UPDATE (12:35 p.m. PT) —Oregon was one case shy of matching a dismal record set just days ago, with 436 new COVID-19 diagnoses announced Sunday. State health officials also shared details about the ongoing surge in new infections. The record of 437 new cases in a day was set on Thursday, and daily diagnoses have been gradually ticking up for weeks.
The death rate has not risen alongside new diagnoses, however. Three deaths were reported Sunday, bringing the confirmed death toll due to COVID-19 to 260, according to the Oregon Health Authority. The agency says 14,579 people have been diagnosed with the coronavirus since the pandemic arrived in Oregon and 3,225 are confirmed to have recovered.
The greater Portland metro area led the state in confirmed and presumptive diagnoses Sunday, with 123 new cases in Multnomah County, 57 in Washington County and 19 in Clackamas County. Away from Portland, diagnoses continue to climb in Umatilla County, which reported 78 new cases, and Marion County, with 46.
The state provided these details about the people whose deaths it announced Sunday
A 90-year-old woman in Marion County died Friday at Salem Hospital after testing positive on July 8. She had underlying conditions.
An 80-year-old man died Friday at his home in Marion County after testing positive on July 8. He had underlying conditions.
A 62-year-old woman in Multnomah County died Saturday at OHSU Hospital after testing positive on July 14. She had underlying conditions.
In their weekly review of the state's response to COVID-19, Oregon health officials said they are tracking active outbreaks in at least 30 senior living or group housing settings, while outbreaks at another 38 of these settings have been resolved. More than half of coronavirus deaths in Oregon have been linked to these outbreaks since the start of the pandemic.
The state is also tracking about 60 active workplace outbreaks — including at four prisons, which account for 323 COVID-19 diagnoses. The biggest non-prison active workplace outbreaks are at Pacific Seafood in Newport, associated with 181 cases; Lamb Weston in Hermiston, associated with 142 cases; and Bob's Red Mill in Milwaukie, associated with 61 cases.
34th death reported in Clark County, Washington
Washington Gov. Jay Inslee has warned that if case numbers don’t improve, he may have to start shutting down the economy again. Counties throughout the state will have to remain in their current phase of reopening until at least July 28.
Some Republicans want Clackamas County considered separately
“Coupling Clackamas County with the two most urban and densely populated counties in Oregon is unwarranted and unnecessarily burdens our local communities and businesses who are already struggling during this economic downturn,” House Republican Leader Christine Drazan, R-Canby, said in a statement. “The county commissioners have asked for this policy to be reconsidered, and today we echo their plea.”
But the Clackamas Board of Commissioners stepped back from asking the governor to take a new look at the county's application to further ease restrictions, amid a statewide surge in new diagnoses.
Read more: Oregon Republicans Push To Reconsider Portland-area Reopening Strategy
Oregon seeks to speed up gig-worker jobless claims with new form
The Oregon Employment Department has introduced an online form it hopes will make it easier for Oregonians to apply for its Pandemic Unemployment Assistance program — the unemployment benefit program for self-employed, contract and gig workers.
The agency said the new form, created in partnership with Google, will allow the more than 100,000 people who have already applied for so-called PUA benefits to get their weekly payments faster.
The form seeks to automate the weekly certification process that PUA applicants must complete. The form also should ensure that all applications are received with complete information, according to the Employment Department. The agency said the previous process included a PDF which resulted in some forms “mistakenly being submitted blank,” it said.
“This is an encouraging step forward for Oregonians who’ve been waiting for benefits, as well as for the department. I am pleased we have made these changes and pledge that we will continue finding better ways to serve you,” Oregon Employment Department Acting Director David Gerstenfeld said in a statement.
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