Health and Medicine

COVID-19 Cases Rising In Oregon As Number Of People Getting Vaccinated Drops

Oregon Public Broadcasting | By Jeff Thompson

Published July 22, 2021 at 5:48 AM PDT

Home health care workers began receiving COVID-19 vaccinations on Sunday, Jan. 10, 2021 in Portland, Ore., at a drive-thru vaccination clinic. But as the state continues to expand vaccine eligibility, health officials from three Portland-area counties have warned that health workers and adults with disabilities may have to wait longer to get their own doses.

Since last Friday, the Oregon Health Authority has reported 15 new deaths in the state, and 1,372 new cases. Nearly 600 of those were reported Tuesday alone. It was the highest daily case count since May 11.

COVID-19 cases are going up again in Oregon, as the number of people getting vaccinated in the state continues to drop.

Since last Friday, the Oregon Health Authority has reported 15 new deaths in the state and 1,372 new cases.

Of those new cases, 595 were reported on Tuesday alone. It was the highest daily case count reported since May 11.

Positivity rates continue going up in rural Oregon counties. In Wallowa, Sherman and Morrow counties, at least 1 in 5 people tested early this week tested positive for the coronavirus.

Meanwhile, the 7-day average for new COVID cases in Oregon is up by about 27 percent this week compared to a month ago, from 237 cases to 326. And the running average for new vaccine doses is down by about 75 percent from a month ago, from nearly 11,000 to about 2,500.

Health officials put out a statement Tuesday reminding Oregonians that vaccination remains the safest and most effective way to prevent serious illness from COVID-19. That includes protection from the widespread delta variant.