Coronavirus updates: Two percent of Oregonians have been diagnosed with COVID-19

Oregon continues to break records for COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations, Oregon Health Authority reported in its weekly update.

The state reported 10,355 new cases between Nov. 30 and Dec. 6. That’s a 14% increase over the previous week and sets a record high for the seventh week in a row.

Through Dec. 6, a total of 85,788 cases had been reported. That means 2% of Oregonians have had positive or presumptive cases.

COVID-19 hospitalizations for last week increased to 494, a 24% increase over the previous week.

There were 133 COVID-19 deaths reported over the week, an average of 19 per day. That’s the highest since the pandemic began.

There were 170,964 COVID-19 tests administered in Oregon during the week. The percentage of positive tests was 8.1%.

In Lane County, one new outbreak between Nov. 30 and Dec. 6, was found at McKenzie Willamette Medical Center, in Springfield, with 18 cases.

—Tracy Loew, Statesman Journal

Lane County reports 5 new deaths, 77 cases

Lane County Public Health on Thursday reported 77 new COVID-19 cases and five deaths.

Lane County now has had 5,295 total cases. The death toll is at 68. The county saw a 185 drop Thursday in infectious cases, with 428 infectious cases, meaning they are within 10 days of their symptom onset and are considered by officials as capable of passing on the virus. Infectious people are asked by county public health staff to quarantine.

The number of hospitalized COVID-19 cases in Lane County Thursday is 36, with five in the intensive care unit.

The five deaths included:

•  An 75-year-old female from the Eugene/Springfield area died Nov.  21. She was hospitalized at the time of her death.
• An 83-year-old male from outside the Eugene/Springfield area died on Dec. 6. He was not hospitalized at the time of his death.
• An 83-year-old male from the Eugene/Springfield area died on Dec. 7. He was not hospitalized at the time of his death.
• An 81-year-old female from the Eugene/Springfield area died on Dec. 9. She was hospitalized at the time of her death.
• An 97-year-old female from outside the Eugene/Springfield area died on Dec. 8. She was not hospitalized at the time of her death.