SALEM, Ore. — If you had dinner with a friend who turned out to have COVID-19, don’t expect a call from a contact tracer.
At least not in some places in Oregon.
Marion and Lane counties said they have had so many new cases recently that their public health departments are in 'surge protocols," meaning they only contact people who are exposed in workplace outbreaks and congregate care settings.
According to the Oregon Health Authority, sporadic cases of COVID-19 — ones that weren’t traced back to a known case — have skyrocketed since early in the summer.
In the most recent week reported by the OHA, the week of Sept. 11, there were more than 10,000 sporadic cases in the state. There were about 1,000 the week of June 26.
Marion County has so many cases of COVID-19 that the county’s public health division is primarily tracking cases in congregate care settings like nursing homes and workplace outbreaks, according to Marion County Health & Human Services spokesperson Jenna Wyatt.
Jason Davis, the spokesperson for Lane County’s COVID-19 response, said the county is under a similar surge protocol and only contact tracing with individuals who are over 65, under age 18 and involved in larger outbreaks.
“Contact tracing is just one part of the case investigation process,” Wyatt said. “Due to the high number of cases, we have discontinued contact tracing for household contacts and social settings.”
According to Marion County’s COVID-19 data dashboard, the county was averaging 173 cases per day on its 14-day moving average, down from a peak of 262 Sept. 6, but above where it was a year ago when it was seeing 47 cases per day.
The Marion County Health and Human Services Department, which includes its public health department, has been identified as a workplace outbreak by the Oregon Health Authority, with nine cases between July 21 and Sept. 9.
Marion County public health director Katrina Rothenberger told the county commissioners in August the department didn't have the staff to contact trace all cases of the coronavirus as it did for much of the pandemic.
Marion County had 305 new cases per 100,000 people the week of Sept. 12, above the state average of 257 per 100,000. Lane County was below the average with 246. Of Oregon counties, 26 were above the state’s average.
Active outbreaks in care facilities
These are the current outbreaks in care facilities in Marion and Lane counties reported since Aug. 1:
- French Prarie Nursing and Rehabilitation Center, 18 cases, one death.
- The Springs at Willowcreek, four cases.
- Avamere Court at Keizer, 42 cases, one death.
- Tierra Rose Care Center, six cases.
- Brookdale Salem 16 cases, one death.
- Hawthorne House of Salem, 14 cases, one death.
- Providence Benedictine Orchard House, three cases.
- Brookstone Alzheimer's Special Care Center, eight cases.
- Harmony House of Salem, five cases, one death.
- Battle Creek Memory Care, seven cases.
- Emerald Gardens, four cases.
- Brookdale River Road, four cases.
- Bonaventure of Keizer, 29 cases, one death.
- Independence Health and Rehabilitation Center, nine cases, one death.
- Marian Estates, four cases.
- Elliott Residence, three cases, one death
- Cedar Village Memory Care Community, five cases.
- Madrona Hills Retirement, seven cases.
- Rosewood Memory Care, 27 cases.
- Silver Creek Senior Living, three cases.
- Davenport Place, three cases.
Active workplace outbreaks
Oregon Health Authority reported these are the active workplace outbreaks in Marion and Polk counties with five or more confirmed COVID-19 cases:
- Salem Hospital, 327 cases.
- Amazon Aumsville, 211 cases.
- Oregon State Hospital (A), 59 cases.
- Oregon State Penitentiary, 30 cases.
- MacLaren Youth Correctional Facility, 25 cases.
- Polk County Jail, 18 cases.
- Do It Best Corp, 10 cases.
- Marion County Health and Human Services, nine cases.
- Oregon State Hospital (B), nine cases.
- Don Pancho Authentic Mexican Foods, nine cases.
