Mid-Valley COVID-19 cases rise but Marion, Polk not at 'high' community risk
New coronavirus cases continued to increase in Oregon in the week ending Sunday, rising 15.6% as 10,891 cases were reported. The previous week had 9,418 new cases of the virus that causes COVID-19.
Oregon ranked 18th 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 31.8% from the week before, with 796,108 cases reported. With 1.27% of the country's population, Oregon had 1.37% of the country's cases in the last week. Across the country, 42 states had more cases in the latest week than they did in the week before.
According to the CDC, Marion County's COVID-19 community level remains low and Polk County's is medium. The ranking is based on the number of hospital beds being used, hospital admissions and the number of new cases in an area.
Marion County reported 606 cases and two deaths in the latest week. A week earlier, it had reported 558 cases and three deaths. Throughout the pandemic, it has reported 71,350 cases and 723 deaths.
Polk County reported 191 cases and zero deaths in the latest week. A week earlier, it had reported 150 cases and zero deaths. Throughout the pandemic, it has reported 15,969 cases and 134 deaths.
Within Oregon, the worst weekly outbreaks on a per-person basis were in Deschutes County with 394 cases per 100,000 per week; Multnomah County with 348; and Washington County with 332. 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 2,827 cases; Washington County, with 1,995 cases; and Clackamas County, with 1,221. Weekly case counts rose in 29 counties from the previous week. The largest increases from the prior week's pace were in Multnomah, Washington and Lane 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 77.7%, a USA TODAY analysis of CDC data shows.
In the week ending Wednesday, Oregon reported administering another 55,427 vaccine doses, including 4,397 first doses. In the previous week, the state administered 51,937 vaccine doses, including 3,979 first doses. In all, Oregon reported it has administered 7,803,785 total doses.
Across Oregon, cases fell in seven counties, with the largest declines in Benton County, with 262 cases from 308 a week earlier; in Umatilla County, with 56 cases from 79; and in Union County, with 24 cases from 34.
In Oregon, 26 people were reported dead of COVID-19 in the week ending Sunday. In the week before that, 32 people were reported dead.
A total of 749,721 people in Oregon have tested positive for the coronavirus since the pandemic began, and 7,586 people have died from the disease, Johns Hopkins University data shows. In the United States, 83,281,329 people have tested positive and 1,002,173 people have died.
>> Track coronavirus cases across the United States
Oregon's COVID-19 hospital admissions rising
USA TODAY analyzed federal hospital data as of Sunday, May 22.
Likely COVID-19 patients admitted in the state:
Last week: 810
The week before that: 704
Four weeks ago: 585
Likely COVID-19 patients admitted in the nation:
Last week: 53,333
The week before that: 49,215
Four weeks ago: 39,443
Hospitals in 31 states reported more COVID-19 patients than a week earlier, while hospitals in 29 states had more COVID-19 patients in intensive-care beds. Hospitals in 37 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.
This article originally appeared on Salem Statesman Journal: Marion County reports 606 additional COVID-19 cases
