Oregon again broke its previous record for number of new COVID-19 cases reported in a single day on Thursday.
The Oregon Health Authority (OHA) reported 805 new COVID-19 cases in Oregon – the highest number yet of new cases.
The cause of Thursday’s cases is still under investigation, but data from recent weeks continues to show that increased spread is due to small informal gatherings rather than large workplace or other outbreaks, according to Dean Sidelinger, state health officer at OHA. Sporadic cases – those not traced to a source – are also increasing. The percentage of positive tests is also rising, up to 8.5 percent last week.
“COVID-19 is spreading in Oregon at an unprecedented rate, driven in no small measure by in-person, indoor social gatherings. You are most likely to get COVID-19 from your family and friends,” said Gov. Kate Brown. “Let me be clear, we cannot allow this disease to continue to spread so rapidly in our communities. Lives are at stake. Oregonians have made tremendous sacrifices to help each other throughout this pandemic, which is why Oregon has done relatively better than many other states at containing COVID-19. We can’t let up now. I will take further action to stop the spread of COVID-19, and I need Oregonians to continue to do their part as well.”
Sidelinger the continued increase in new cases is discouraging.
“Today’s high case count, combined with recent high counts, continue to show that COVID-19 is spreading more rapidly in Oregon than we had hoped,” Sidelinger said. “All this data leads us to conclude that Oregonians are circulating more in their communities. They are letting their guard down – and doing so as the weather turns colder. They are also spending more time indoors. Our tools to manage such spread rely on Oregonians getting more strict with themselves, not gathering or attending parties of any kind, wearing face coverings when outside the household, and physically distancing at all times.”
