PORTLAND, Ore. — Oregon Health Authority (OHA) reported 1,407 new presumptive and confirmed cases of COVID-19 and 40 additional deaths in its daily update on Thursday.
The newly reported statistics bring the state's total number of reported infections since the beginning of the pandemic to 356,061 and the death toll to 4,275.
OHA said in a press release on Thursday that death totals would be above normal due to a technical error that allowed for a total of 550 deaths to go unreported. According to the release, the deaths only became recently known to state epidemiologists due to a technical computer error. KGW reached out to OHA for more details on the error. OHA said there were two issues found:
- The first was an issue with the database where we get death information. That database wasn't pulling in all of the ICD-10 codes that were on a death certificate, which may include COVID-19 ICD-10 codes.
- The second was a “scripting” issue. One thing we do is compare the case information from the Oregon Pandemic Emergency Response Application or “Opera” database, which is used for communicable disease surveillance and reporting, to a database with information about people who have died. The script had been set up to only query an individual once. So, if we ran the query about an individual once, and then information about that individual – such as that they died – is updated, which can happen when information about cases or deaths is delayed, we miss that new information and it’s not reflected in our death counts.
“We are taking steps to ensure that our reporting is comprehensive and transparent,” said OHA Director Patrick Allen. “We extend our condolences to everyone who has suffered a loss to COVID-19, and we deeply regret the pain this disclosure may cause.”
The increased number of COVID deaths could impact Oregon's overall COVID death standings when compared to the rest of the country. As it stands, Oregon has the sixth-fewest number of deaths statewide, it is anticipated that these deaths will push Oregon to seventh or eighth in the nation.
Breakthrough report
OHA released updated data on breakthrough cases in the state. Cases reported between Oct. 10-16 were found mostly in unvaccinated people (76.5% of cases). There were 1,977 breakthrough cases, which accounted for 23.5% of cases during that week.
The average age of breakthrough cases was 48. Thirty-five of the breakthrough cases were found in people living at care facilities, senior living communities, or other congregate living settings. There were 88 cases reported in people between the ages of 12 and 17.
There have been a total of 32,954 breakthrough cases reported across Oregon, which is roughly 9.2% of all reported cases. Cases of COVID-19 are much more severe in unvaccinated people. To date, 4.4% of breakthrough cases have been hospitalized and 1% have died. The average age of vaccinated people who have died is 80.
Vaccination remains the most effective way to reduce the spread of the virus, but breakthrough cases show the necessity to wear masks in indoor settings with people who are not in your household or at crowded outdoor events.
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You can find more about breakthrough cases in Oregon here.
Hospitalizations
There are 567 people hospitalized with COVID-19 across Oregon, which is one fewer than was reported on Wednesday. There are 133 patients in ICU beds with COVID, which is seven more than was reported on Wednesday.
There are only 48 ICU beds available statewide out of a total 706 (7% availability) and there are 265 adult non-ICU beds available out of 4,115 (6% availability).
Vaccinations
The seven-day running average is now 9,309 doses per day.
Oregon has now administered 3,208,051 doses of Pfizer Comirnaty, 1,935,312 doses of Moderna and 223,943 doses of Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccines.
As of Thursday, 2,793,594 people have had at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine and 2,580,142 people have completed a COVID-19 vaccine series.
Cases and deaths
The cases reported Thursday by OHA were found in the following counties: Baker (10), Benton (29), Clackamas (108), Clatsop (1), Columbia (16), Coos (31), Crook (40), Curry (2), Deschutes (146), Douglas (46), Gilliam (1), Grant (5), Harney (16), Hood River (5), Jackson (75), Jefferson (15), Josephine (15), Klamath (67), Lake (6), Lane (113), Lincoln (8), Linn (49), Malheur (22), Marion (98), Morrow (4), Multnomah (190), Polk (37), Tillamook (5), Umatilla (50), Union (11), Wallowa (3), Wasco (10), Washington (144) and Yamhill (29).
Oregon’s 4,236th COVID-19 related death was an 89-year-old man from Linn County who tested positive on Sept. 7 and died on Sept. 15 at his residence. Presence of underlying conditions is being confirmed.
