The number of people getting infected with the coronavirus, entering the hospital while infected, or dying of the virus is trending downward in Oregon.

In the Oregon Health Authority’s weekly report, which compares Aug. 10-16 with previous weeks, the agency reported a 7% drop in new infections and a 19.5% drop in new hospitalizations. Deaths were down 20%, from 39 a week earlier to 31 in the week under review.

The state also reported that 5.4% of COVID-19 tests administered came back positive - that’s similar to the previous week.

Oregon reports more than 300 new COVID-19 diagnoses

Oregon reported four deaths to COVID-19 on Thursday and 301 diagnoses, bringing the novel coronavirus’ toll to 412 lives in the state. Health officials say 24,165 people have either tested positive in Oregon, or have been diagnosed preemptively based on symptoms and exposure, and 4,535 have been confirmed as recovered.

The most recent death were an 86-year-old Washington County man, an 82-year-old Baker County woman, an 80-year-old Douglas County man and a 60-year-old Linn County man. All had underlying medical conditions, the Oregon Health Authority said.

A large number of new diagnoses were in the Portland area, with 57 in Multnomah County, 50 in Washington County and 32 in Clackamas County. In Marion County, officials reported 54 new diagnoses.

Clark County, Washington, reports 48 new diagnoses

Health officials in Clark County, Washington, reported Thursday that another 48 people tested positive for COVID-19, and none died. Since the start of the pandemic, 2,378 people have been diagnosed with the virus in the county, and 45 have died.

Statewide, Washington has confirmed 68,689 COVID-19 diagnoses, 1,822 deaths and 6,388 hospitalizations linked to the virus, according to the latest figures available.

Umatilla County allowed to ease some restrictions

An eastern Oregon county hit hard by the coronavirus pandemic has improved enough to escape the tightest of state restrictions, according to an announcement late Wednesday from Gov. Kate Brown.

Brown said Umatilla County can move from the state’s strictest level of COVID-19 restrictions, dubbed the “baseline,” into Phase 1 of reopening, effective Friday. The county, which includes the cities of Hermiston and Pendleton, had some of the steepest increases in coronavirus cases earlier this summer, but state officials say they’re seeing encouraging signs that the virus is coming under better control.

In her announcement, the governor cited lower rates of positive COVID-19 diagnoses in recent test results.

Washington to require more agricultural worker testing

Gov. Jay Inslee has updated his coronavirus proclamation so that it requires agricultural employers to test their workers broadly when health officials identify an outbreak that passes certain thresholds.

In addition, Washington Secretary of Health John Wiesman ordered Gebbers Farms, located in Okanogan County, to test all its employees in coming weeks. Gebbers Farms has suffered a significant outbreak of COVID-19, including the deaths of three employees.

At Oregon’s colleges and universities, a mix of approaches to fall term

Most of Oregon’s major public universities are taking a cautious approach to COVID-19 — with a heavy focus on online classes. But there are significant exceptions.

Oregon State University’s advanced science and engineering students may have to report to class for lab work and research. At OSU’s Bend campus, half of classes will meet in person.

And at a number of colleges, both in Portland and across the state, campuses are taking a hybrid approach to higher ed.