321 new cases and 6 deaths reported as Oregons coronavirus death toll tops 600 – OregonLive

The Oregon Health Authority reported 321 new known cases of COVID-19 and six new deaths Tuesday, bringing the statewide death toll to 605.

Today we surpassed 600 reported COVID-19 deaths, marking an unhappy milestone for all Oregonians," said the agencys director, Pat Allen, in a news release. At OHA we note each COVID-19 related death with great sadness. Our thoughts go out to the families and loved ones of those we have lost.

Officials have been watching anxiously and pleading with Oregonians to wear masks, maintain physical distance from others outside their households and avoid large social gatherings indoors to slow the novel coronavirus' spread. Flu season and much colder, wetter months when people spend more time indoors are approaching. The virus is expected to spread more easily.

Oregon is one of more than 30 states that has reported an increase in new cases in the past week compared to the previous week. Nationwide, in the past two weeks new infections are up 19% and deaths down 5%, according to The New York Times. Meanwhile, in Oregon new infections during that same time period are up 21% and deaths 53%.

New daily cases in Oregon over the past week have surpassed the all-time highs reached in late July.

Deaths, however, are still far below the records reached in August when Oregon recorded at least 138 coronavirus-related deaths.

Doctors say deaths typically come weeks after new cases because it can take that long for the disease in the most severe cases to progress to the point that it kills.

Where the new cases are by county: Benton (10), Clackamas (37), Clatsop (5), Columbia (1), Crook (1), Curry (4), Deschutes (2), Douglas (1), Jackson (13), Jefferson (1), Josephine (3), Klamath (5), Lake (1), Lane (39), Lincoln (5), Linn (20), Malheur (14), Marion (35), Multnomah (45), Polk (3), Tillamook (1), Umatilla (11), Union (2), Wasco (1), Washington (50) and Yamhill (11).

New fatalities: The state released the following details about the six deaths announced Tuesday:

An 83-year-old Yamhill County man who tested positive Sept. 21 died Oct. 5 in his home. Officials are investigating whether he had underlying medical conditions.

An 89-year-old Multnomah County man who had underlying conditions tested positive Sept. 30 died Monday at Adventist Health Portland.

A 75-year-old Marion County woman who had underlying conditions tested positive Oct. 1 and died Friday at her home.

A 90-year-old Clackamas County man who had underlying conditions tested positive Saturday and died Sunday. Officials didnt say yet whether he died at a hospital, his home or elsewhere.

A 91-year-old Malheur County man with underlying conditions tested positive Sept. 7 and died Sept. 18 at his home.

An 81-year-old Multnomah County woman with underlying conditions tested positive Oct. 1 and died Saturday at Providence Portland Medical Center.

Prevalence of new infections: The state reported 321 new infections, but 297 came in the form of positive tests while the rest where presumed cases. Of the 6,006 people tested, 297 people equates to a 4.9% positivity rate. The rolling seven-day average was 6.1%.

Who got infected: New confirmed or presumed infections grew Tuesday among these age groups: 0-9 (18); 10-19 (34); 20-29 (59); 30-39 (61); 40-49 (46); 50-59 (47); 60-69 (24); 70-79 (13); 80 and older (13).

Whos in the hospital: The state Tuesday reported 156 people hospitalized in Oregon for confirmed cases of COVID-19. Thats up by two from Monday. The state still has hundreds of available beds and ventilators.

Since it began: There have been 605 deaths and 37,780 people whove tested positive or been presumed to have the disease. So far, 749,375 tests have been conducted.

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-- Aimee Green; agreen@oregonian.com; @o_aimee

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321 new cases and 6 deaths reported as Oregons coronavirus death toll tops 600 - OregonLive