Oregon’s 4,237th COVID-19 related death was a 68-year-old man from Lincoln County who tested positive on Sept. 8 and died on Oct. 8 at Portland VA Medical Center. He had underlying conditions.
Oregon’s 4,238th COVID-19 related death was a 55-year-old woman from Lane County who tested positive on Oct. 17 and died on Oct. 20 at Mckenzie Willamette Medical Center. Presence of underlying conditions is being confirmed.
Oregon’s 4,239th COVID-19 related death was a 64-year-old man from Lane County who tested positive on Oct. 1 and died on Oct. 19 at Peacehealth Sacred Heart Medical Center at Riverbend. Presence of underlying conditions is being confirmed.
Oregon’s 4,240th COVID-19 related death was a 45-year-old woman from Klamath County who tested positive on Oct. 2 and died on Oct. 14 at Renown South Meadows Medical Center. She had underlying conditions.
Oregon’s 4,241st COVID-19 related death was a 57-year-old man from Klamath County who tested positive on Oct. 3 and died on Oct. 20 at Sky Lakes Medical Center. Presence of underlying conditions is being confirmed.
Oregon’s 4,242nd COVID-19 related death was an 83-year-old woman from Jackson County who tested positive on Oct. 9 and died on Oct. 20 at Ashland Community Hospital. She had underlying conditions.
Oregon’s 4,243rd COVID-19 related death was an 81-year-old woman from Jackson County who tested positive on Aug. 24 and died on Sept. 14 at her residence. She had underlying conditions.
Oregon’s 4,244th COVID-19 related death was a 50-year-old woman from Columbia County who first became symptomatic on Oct. 3 and died on Oct. 20 at Legacy Good Samaritan Medical Center. Presence of underlying conditions is being confirmed.
Oregon’s 4,245th COVID-19 related death was a 26-year-old man from Clackamas County who tested positive on Sept. 25 and died on Sept. 28 at his residence. He had underlying conditions.
Oregon’s 4,246th COVID-19 related death was an 81-year-old man from Clackamas County who tested positive on Sept. 2 and died on Sept. 18 at Kaiser Sunnyside Medical Center. Presence of underlying conditions is being confirmed.
Oregon’s 4,247thh COVID-19 related death was a 61-year-old woman from Baker County who tested positive on Sept. 21 and died on Oct. 19 at St Alphonsus Regional Medical Center. Presence of underlying conditions is being confirmed.
Oregon’s 4,248th COVID-19 related death was a 56-year-old woman from Linn County who tested positive on Oct. 6 and died on Oct. 11 at Samaritan Lebanon Community Hospital. She had underlying conditions.
Oregon’s 4,249th COVID-19 related death was an 85-year-old man from Linn County who tested positive on Sept. 16 and died on Sept. 20 at his residence. He had underlying conditions.
Oregon’s 4,250th COVID-19 related death was a 79-year-old woman from Umatilla County who tested positive on Aug. 31 and died on Sept. 21 at her residence. She had underlying conditions.
Oregon’s 4,251st COVID-19 related death was a 70-year-old woman from Umatilla County who tested positive on Aug. 31 and died on Sept. 10 at her residence. She had underlying conditions.
Oregon’s 4,252nd COVID-19 related death was an 80-year-old man from Tillamook County who tested positive on Aug. 29 and died on Sept. 10; location of death is being confirmed. He had underlying conditions.
Oregon’s 4,253rd COVID-19 related death was a 38-year-old man from Tillamook County who tested positive on Aug. 22 and died on Sept 111; location of death is being confirmed. He had underlying conditions.
Oregon’s 4,254th COVID-19 related death was a 50-year-old woman from Tillamook County who tested positive on Aug. 17 and died on Sept. 1 at Providence Portland Medical Center. She had underlying conditions.
Oregon’s 4,255th COVID-19 related death was a 41-year-old woman from Multnomah County who tested positive on Oct. 1 and died on Oct. 11 at Adventist Health Portland. Presence of underlying conditions is being confirmed.
