COVID Cases Last Week Down 25 Percent From The Previous Week: OHA

SALEM, OR —The Oregon Health Authority (OHA) announced Wednesday that COVID-19 cases, hospitalizations and deaths declined last week from the previous week.

In its weekly report, factoring in data from Nov. 22 to Nov. 28, the OHA reported there were 4,276 new COVID-19 cases, which was a 25-percent decrease from the previous week.

During the seven-day period ending Nov. 28, the OHA reported 226 new COVID-19 hospitalizations, after there had been 268 hospitalizations the previous week, which is a 16-percent drop.

Meanwhile, there were 125 reported COVID-19-related deaths last week, down from 214 for the week of Nov. 15 to Nov. 21.

From Nov. 21 through Nov. 27, the OHA reported that 95,882 tests for COVID-19 were conducted in Oregon, with 5.6 percent of those tests coming back as positive. The positivity rate had been 6 percent the previous week.

On Thursday morning, the OHA announced there had been 1,111 new cases and 25 new COVID-19-related deaths since the statistics had last been reported on Monday.

As of 12:01 a.m. Thursday, the COVID-19-related death toll in the state of Oregon during the pandemic stood at 5,186, the OHA reported.

The first case of the new COVID-19 variant known as Omicron was reported in California on Wednesday.

Although no cases have yet to be reported in Oregon, state epidemiologist Dean E. Sidelinger said he and the OHA epidemiologists were closely monitoring the transmission of the Omicron variant in other parts of the world.

"We know the emergence of the new variant of COVID-19 is concerning for many Oregonians. We share that concern," Sidelinger said in a statement.

Sidelinger added: "What we do know is that the basic prevention steps we have long talked about remain the best ways to protect yourself against Omicron, Delta or any variant of COVID-19 that is circulating. Vaccination remains the best protection against COVID-19 infection and transmission, including most circulating variants.

"Those who are not yet vaccinated should get their first COVID-19 vaccine as soon as possible. Those due for a booster — all adults either two months after a Johnson & Johnson vaccination or six months after a Moderna or Pfizer vaccination — should get it as soon as possible. Wearing a mask when inside public places as well as social distancing and handwashing remain incredibly important in the face of an emerging variant and high levels of community transmission."

As if 12:01 a.m. Thursday, 79 percent of people 18 years and older living in Oregon had received at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. A total of 73 percent had completed their primary series and 21.3 percent had received an extra dose of the vaccine, according to the OHA.

Meanwhile, 69.2 percent of people of all ages living in Oregon had received one dose, while 62.5 percent of people of all ages had completed their primary series. A total of 17 percent of the total population of Oregon had received a booster.