These are the ZIP codes causing Oregons record-breaking spike in coronavirus cases – OregonLive

Low-vaccination communities in southern and eastern Oregon continue to stoke the states record-breaking surge in coronavirus cases, with the delta variant spreading most rapidly in areas resistant to inoculations.

And that trend appears to be generally true not just in the hardest-hit areas but all across Oregon for ZIP codes with at least 5,000 residents, as recent case rates tend to track closely to community vaccination levels.

The biggest coronavirus problems are concentrated in only a handful of Oregon ZIP codes with about 10% of the states population. But those account for an outsize 27% of all new or presumed infections for the week ending Wednesday, according to an analysis of state data by The Oregonian/OregonLive.

Those 20 ZIP codes had extremely high case rates and extremely low vaccination rates, with each well below the statewide average of 60.2% among all residents.

Just like last week, the communities with the highest recent case rates are heavily concentrated in eastern and southern Oregon. And the names havent changed much, either.

Among ZIP codes with at least 50 new cases, Brookings along the southern Oregon coast had the highest weekly case rate, at 139 per 10,000 residents. Only about half of residents in that ZIP code are vaccinated.

The rest of the list is filled almost exclusively by locales in Douglas, Jackson and Josephine counties: Myrtle Creek, Winston, Sutherlin, Roseburg, Grants Pass, Central Point, Roseburg, Medford, Rogue River, White City and Eagle Point.

Vaccination rates in those ZIP codes range from a high of 55.8% in a portion of Medford to a low of 33.3% in White City.

Also on the list are ZIP codes for Tillamook on the Oregon coast, two outposts in Lane County near Eugene, and Umatilla, Hermiston and La Grande in eastern Oregon. Those, too, have low vaccination rates, from 52.9% in Junction City to just 31.1% in Umatilla.

The Oregonian/OregonLive provided its analysis to the Oregon Health Authority, asking the agency if it had any message for people living in those specific communities. The health authority has spent months promoting vaccinations as safe and effective, and as the best way to avoid severe COVID-19.

The agency pointed to comments by Patrick Allen, the director, during a news conference Thursday where state officials warned of a growing crisis as hospitals near capacity.

If you are unvaccinated, the delta variant changes everything, Allen said. You are more at risk people in their 20s, 30s and 40s have been hospitalized. Some have even died. Older adults and children around you are more at risk, if you get this highly contagious variant.

And if youre still not ready to get vaccinated, please take extreme precautions, he added. Avoid all non-essential activities. Stay away from large groups of people. When you do go out, wear your mask in public, even in outdoor spaces where you may be among crowds.

The delta variant is relentless in its search for new people to infect. Dont let it find you. The consequences for you, your family and our health care system could be catastrophic.

Meanwhile, removing population from the equation also shows that Oregons surging coronavirus case load is almost exclusively in ZIP codes outside the high vaccination Portland metro area.

Last weeks analysis by The Oregonian/OregonLive identified 16 ZIP codes with at least 100 new cases over the week.

This time, there are 35 such ZIP codes. And only two of them covering parts of Hillsboro and Oregon City are in the metro area, and both have far fewer cases per 10,000 residents than the other areas rounding out the list.

Leading all of Oregon for new cases? Medfords two ZIP codes, with 394 and 355 cases, followed by two ZIP codes for Grants Pass, with 348 and 314 cases.

Across those four ZIP codes, just 48% of residents are vaccinated.

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

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These are the ZIP codes causing Oregons record-breaking spike in coronavirus cases - OregonLive