The Oregon Health Authority (OHA) on Friday reported 550 new COVID-19 cases in the state – the highest daily case count since the beginning of the pandemic.
OHA released the following statement Friday evening:
“Our thoughts are with all those who are affected by this virus. These numbers are alarming; preliminary data show this increase is due to continued widespread community transmission resulting in small clusters and outbreaks across the state.”
Friday’s spike comes just two weeks after Oregon last reported a record-number of new cases in a single day. That number was 484.
OHA officials said Friday’s case count is another reminder that Oregonians cannot let their guards down. The Oregon Health Authority published new face covering guidance last week, which requires that people consistently wear face coverings while indoors at their workplace and all other places where they will be in contact with people from outside their household.
OHA has also asked people to re-think Halloween – avoid traditional door-to-door trick-or-treating, avoid costume parties with people outside their own households and wear a face covering, because a Halloween mask won’t protect against COVID-19.
“We all need to aggressively adhere to the face covering guidance and always wear a mask,” said Shimi Sharief, MD, OHA senior health adviser. “We know everyone is tired and we all wish this would go away, but the reality is this disease is spreading in Oregon, and it’s on all of us to protect ourselves and each other.”
