COVID-19 cases continue to rise in Mid-Valley, statewide

Mike Stucka USA TODAY NETWORK
·4 min read

New coronavirus cases leaped in Oregon in the week ending Sunday, rising 46.3% as 6,965 cases were reported. The previous week had 4,760 new cases of the virus that causes COVID-19.

The Oregon Health Authority reported that during the biweekly period ending May 1, 218 new hospitalizations related to COVID-19 occurred, up from 202 during the previous two weeks.

“We are seeing cases and hospitalizations starting to increase, and that was expected,” said Dr. Paul Cieslak, medical director for communicable diseases and immunizations at OHA. “COVID-19 continues to be transmitted at high levels in Oregon. If you’re in large groups, sooner or later, you’ll be exposed.”

Oregon ranked 13th among the states where coronavirus was spreading the fastest on a per-person basis, a USA TODAY Network analysis of Johns Hopkins University data shows. In the latest week, coronavirus cases in the United States increased 8.9% from the week before, with 381,004 cases reported. With 1.27% of the country's population, Oregon had 1.83% of the country's cases in the last week. Across the country, 41 states had more cases in the latest week than they did the week before.

Marion County reported 390 cases and zero deaths in the latest week. A week earlier, it had reported 249 cases and five deaths. Throughout the pandemic, it has reported 69,721 cases and 716 deaths.

Polk County reported 94 cases and two deaths in the latest week. A week earlier, it had reported 84 cases and zero deaths. Throughout the pandemic, it has reported 15,491 cases and 133 deaths.

Within Oregon, the worst weekly outbreaks on a per-person basis were in Multnomah County with 287 cases per 100,000 people per week; Benton County with 285; and Washington County with 206. The Centers for Disease Control says high levels of community transmission begin at 100 cases per 100,000 per week.

Adding the most new cases overall were Multnomah County, with 2,331 cases; Washington County, with 1,239 cases; and Clackamas County, with 753. Weekly case counts rose in 26 counties from the previous week. The worst increases from the prior week's pace were in Multnomah, Washington and Clackamas counties.

>> See how your community has fared with recent coronavirus cases

Oregon ranked 20th among states in the share of people receiving at least one shot, with 77.9% of its residents at least partially vaccinated. The national rate is 77.6%, a USA TODAY analysis of CDC data shows.

In the week ending Sunday, Oregon reported administering another 54,536 vaccine doses, including 4,387 first doses. In the previous week, the state administered 64,541 vaccine doses, including 4,707 first doses. In all, Oregon reported it has administered 7,788,988 total doses.

“If you’re vaccinated and boosted, you’re well protected against having a severe case," Cieslak said. "Get yourself vaccinated to protect yourself and your family with as much immunity as you can."

Across Oregon, cases fell in eight counties, with the best declines in Umatilla County, with 28 cases from 36 a week earlier; in Lake County, with two cases from eight; and in Baker County, with one case from four.

In Oregon, 25 people were reported dead of COVID-19 in the week ending Sunday. In the week before that, 34 people were reported dead.

A total of 721,311 people in Oregon have tested positive for the coronavirus since the pandemic began, and 7,502 people have died from the disease, Johns Hopkins University data shows. In the United States, 81,365,218 people have tested positive and 993,733 people have died.

>> Track coronavirus cases across the United States

Active care facility outbreaks

Marion and Polk counties have several active outbreaks in care facilities, senior living communities and congregate living settings:

  • Providence Benedictine Nursing Center, 50 cases since first reported in December 2021, and one death.

  • Farmington Square-Salem, 35 cases since first reported April 4, and one death.

  • Windsong at Eola Hills, three cases since first reported April 27, and no deaths.

Oregon's COVID-19 hospital admissions rising

USA TODAY analyzed federal hospital data as of Sunday, May 1.

Likely COVID-19 patients admitted in the state:

  • Last week: 663

  • The week before that: 585

  • Four weeks ago: 492

Likely COVID-19 patients admitted in the nation:

  • Last week: 43,243

  • The week before that: 39,428

  • Four weeks ago: 37,216

Hospitals in 34 states reported more COVID-19 patients than a week earlier, while hospitals in 34 states also had more COVID-19 patients in intensive-care beds. Hospitals in 38 states admitted more COVID-19 patients in the latest week than a week prior, the USA TODAY analysis of U.S. Health and Human Services data shows.

The USA TODAY Network is publishing localized versions of this story on its news sites across the country, generated with data from Johns Hopkins University and the Centers for Disease Control. If you have questions about the data or the story, contact Mike Stucka at mstucka@gannett.com.

The Statesman Journal contributed to this article.

This article originally appeared on Salem Statesman Journal: COVID-19 cases continue to rise in Mid-Valley, statewide