The Oregon Health Authority reported an average of 1,500 new COVID-19 cases per day statewide over the last week.
The rise in cases has put Lane, Douglas and Jackson counties back into the 鈥渉igh鈥� category for transmission. Jackson County Medical Director Dr. Leona O鈥橩eefe says they took into account both the number of cases and hospitalizations to determine risk.
鈥淲hat that implies for us as individuals is really a consideration for wearing a mask indoors when in public spaces," O'Keefe says.
O鈥橩eefe says the spread of COVID is likely higher than data from the health authority suggests because they don鈥檛 take into account results from home tests which are not reported to the state.
鈥淥ur hospitals still are typically operating beyond capacity, which means they鈥檙e using bed spaces for care that they don鈥檛 typically use," O'Keefe says. "So that is still a factor at play.鈥�
In OHA's regions 3 and 5, which include Lane, Douglas and Jackson counties among others, 72 people were hospitalized with COVID-19 as of Monday. Out of 148 beds in hospital ICUs, just 13 were open.
COVID vaccinations for the final eligible age group 鈥� children under 5 鈥� are by the FDA this week.
