Mercy Medical Center.

Oregon’s 5,413th COVID-19 related death is an 88-year-old man from Douglas County who tested positive Nov. 11 and died Nov. 23 at his residence.

Oregon’s 5,414th COVID-19 related death is a 77-year-old woman from Clackamas County who tested positive Nov. 4 and died Nov. 11 at Kaiser Sunnyside Medical Center.

Oregon’s 5,415th COVID-19 related death is a 34-year-old man from Washington County who first became symptomatic on Dec. 3 and died Dec. 9 at his residence.

Oregon’s 5,416th COVID-19 related death is a 20-year-old man from Washington County who tested positive Nov. 21 and died Nov. 26 at Legacy Emanuel Medical Center.

Oregon’s 5,417th COVID-19 related death is a 70-year-old woman from Yamhill County who tested positive Dec. 7 and died Dec. 10 at Willamette Valley Medical Center.

Oregon’s 5,418th COVID-19 related death is a 78-year-old woman from Yamhill County who tested positive Nov. 23 and died Dec. 7; location of death is being confirmed.

Oregon’s 5,419th COVID-19 related death is an 88-year-old woman from Multnomah County who tested positive Oct. 12 and died Nov. 11 at Providence St. Vincent Medical Center.

Oregon’s 5,420th COVID-19 related death is a 60-year-old man from Marion County who tested positive Nov. 18 and died Dec. 10 at Salem Hospital.

Tuesday, December 14

Oregon’s 5,421st COVID-19 related death is a 54-year-old man from Washington County who tested positive Dec. 9 and died Dec. 8 at his residence.

Oregon’s 5,422nd COVID-19 related death is a 64-year-old man from Polk County who tested positive Oct. 22 and died Oct. 23 at Oregon Health & Science University Hospital.

Oregon’s 5,423rd COVID-19 related death is a 52-year-old man from Washington County who tested positive Sept. 9 and died Oct. 14 at Kaiser Westside Medical Center.

Oregon’s 5,424th COVID-19 related death is a 97-year-old man from Deschutes County who tested positive Sept. 24 and died Oct. 21 at his residence.

Oregon’s 5,425th COVID-19 related death is a 74-year-old man from Malheur County who tested positive Sept. 25 and died Oct. 12 at his residence.

Oregon’s 5,426th COVID-19 related death is a 63-year-old man from Washington County who tested positive Oct. 12 and died Oct. 20 at Kaiser Westside Medical Center.

Oregon’s 5,427th COVID-19 related death is a 101-year-old woman from Multnomah County who tested positive Oct. 12 and died Oct. 17 at her residence.

Oregon’s 5,428th COVID-19 related death is a 58-year-old man from Deschutes County who tested positive Sept. 13 and died Oct. 20 at Oregon Health & Science University Hospital.

Oregon’s 5,429th COVID-19 related death is a 73-year-old woman from Polk County who tested positive Sept. 26 and died Oct. 21 at Salem Hospital.

Oregon’s 5,430th COVID-19 related death is a 96-year-old man from Multnomah County who tested positive Oct. 2 and died Oct. 17 at his residence.

Oregon’s 5,431st COVID-19 related death is a 91-year-old woman from Washington County who tested positive Oct. 19 and died Oct. 28 at her residence.

Oregon’s 5,432nd COVID-19 related death is a 74-year-old man from Clackamas County who tested positive Oct. 2 and died Oct. 18 at Kaiser Sunnyside Medical Center.

Oregon’s 5,433rd COVID-19 related death is a 74-year-old man from Washington County who tested positive Oct. 2 and died Oct. 18 at his residence.

Oregon’s 5,434th COVID-19 related death is a 56-year-old man from Multnomah County who tested positive Sept. 1 and died Oct. 28 at Kaiser Westside Medical Center.

Oregon’s 5,435th COVID-19 related death is a 38-year-old man from Klamath County who tested positive Sept.16 and died Oct. 23 at St. Charles Bend.

Oregon’s 5,436th COVID-19 related death is a 78-year-old man from Klamath County who tested positive Sept. 27 and died Oct. 21 at St. Charles Bend.

Oregon’s 5,437th COVID-19 related death is a 69-year-old woman from Marion County who tested positive Sept. 23 and died Oct. 24 at her residence.

Oregon’s 5,438th COVID-19 related death is a 45-year-old man from Clackamas County who tested positive Sept. 21 and died Oct. 17 at Providence St. Vincent Medical Center.

Oregon’s 5,439th COVID-19 related death is a 53-year-old man from Yamhill County who tested positive Sept. 19 and died Oct. 23 at Providence St. Vincent Medical Center.

Oregon’s 5,440th COVID-19 related death is a 61-year-old woman from Washington County who tested positive Oct. 14 and died Oct. 20 at her residence.

