Jackson County set a new record with 123 cases of COVID-19 over the past 24-hours, according to local health officials. The previous record was 84 cases. There were also two new fatalities in the county.
Those numbers contributed to a new daily statewide record of 1,122 cases, according to the Oregon Health Authority. That brings the state’s total number of known cases to 53,779. OHA also reported four new deaths bringing the state’s death toll to 746.
Small social gatherings are still one of the main causes. For example, five recent Halloween events contributed to today’s state totals.
The bulk of new cases Thursday continued to come from the Portland metro area with 351 in Multnomah County, 169 in Washington County and 102 in Clackamas County.
Jackson is one of nine counties in the midst of a ‘2-week pause’ on business activity and gatherings to slow down the virus in places where it’s spreading the fastest.
In addition to limiting gatherings, the spread of the virus can be prevented with basic steps including hand washing, social distancing, and mask wearing.
Meerah Powell of OPB contributed reporting to this story.
