Oregon coronavirus updates, Sunday, Sept. 27: One new death, 242 more cases of COVID-19

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We'll update this story throughout the day with the latest news about coronavirus and its effects in Oregon and across the nation on Sunday, Sept. 27.

OHA: One new death, 242 more cases of COVID-19 

The Oregon Health Authority announced one COVID-19- related death Sunday, raising the state’s death toll to 547. 

OHA reported 242 new confirmed and presumptive cases of COVID-19, including 26 in Marion County and one in Polk County, bringing the state total to 32,820.

The new cases reported today are in the following counties: Benton (1), Clackamas (10), Clatsop (8), Columbia (6), Coos (1), Deschutes (15), Douglas (5), Grant (1), Jackson (9), Jefferson (5), Lake (1), Lane (24), Lincoln (1), Linn (3), Malheur (10), Morrow (1), Multnomah (72), Tillamook (1), Umatilla (14), Wallowa (1), Wasco (3), Washington (23).

Oregon’s 547th COVID-19 death is an 81-year-old Multnomah County woman who tested positive on Sept. 23 and died on Sept. 26, at Providence Portland Medical Center.

She had underlying conditions.

COVID-19 by the numbers in Oregon

Here's the most recent data from OHA, as of Sunday, Sept. 27.

• 547: Deaths from COVID-19.
• 32,820: Total cases.
• 638,670: Tests that were negative.

Oregon COVID-19 cases by county

Here are the number of cases, both tested positive and presumptive, and deaths as of Sunday, Sept. 27:

• Baker: 94 cases, 2 deaths
• Benton: 310 cases, 6 deaths
• Clackamas: 2,408 cases, 61 deaths
• Clatsop: 212 cases
• Columbia: 171 cases, 1 death
• Coos: 157 cases
• Crook: 62 cases, 1 death
• Curry: 31 cases
• Deschutes: 840 cases, 12 deaths
• Douglas: 232 cases, 4 deaths
• Gilliam: 8 cases
• Grant: 10 cases
• Harney: 12 cases
• Hood River: 251 cases
• Jackson: 1,148 cases, 5 deaths
• Jefferson: 534 cases, 8 deaths
• Josephine: 198 cases, 2 deaths
• Klamath: 280 cases, 2 deaths
• Lake: 33 cases
• Lane: 1,210 cases, 17 deaths
• Lincoln: 482 cases, 13 deaths
• Linn: 522 cases, 13 deaths
• Malheur: 1,627 cases, 23 deaths
• Marion: 4,683 cases, 94 deaths
• Morrow: 499 cases, 6 deaths
• Multnomah: 7,184 cases, 138 deaths
• Polk: 530 cases, 15 deaths
• Sherman: 18 cases
• Tillamook: 53 cases
• Umatilla: 2,976 cases, 41 deaths
• Union: 446 cases, 2 deaths
• Wallowa: 31 cases, 1 death
• Wasco: 292 cases, 3 deaths
• Washington: 4,519 cases, 60 deaths
• Wheeler: 0 cases
• Yamhill: 757 cases, 13 deaths

Source: Oregon Health Authority

Ninth inmate at Oregon prison dies after testing positive for COVID-19

A ninth inmate in Oregon's prison died Sunday after testing positive for COVID-19.

The male inmate, between 65 and 75 years old, was in custody at the Snake River Correctional Institution in Ontario and died at a local hospital, according to Oregon Department of Corrections officials. 

On Saturday, the DOC announced an eighth inmate who died after testing positive for COVID-19. The inmate, also in custody at the Snake River Correctional Institution, died Sept. 25 at a nearby hospital.

As with all in-custody deaths, the Oregon State Police have been notified and the Medical Examiner will determine cause of death.

Institutions continue to clean and disinfect numerous times a day. DOC asks inmates to report symptoms of COVID-19 to medical staff, officials said. Health screening processes are in place before staff are allowed to enter facilities. Visiting remains closed until further notice.

DOC requires employees and inmates to wear masks if they cannot maintain six feet of social distancing. Cloth masks have been provided.

The agency is responsible for the care and custody of 14,000 adults in custody who are incarcerated in 14 institutions across the state. For more information on COVID-19 cases inside Oregon’s prisons, visit DOC’s COVID-19 website. 

Virginia Barreda is the breaking news and public safety reporter for the Statesman Journal. She can be reached at 503-399-6657 or at vbarreda@statesmanjournal.com. Follow her on Twitter at @vbarreda2.