PORTLAND, Ore. — For the first time in two months, there was a drop in known COVID-19 cases last week in Oregon. The decline in cases coincided with a decrease in testing, according to the Oregon Health Authority (OHA).
There were 9,222 new coronavirus cases during the week of Dec. 7-13, which was an 11% decrease from the previous week, OHA said. The state had previously reported record-high weekly case counts for seven weeks in a row, OHA said in its weekly report on the COVID-19 pandemic. The 9,222 new COVID-19 cases reported last week made up the second-highest weekly case count in Oregon so far during the pandemic.
While there was an 11% decline in new cases last week, there was also a 13% drop in testing, according to health officials. The positive test rate fell from 8.1% two weeks ago to 7.4% last week.
There were 116 coronavirus-related deaths reported last week, down from 133 reported the previous week. OHA said there were 491 people hospitalized with COVID-19 last week, which was also a slight decline from two weeks ago. Still, both numbers are among the highest weekly counts reported in Oregon during the pandemic.
COVID-19 continues to have a deadlier impact on seniors. People 70 and older account for 76% of the coronavirus-related deaths among Oregonians.
People ages 20 to 49 make up the majority of reported cases in Oregon. Despite making up 39% of the state’s population, they account for 55% of known cases, according to OHA.
The virus also continues to disproportionately affect the Hispanic community.
“They account for 13% of Oregon’s population but 38% of cases of known ethnicity reported to date,” OHA said.
