Oregon set an unsettling record Friday when it recorded 550 new cases of COVID-19, the highest of any day since the pandemic began.
The spike came just one week after state modeling projected record-setting case counts in the weeks ahead, and as the United States reports daily cases approaching record levels from this summer.
Dr. Shimi Sharief, a senior health advisor at the Oregon Health Authority, said the agency is both “troubled” by Friday’s numbers but also reserving judgment about a one-day surge. The virus is spreading across all communities in Oregon and affecting people of all ages, she said, and Friday’s 5.7% test positivity rate was still “too high” despite an abnormally high number of reported test results.
Sharief noted that the count is “nearly in line with the modeling estimates we published last week,” but, she added, “We remain cautious about giving one day’s total too much weight.”
The health authority did not initially announce any new restrictions Friday and no representatives from the governor’s office participated in a news conference. The record caseload came just a day after Gov. Kate Brown allowed bowling alleys and skating rinks to open in the Portland area.
But Brown did address the milestone in a Friday evening news release announcing that public health officials will keep closer tabs on Multnomah County. The state’s most populous county was added back to the governor’s so-called watch list after recording a high rate of cases over the past two weeks that could not be traced to a known infection.
“Today marks the second time a county has been added back to the watch list, as well as our state’s highest reported case count since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic,” Brown said in a statement. “This is a sobering reminder that we cannot let down our guard. We must continue to be vigilant in protecting ourselves, our families, and our neighbors from the spread of this disease.”
The cases reported statewide Friday are due mainly to infections with no known source and clusters around social gatherings, officials said. Oregon’s previous record was set earlier this month, on Oct. 8, when the state recorded 484 cases.
Oregon also reported three more deaths from the virus Friday, bringing the total to 649.
The Oregon Health Authority for now is focusing on educating residents about safety as the holidays approach -- part of ongoing messaging campaign that so far does not seem to be resonating as cases continue to rise.
Sharief urged Oregonians to be cautious on Halloween and avoid risky behavior such as trick-or-treating. And, she said, “all of us need to rethink our plans for the holidays, starting with Thanksgiving.”
“You’ll start to see those messages coming out in the next couple of weeks,” Sharief said.
Sharief noted if nothing changes, Oregon hospitals could reach capacity by middle or late December.
“We’re all tired, and we miss seeing people we care about,” Sharief said. “However, we need to be smart.”
She gave the example of “learning pods” as a vector for transmission of the disease, saying that when people feel “comfortable or complacent” they let their guard down and do not adhere to masking and social distancing rules.
As far as further restrictions in the weeks ahead? “We’re discussing a variety of approaches with the governor’s office,” she said, but called it an “ongoing discussion.”
New cases were reported in these counties: Baker (1), Benton (9), Clackamas (48), Columbia (3), Coos (5), Crook (7), Curry (1), Deschutes (11), Douglas (3), Grant (1), Harney (1), Hood River (4), Jackson (33), Jefferson (1), Josephine (1), Klamath (1), Lane (52), Lincoln (2), Linn (19), Malheur (13), Marion (57), Morrow (1), Multnomah (135), Polk (3), Umatilla (21), Union (1), Wasco (2), Washington (91) and Yamhill (23).
New fatalities: Oregon’s 647th COVID-19 death was an 82-year-old woman in Marion County with underlying conditions. She tested positive on Oct.12 and died on Oct. 21 at Salem Hospital.
The state’s 648th coronavirus death was a 79-year-old Multnomah County woman with underlying conditions. She tested positive on Sept. 21 and died on Oct. 11 at Adventist Health Portland.
The 649th COVID-19 death in the state was a 68-year-old man in Multnomah County. He tested positive on Sept. 27 and died on Oct. 18 at Adventist Health Portland. He had underlying conditions.
The prevalence of infections: State officials reported 520 new confirmed infections out of 9,182 people tested, equaling a 5.7% positivity rate.
Who got infected: New confirmed or presumed infections grew among the following age groups: 0-9 (31); 10-19 (68); 20-29 (107); 30-39 (96); 40-49 (92); 50-59 (79); 60-69 (28); 70-79 (22); 80 and older (12).
Who’s in the hospital: The state Friday reported 148 Oregonians with confirmed coronavirus infections are in the hospital, up from 140 on Thursday.
Of those patients, 40 were in ICUs and 19 were on ventilators.
Oregon still remains below its capacity.
Since it began: Oregon has reported 41,348 confirmed or presumed infections and 649 deaths, among the lowest totals in the nation. To date, 813,114 Oregonians have been tested.
-- Lizzy Acker
503-221-8052, lacker@oregonian.com, @lizzzyacker