Oregon State University says the results of a study to test for COVID-19 in Newport indicates the disease is still active in that community.
Researchers went door-to-door in several Newport neighborhoods in mid-June, offering free coronavirus tests. They say the findings suggest about 3.4 percent of Newport residents are infected.
“Our results indicate the virus is relatively prevalent in Newport,” said Ben Dalziel, assistant professor in the College of Science at OSU and co-director of the project. “We know this because previously undiagnosed infected individuals are present in a random sample of participating households across the city."
The city has experienced several workplace outbreaks, including one at a seafood processing facility that infected dozens of people.
But city councilmember CM Hall said during a meeting Monday that visitors are also bringing the virus to town.
“We have so many tourists who are going rogue. They’re just going rogue," she said. "And they’re not wearing face coverings and they don’t think it’s going to get them or apply to them. And that’s endangering our community.”
OSU has also conducted prevalence studies in Corvallis and Bend. The Newport results show a wider spread of the virus there than in either of the other cities.
