Oregon health officials reported flat coronavirus case numbers this week and declining hospitalizations, with a potential for reductions into March.
The state recorded 2,174 new reported COVID-19 cases this week, a single-digit increase over the previous week that keeps the average daily caseload around 300 known cases, though that doesn’t capture at-home tests.
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Forecasters previously said the XBB.1.5 omicron subvariant would spread fast and drive up hospitalizations in February. They are not so sure anymore, given the subvariant still does not appear to be spreading nearly as fast in the Pacific Northwest as in the Northeast.
“It is unclear at this point if it will spread rapidly and drive an increase in hospital utilization,” Oregon Health & Science University analyst Peter Graven said in an email. “Right now, the growth of the virus has not been very fast across the US and much slower than previous strains that have caused these surges.”
The bivalent vaccine booster designed to protect against the BA.5 omicron subvariant appears to also be effective in protecting from symptomatic XBB.1.5 infections, according to research the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention published Wednesday.
Since it began: Oregon has reported 948,901 confirmed or presumed infections and 9,164 deaths.
Hospitalizations: 222 people with confirmed coronavirus infections are hospitalized, down 17 since Jan. 18. That includes 27 people in intensive care, down six since Jan. 18.
New deaths: Since Jan. 18, the Oregon Health Authority has reported 23 additional deaths connected to COVID-19.
— Fedor Zarkhin