Oregon’s 4,256th COVID-19 related death was an 87-year-old man from Multnomah County who tested positive on Sept. 21 and died on Oct. 8 at Kaiser Sunnyside Medical Center. He had underlying conditions.
Oregon’s 4,257th COVID-19 related death was a 69-year-old man from Multnomah County who tested positive on Sept. 16 and died on Sept. 21 at his residence. Presence of underlying conditions is being confirmed.
Oregon’s 4,258th COVID-19 related death was an 88-year-old man from Multnomah County who tested positive on Aug. 22 and died on Oct. 11 at his residence. He had underlying conditions.
Oregon’s 4,259th COVID-19 related death was a 62-year-old man from Marion County who tested positive on Oct. 14 and died on Oct. 18 at Salem Hospital. He had underlying conditions.
Oregon’s 4,260th COVID-19 related death was a 93-year-old man from Marion County who tested positive on Oct. 4 and died on Oct. 14 at his residence. He had underlying conditions.
Oregon’s 4,261st COVID-19 related death was a 61-year-old man from Marion County who tested positive on Oct. 3 and died on Oct. 16 at Salem Hospital. He had underlying conditions.
Oregon’s 4,262nd COVID-19 related death was a 74-year-old man from Marion County who tested positive on Sept. 26 and died on Oct.16 at Santiam Hospital. He had underlying conditions.
Oregon’s 4,263rd COVID-19 related death was an 83-year-old man from Marion County who tested positive on Sept. 23 and died on Oct. 18 at Salem Hospital. He had underlying conditions.
Oregon’s 4,264th COVID-19 related death was a 76-year-old man from Marion County who tested positive on Sept. 23 and died on Oct. 15 at Salem Hospital. He had underlying conditions.
Oregon’s 4,265th COVID-19 related death was a 78-year-old man from Umatilla County who tested positive on Sept. 3 and died on Sept. 23 at his residence. He had underlying conditions.
Oregon’s 4,266th COVID-19 related death was an 86-year-old woman from Umatilla County who tested positive on Aug.6 and died on Aug. 20 at her residence. Presence of underlying conditions is being confirmed.
Oregon’s 4,267th COVID-19 related death was an 84-year-old woman from Union County who died on Sept. 25 at his residence. The death certificate listed COVID-19 disease or SARS-CoV-2 as a cause of death or a significant condition contributing to death. Presence of underlying conditions is being confirmed.
Oregon’s 4,268th COVID-19 related death was a 79-year-old man from Yamhill County who tested positive on Oct.14 and died on Oct. 19 at Willamette Valley Medical Center. Presence of underlying conditions is being confirmed.
Oregon’s 4,269th COVID-19 related death was an 87-year-old man from Yamhill County who tested positive on Oct. 4 and died on Oct. 17 at Providence Newberg Medical Center. He had underlying conditions.
Oregon’s 4,270th COVID-19 related death was a 97-year-old woman from Washington County who first became symptomatic on Oct. 3 and died on Oct. 19 at her residence. She had underlying conditions.
Oregon’s 4,271st COVID-19 related death was a 66-year-old man from Washington County who tested positive on Sept. 24 and died on Oct. 19 at OHSU Hillsboro Medical Center. Presence of underlying conditions is being confirmed.
Oregon’s 4,272nd COVID-19 related death was a 73-year-old man from Washington County who tested positive on Sept. 21 and died on Oct. 10 at OHSU Hillsboro Medical Center. He had underlying conditions.
Oregon’s 4,273rd COVID-19 related death was a 76-year-old woman from Washington County who tested positive on Sept. 16 and died on Oct. 11 at OHSU Hillsboro Medical Center. She had underlying conditions.
Oregon’s 4,274th COVID-19 related death was a 44-year-old man from Washington County who tested positive on Aug. 22 and died on Sept. 29 at Providence St. Vincent Medical Center. He had underlying conditions.
Oregon’s 4,275th COVID-19 related death was a 78-year-old man from Wasco County who tested positive on Oct. 15 and died on Oct. 19 at Mid-Columbia Medical Center. He had underlying conditions.
