The number of people hospitalized with COVID-19 in Oregon rose to 318 Monday, straining hospital resources and passing a state-set threshold that puts several counties on track for the 鈥渆xtreme risk鈥� category. Oregon Gov. Kate Brown is expected to announce updated risk levels early this week, and counties that qualify will see increased restrictions on businesses and gatherings starting Friday.
The new hospitalization figures come as COVID-19 variants are becoming more established in Oregon. Cases have risen dramatically over the last week. 鈥淚n the race between vaccines and variants, the variants are gaining ground and have the upper hand,鈥� Brown .
Today, that wave appears to be a rising number of hospitalizations in Oregon. Only Montana and Washington have seen sharper spikes. Oregon鈥檚 cases rose by 51% over the last two weeks: that鈥檚 the fastest increase in the United States.
For counties to be placed in Oregon鈥檚 鈥渆xtreme risk鈥� category, they must meet certain metrics. On April 6, Josephine and Klamath counties met the threshold. To stop restrictions from being imposed, Gov. Brown added an additional requirement: at least 300 hospital beds must be occupied by COVID-19 patients in the state.
Now, a dozen counties are set to move to 鈥渆xtreme risk鈥� status this week. In addition to Klamath and Josephine counties, Baker, Clackamas, Columbia, Crook, Deschutes, Jackson, Linn, Marion and Polk counties meet the criteria for 鈥渆xtreme risk.鈥� Brown indicated a twelfth county could be on the threshold, but did not name it.
Although some counties are harder-hit than others, the surge in hospitalizations is impacting hospitals around the state. 鈥淎n increase in hospitalizations, especially among young, previously healthy individuals, is once again stressing our bed capacity,鈥� Oregon Health & Science University Chief Medical Officer Dr. Renee Edwards said in Friday鈥檚 press conference.
鈥淎lready, we are caring for a number of extremely ill patients with COVID-19 that require a therapy called ECMO,鈥� Edwards said. ECMO therapy filters a patients鈥� blood through a membrane, sort of like an external lung. 鈥淓CMO treatment is only offered in a few select hospitals in our state. It remains a precious and limited resource.鈥�
Edwards blamed the increase in part on the presence of new COVID-19 variants, including the variant, B.1.1.7, which was first identified in Great Britain. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention previously said that in the United States.
The variant appears to be more likely to cause severe symptoms in young people. B.1.1.7 and other variants have been linked to a spike in COVID-19 throughout the country and around the world. And it鈥檚 not just that young people are less likely to have had a chance to be vaccinated: the people being hospitalized are sicker than normal, too.
鈥淚n the past few weeks we are caring for more patients with COVID in our (intensive care units) who are sicker, younger, and without underlying medical conditions,鈥� Edwards said.
Another variant, B.1.351, has been , Oregon State University researchers said Monday. That variant, also highly contagious, was first detected in South Africa.
Hospitals in the Portland metro area have resumed regular COVID-19 planning meetings so they can coordinate care and resources as a region.
Copyright 2021 Oregon Public Broadcasting.