Wildfires and hazardous air conditions have affected COVID-19 testing in Oregon. Over the past several days, statewide testing numbers appear to have dipped. This could be due to widespread hazardous conditions causing people seeking testing to be declined.
The Oregon State Public Health Laboratory was closed Monday due to indoor air quality that was too hazardous for employees, so no new specimens were accepted or tested. Specimens already received are being held pending testing.
On Monday, the Oregon Health Authority announced two more COVID-19 deaths in Oregon, raising the state’s death toll to 511. OHA also reported 151 new confirmed and presumptive cases of COVID-19 Monday, bringing the state total to 29,484.
The new confirmed and presumptive COVID-19 cases reported today are in the following counties: Clackamas (18), Columbia (1), Coos (1), Deschutes (3), Douglas (3), Jackson (4), Jefferson (1), Klamath (1), Lane (19), Malheur (13), Marion (11), Morrow (2), Multnomah (27), Polk (1), Umatilla (23), Union (1), Wasco (1), Washington (18) and Yamhill (3).
Oregon’s 510th COVID-19 death is an 87-year-old man in Lane County who tested positive on Sept. 1 and died on Sept. 13 in his residence. He had underlying conditions.
Oregon’s 511th COVID-19 death is a 92-year-old woman in Washington County who tested positive on Aug. 20. More details about her death are pending. She had underlying conditions.
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