UPDATE (1:42 p.m. PT) — Oregon reported 408 new confirmed and presumptive cases of COVID-19 Saturday and four new deaths. That brings the state caseload to 16,492 and the death toll to 286. Health officials note that the true number of infections is likely far greater than the reported caseload.
The announcement comes after a grim milestone Friday, when state health officials reported nine deaths, more than on any other day since the pandemic began in Oregon.
Umatilla County had the most cases reported Saturday of any county in the state with 80.
The deaths announced Saturday include:
A 66-year-old man in Multnomah County who tested positive June 14 and died July 14. He had underlying medical conditions.
An 88-year-old man in Multnomah County who tested positive July 10 and died July 21. He had underlying medical conditions.
An 87-year-old man in Multnomah County who tested positive July 7 and died July 17.
An 85-year-old man in Umatilla County who tested positive July 14 and died July 24.
Infections climb, but no new deaths in Clark County, Washington
Clark County, Washington, officials reported 27 new positive COVID-19 test results on Friday and no new deaths. That brings to 1,632 the number of people who are known to have had the coronavirus in Clark County, and 37 who have died from it.
The latest available data from the Washington Department of Health shows 50,824 people have been diagnosed with coronavirus in the state and 1,495 are known to have died of it. As of Thursday night, COVID-19 has led to the hospitalization of 5,301 people in Washington.
Douglas County outbreak linked to blueberry farm
A COVID-19 outbreak that started a month ago in Douglas County has grown large enough that the Oregon Health Authority is now making some details public. An investigation into the outbreak at Norris Blueberry Farm started June 25, but initially the state counted few enough cases that it did not disclose the outbreak, the Oregon Health Authority said.
After investigating employees, their household members and other close contacts, however, the agency has now linked 22 cases to the workplace outbreak. That's roughly one in four coronavirus cases linked to Douglas County since the start of the pandemic.
Paul Norris, who owns Norris farms, told the News Review newspaper that he has been regularly testing workers throughout the season. He also said he's paying 32 workers to live in a motel for two weeks, including some people who have tested positive for COVID-19 and some whose tests have not yet come back.
Oregon, Washington rollback reopening efforts
Effective Friday in Oregon:
children 5 and older must wear face coverings at indoor gatherings or when distancing is not possible outside. That requirement will apply at schools for students at in-person classes this fall, and state education officials plan to make masks available through schools.
Indoor venues, including churches and businesses, can allow no more than 100 people to gather at a time, down from 250.
All bars and restaurants statewide must now close by 10 p.m.; they had been allowed to stay open until midnight in some counties.
People must wear face coverings while exercising at gyms or other fitness centers.
In Washington, an expanded statewide face covering order goes into effect Saturday. People are required to wear face coverings in all common spaces, including elevators, hallways, and in shared spaces in apartment buildings, hotels and group-housing settings such as nursing homes.
Starting Thursday, July 30, Washington will impose new restrictions on restaurants and bars, limiting how many people can sit together indoors and requiring indoor diners to come from the same household. Bars will be closed for indoor service, but they can continue outdoor service. Alcohol service inside restaurants must end by 10 p.m. Restaurants must close gaming and social areas like pool tables and dart boards.
Also starting Thursday, Washington is imposing limits on fitness center, gyms, and staffed indoor spaces like pools, ice rinks and tennis facilities. Details vary based on location and which reopening stage each community has reached, but generally gatherings are limited in size and gyms must operate below capacity.
Effective Aug. 6 in Washington, weddings and funerals will be limited in size to either 20% of a venue’s capacity or 30 people, whichever is less. Though wedding ceremonies will still be allowed, receptions will be barred.
Inslee also extended the state’s eviction moratorium to Oct. 15.
Read more: Washington's governor closes indoor service at bars, restricts indoor dining.
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