COVID Backslide? Oregon Reports Highest Coronavirus Case Count

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On Friday, the Oregon Health Authority (OHA) announced 457 new and presumptive COVID-19 cases – the highest daily case count since the beginning of the pandemic in Oregon.

OHA officials say they continue to see cases where seemingly innocuous activities – that people would not have thought twice about in the past—are fueling outbreaks.

Some examples of these cases include the following:

  • An Oregon county has 13 cases associated with four university outbreaks, including a Greek house and three athletic teams.
  • A county has 22 cases associated with three university outbreaks, including two Greek houses and a large back-to-school party.
  • Another county has an outbreak that now includes 19 cases. It started with a small group who met for a prayer group while some also participated in a sewing group. One of the household members has died. None of the people reported wearing masks. The cases range in age from young children to 80s.
  • Employees in a local company had an employee Labor Day party and now six employees are positive.

“While our recent modeling suggests that transmission may be waning, it also indicates that even a modest uptick in transmission can lead to an increase in daily cases – like the one we’re experiencing now – which can quickly eradicate the progress we have made in subduing the virus,” State Health Officer Dean Sidelinger said in a media briefing on Friday.

OHA reminded the public that simple steps can offer protection from coronavirus:

  • Stay at least six feet apart from people outside your household
  • Restrict your gatherings
  • Wear a face covering when you are outside the house or indoors where distancing can’t be achieved

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