Coronavirus in Oregon: Weekly cases fall 22% in surest sign omicron is receding – OregonLive

Weekly coronavirus cases in Oregon fell 22% in the past seven days, state data released Monday shows, marking the clearest evidence yet that the highly transmissible omicron variant is receding.

The Oregon Health Authority tallied about 43,600 confirmed or presumed infections in the past week, including 13,443 announced Monday for the preceding three days.

Several closely watched benchmarks show improvement since last week, as well.

The number of Oregonians hospitalized and testing positive for coronavirus stands at 1,099, down slightly from Friday, and new projections have been downgraded to a potential peak of about 1,200. Test positivity rates reported Monday also dipped to a still high 20.6%. And the share of emergency department patients with COVID-19-like illness stayed below the highs from earlier this month.

State officials last week offered their most optimistic statements of the surge, indicating a possible peak in cases and the potential that spring and summer may offer some semblance of normalcy following two years of pandemic precautions.

The decline seen Monday in weekly cases marks the first dip since early December. (Prompted by questions from The Oregonian/OregonLive, state officials acknowledged that a weekly report issued last week erroneously said cases declined by 9.5% when they were instead flat. The Oregonian/OregonLive also erroneously reported cases rose by 14%, based on two weeks worth of incorrect state data that has since been adjusted).

Separately, the state on Monday also reported 15 COVID-19-related deaths.

Where the new cases are by county: Baker (41), Benton (286), Clackamas (1,070), Clatsop (97), Columbia (146), Coos (164), Crook (140), Curry (45), Deschutes (893), Douglas (216), Harney (19), Hood River (61), Jackson (817), Jefferson (208), Josephine (285), Klamath (369), Lake (7), Lane (1,353), Lincoln (127), Linn (611), Malheur (61), Marion (1,622), Morrow (30), Multnomah (1,807), Polk (302), Tillamook (69), Umatilla (281), Union (120), Wallowa (10), Wasco (81), Washington (1,741) and Yamhill (364).

Who died: A 78-year-old woman from Coos County who tested positive Dec. 6 and died Dec. 19 at Southern Coos Hospital & Health Center.

A 60-year-old woman from Polk County who tested positive Aug. 27 and died Sept. 19. Location of death is being confirmed.

A 77-year-old woman from Lane County who tested positive Sept. 6 and died Sept.16 at her residence.

A 50-year-old man from Washington County who tested positive Jan. 11 and died Jan. 25 at Providence St. Vincent Medical Center.

A 76-year-old woman from Washington County who tested positive Jan. 8 and died Jan. 16 at Kaiser Westside Medical Center.

A 75-year-old woman from Wasco County who died Nov. 27 at her residence. The death certificate listed COVID-19 as a cause or significant condition contributing to death.

A 64-year-old man from Wasco County who tested positive Jan. 24 and died Jan. 28 at Mid-Columbia Medical Center.

A 56-year-old man from Umatilla County who tested positive Jan. 13 and died Jan. 27 at PeaceHealth Sacred Heart Medical Center at Riverbend.

A 68-year-old man from Lane County who tested positive Jan. 26 and died Jan. 27 at PeaceHealth Sacred Heart Medical Center at Riverbend.

An 89-year-old woman from Lane County who tested positive Jan. 21 and died Jan. 26 at McKenzie Willamette Center.

A 55-year-old man from Douglas County who tested positive Nov. 21 and died Jan. 29 at Mercy Medical Center.

A 52-year-old woman from Jackson County who tested positive Jan. 2 and died Jan. 28 at Providence Medford Medical Center.

An 83-year-old woman from Clackamas County who tested positive Jan. 24 and died Jan. 25 at her residence.

A 69-year-old woman from Clackamas County who tested positive Jan. 26 and died Jan. 28 at Kaiser Sunnyside Medical Center.

An 89-year-old man from Clackamas County who tested positive Jan. 7 and died Jan. 14. Location of death is being confirmed.

Each person had underlying health conditions or the presence of conditions was being confirmed. State officials also removed a previously announced death of a 60-year-old man from Clackamas County announced Dec. 15. He did not die.

Hospitalizations: 1,099 people with confirmed coronavirus infections are hospitalized, down 26 since Friday. That includes 187 people in intensive care, up 11 since Friday.

Since it began: Oregon has reported 633,876 confirmed or presumed infections and 6,100 deaths, among the lowest per capita numbers in the nation. To date, the state has reported 7,193,854 vaccine doses administered, fully vaccinating 2,826,410 people and partially vaccinating 300,373 people.

To see more data and trends, visit https://projects.oregonlive.com/coronavirus/

-- Brad Schmidt; bschmidt@oregonian.com; 503-294-7628; @_brad_schmidt

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Coronavirus in Oregon: Weekly cases fall 22% in surest sign omicron is receding - OregonLive