Health

Live updates: Oregon reports 342 new coronavirus cases, 5 new deaths

By OPB staff (OPB)
Aug. 4, 2020 1 p.m. Updated: Aug. 4, 2020 8:04 p.m.

Oregon reported 342 new confirmed or presumed cases of the coronavirus Tuesday, with five new deaths linked to the contagious disease. The new numbers put the state’s total cases at 19,699 since the outbreak reached the state earlier this year; 333 people have died from the virus as of Tuesday.

The Oregon Health Authority reports that most of the new COVID-19 cases stem from Umatilla (61), Multnomah (57), Malheur (33) and Washington (29) counties. The five new deaths included:

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  • An 89-year-old Malheur County woman who tested positive for the virus on July 19 and died on July 27. She had underlying health conditions.
  • An 88-year-old Yamhill County woman who tested positive on July 30 and died on Aug. 1. She had underlying health conditions.
  • An 87-year-old Clackamas County man who tested positive on July 7 and died on July 28. He had underlying health conditions.
  • An 88-year-old Morrow County man who tested positive on July 27 and died on Aug. 2. He had underlying health conditions.
  • A 96-year-old Malheur County woman who tested positive on July 27 and died on Aug. 2. Officials are still confirming is she had underlying health conditions.

Related: COVID-19 by the numbers

Coronavirus outbreak reported at a summer camp east of Portland

At least 25 campers and staff members at a camp east of Portland have tested positive for COVID-19.

The Oregonian/OregonLive reports the virus was first detected July 18 at Trout Creek Bible Camp near Corbett when a staff member tested positive, and the camp shut down for the season July 21.

Multnomah County health officials say the outbreak has grown to a total of 11 campers and 14 staff members — all age 20 or younger.

The camp’s executive director, Joe Fahlman, said the camp followed all requirements set forth by the Oregon Health Authority. Those include daily temperature checks of all campers and staff, frequent hand washing, hand sanitizer stations spaced throughout the 265-acre grounds and dividing children into static groups of 10 campers or less who didn’t mingle with campers from other groups.

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Under rules set forth by Gov. Kate Brown and the Oregon Health Authority, campers until late last month couldn’t be required to wear masks — and most didn’t, Fahlman said. Most of the camp was held outdoors.

The Oregon Health Authority hasn’t reported any other outbreaks at summer camps in Oregon, although the agency says it won’t make public positive tests at camp or daycare settings unless at least 30 students attend and at least five cases have been detected.

Oregon’s positivity rate climbs

The Oregon Health Authority released its weekly testing summary for the week of July 26-Aug. 1. Of the more than 35,000 test results reported in that week, more than 2,000 came back positive for the coronavirus, for a positivity rate of 6.1%, one of the highest weekly rates since the start of the pandemic.

OHA says Oregon has the capacity to process up to 48,000 tests a week in the state, based on supply and staff availability. That doesn’t include out-of-state capacity at commercial labs. But the agency continued to caution people about reports of delays at those commercial labs, where some cases are taking up to two weeks to process.

Related: How delayed test results make Oregon's efforts to contain COVID-19 unworkable

Oregon’s eviction ban extended through Oct. 1

Oregon officials are reminding renters that they can’t be evicted for failure to pay rent, fees or utilities due between April 1 and Sept. 31. That’s thanks to an eviction moratorium, designed to help renters struggling due to the economic fallout from the virus from losing their homes, extended by the Oregon lawmakers.

Oregonians have until March 31, 2021, to pay back rent that has gone unpaid during the pandemic. The rules hope to stave off further pressuring Oregon’s already tight housing market.

Officials urge renters to inform their landlords in writing as soon as they know they’re unable to pay rent, fees or utilities. They also suggest calling 211 or going to 211info.org to find out if they’re eligible for the COVID-19 pandemic eviction protections.

Related: Oregon has lost a greater share of revenue than most states due to COVID-19

The Associated Press contributed reporting to this story.

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