PORTLAND, Ore. — Data from the Oregon Health Authority shows COVID-19 cases are rising across the state and new cases can't be tied to one geographic region.
In its weekly report, published Wednesday, the OHA updated the breakdown of cases by ZIP code, which shows coronavirus cases going up from Umatilla County to the Portland metro area to Marion County, even east to Malheur County.
That’s one of the reasons 1,402 people tested positive for COVID-19 during the week of June 22-28, the most of any week during the pandemic in Oregon. That number was an 11% increase from the previous week and came as the number of tests completed declined by 11%, down to 28,359. It also marked the fifth straight week that COVID-19 cases, and the positive test rate, have increased in Oregon.
So, which areas of the state saw the biggest spikes in coronavirus cases last week?
Here’s a look at the 10 ZIP codes with the most new cases:
- 97838 (Hermiston, Umatilla County): 140 new cases (174 to 314 total cases)
- 97850 (La Grande, Union County): 54 new cases (230 to 284)
- 97233 (Rockwood/Centennial, Multnomah County): 37 new cases (208 to 245)
- 97071 (Woodburn, Marion County): 36 new cases (250 to 286)
- 97305 (Northeast of Salem, Marion County): 34 new cases (158 to 192)
- 97236 (Centennial, Multnomah County): 31 new cases (305 to 336)
- 97080 (Gresham, Multnomah County): 30 new cases (114 to 144)
- 97123 (Hillsboro, Washington County): 29 new cases (174 to 203)
- 97882 (Umatilla County): 26 new cases (53 to 79)
- 97230 (Portland/Government Island, Multnomah County): 26 new cases (128 to 154)
Here’s a look at the 10 ZIP codes with the largest percentage increase of cases:
- 97801 (Pendleton, Umatilla County): 169% (13 to 35 total cases)
- 97844 (Morrow County): 108% (12 to 25)
- 97034 (Lake Oswego, Oak Grove): 83% (12 to 22)
- 97838 (Hermiston, Umatilla County): 80% (174 to 314)
- 97405 (Lane County): 80% (10 to 18)
- 97818 (Morrow County): 75% (16 to 28)
- 97914 (Ontario, Malheur County): 57% (40 to 63)
- 97401 (Eugene, Lane County): 52% (19 to 29)
- 97882 (Umatilla, Umatilla County): 49% (53 to 79)
- 97219 (South Portland, Multnomah County): 49% (51 to 76)
This week is barely halfway done but it appears COVID-19 cases are on pace to be on the rise in Oregon for a sixth straight week. There were 281 new cases reported on Wednesday, which was a single-day high during the pandemic until 375 new cases were reported on Thursday.
Dr. Dean Sidelinger, the state’s epidemiologist, on Wednesday said Oregon appears to be on track to hit a worst-case scenario model that showed, over the next month, there could be up to 900 known new cases per day.
In response to the continued spread of COVID-19, Gov. Kate Brown has required face masks be worn in all public indoor spaces across Oregon. She and health officials urge people to celebrate the Fourth of July at home to prevent further spread of the virus, which could potentially lead to hospitals being overwhelmed.