Oregon’s 5,441st COVID-19 related death is a 91-year-old woman from Marion County who tested positive Oct. 15 and died Oct. 27 at her residence.

Oregon’s 5,442nd COVID-19 related death is a 56-year-old woman from Linn County who tested positive Oct. 19 and died Oct. 25 at Kaiser Westside Medical Center.

Oregon’s 5,443rd COVID-19 related death is a 77-year-old man from Linn County who tested positive Oct. 20 and died Oct. 27 at Samaritan Lebanon Community Hospital.

Oregon’s 5,444th COVID-19 related death is an 86-year-old woman from Multnomah County who died Oct. 27 at 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.

Oregon’s 5,445th COVID-19 related death is a 75-year-old woman from Marion County who died Oct. 15 at her residence.

Oregon’s 5,446th COVID-19 related death is a 55-year-old man from Douglas County who tested positive Aug. 16 and died Oct. 8 at PeaceHealth Sacred Heart Medical Center at Riverbend.

Oregon’s 5,447th COVID-19 related death is a 68-year-old man from Yamhill County who tested positive Oct. 1 and died Oct. 14 at Providence Portland Medical Center.

Oregon’s 5,448th COVID-19 related death is an 80-year-old man from Klamath County who tested positive Oct. 10 and died Oct. 29 at Sky Lakes Medical Center.

Oregon’s 5,449th COVID-19 related death is a 53-year-old man from Clackamas County who tested positive Oct. 22 and died Oct. 29 at Providence Portland Medical Center.

Oregon’s 5,450th COVID-19 related death is a 30-year-old man from Multnomah County who tested positive Oct. 20 and died Oct. 20 at his residence.

Oregon’s 5,451st COVID-19 related death is a 70-year-old man from Jackson County who died Oct. 23 at his residence.

Oregon’s 5,452nd COVID-19 related death is a 64-year-old man from Multnomah County who tested positive Sept. 19 and died Oct. 20 at Providence Portland Medical Center.

Oregon’s 5,453rd COVID-19 related death is a 70-year-old man from Clackamas County who tested positive Oct. 7 and died Oct. 21 at Providence Willamette Falls Medical Center.

Oregon’s 5,454th COVID-19 related death is an 82-year-old man from Multnomah County who tested positive Oct. 10 and died Oct. 23 at his residence.

Oregon’s 5,455th COVID-19 related death is an 80-year-old man from Linn County who tested positive Sept. 13 and died Oct. 22 at his residence.

Oregon’s 5,456th COVID-19 related death is a 41-year-old woman from Linn County who tested positive Sept. 11 and died Oct. 25 at Providence Portland Medical Center.

Oregon’s 5,457th COVID-19 related death is a 90-year-old man from Crook County who tested positive Dec. 4 and died Dec. 12 at St. Charles Bend.

Oregon’s 5,458th COVID-19 related death is an 82-year-old man from Columbia County who tested positive Dec. 6 and died Dec. 12.

Oregon’s 5,459th COVID-19 related death is a 49-year-old man from Benton County who tested positive Nov. 29 and died Dec. 12 at Good Samaritan Regional Medical Center.

Oregon’s 5,460th COVID-19 related death is a 71-year-old man from Baker County who tested positive Nov. 13 and died Dec. 10 at Saint Alphonsus Medical Center Nampa.

Oregon’s 5,461st COVID-19 related death is an 83-year-old woman from Jackson County who tested positive Dec. 6 and died Dec. 12 at Ashland Community Hospital.

Oregon’s 5,462nd COVID-19 related death is a 98-year-old woman from Jackson County who tested positive Jan. 7 and died Jan. 27 at her residence.

Oregon’s 5,463rd COVID-19 related death is a 63-year-old woman from Douglas County who tested positive Nov. 30 and died Dec. 10 at Peacehealth Sacred Heart Medical Center at Riverbend.

Oregon’s 5,464th COVID-19 related death is a 94-year-old man from Douglas County who tested positive Nov. 26 and died Dec. 13 at his residence.

Oregon’s 5,465th COVID-19 related death is an 80-year-old man from Washington County who tested positive Dec. 3 and died Dec. 13.

Oregon’s 5,466th COVID-19 related death is a 78-year-old man from Washington County who tested positive March 6 and died Oct. 27 at his residence.

Oregon’s 5,467th COVID-19 related death is a 67-year-old man from Union County who tested positive Nov. 23 and died Dec. 9 at Grande Ronde Hospital.

Oregon’s 5,468th COVID-19 related death is a 78-year-old man from Linn County who tested positive Dec. 3 and died Dec. 11 at Samaritan Lebanon Community Hospital.

Oregon’s 5,469th COVID-19 related death is a 65-year-old woman from Clackamas County who died Nov. 23 at her residence.

Wednesday, December 15

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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 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 Department of Education 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