New cases of COVID-19 continue to spike in Umatilla County as the health department today reported the 189th county resident has died from COVID-19, as well as a new record for most new cases reported in a single day.
The health department today reported 323 new cases – up nine over Tuesday’s record of 314.
Umatilla County’s 189th death with COVID-19 is a 75-year-old female who tested positive on Jan. 8 and died the same day at Good Shepherd Hospital in Hermiston. This individual had underlying conditions.
The health department has reported 1,333 new cases in just the past five days for an average of just over 267 new cases per day.
The lastest cases bring the county’s overall total to 17,373. There are currently 912 presumptive cases of COVID-19 – unchanged from Tuesday’s total.
More details are available on the county’s COVID-19 dashboard.
Umatilla County officials reiterated their advice to residents to take precautions against the spread of coronavirus:
To protect your health and the health of others, be sure to wear a mask, wash your hands and practice social distancing. It is imperative that any person who is exhibiting symptoms of respiratory illness stay home. UCo Health continues to discover instances where individuals are continuing to work while sick. Now, more than ever, it is important for businesses to ensure that employees are not coming to work sick. Employees may feel internal and external pressure to work through mild illness. Businesses are encouraged to develop flexible leave policies to support employees who become ill and establish procedures for sending employees who are not feeling well home. Anyone who is exhibiting any symptoms of respiratory illness must stay home from work for 72-hours after all symptoms (fever, cough, shortness of breath, diarrhea, etc.) have resolved.
