A 29-year-old man with no underlying medical conditions died of COVID-19 at OHSU Hospital last week, the Oregon Health Authority reported Friday.
In keeping with a policy of protecting private health information, the state provided few details on his death, other than to say he tested positive on Aug. 22 and died the same day. His was one of nine coronavirus deaths announced Friday, bringing the pandemic’s death toll in the state to 447.
The other deaths were:
Health officials also reported 301 new confirmed and presumptive COVID-19 diagnoses Friday, bringing the total confirmed cases in Oregon to 26,054.
At a press briefing Thursday, officials with the Oregon Health Authority said coronavirus diagnoses, hospitalizations and deaths have gradually declined over the past three weeks, although not at the pace necessary to reopen schools in most of the state.
Another 32 people tested positive for the novel coronavirus in Clark County, Washington, the local public health department reported Friday. To date, 2,534 residents of Clark County have tested positive for the virus and 49 have died.
Since the start of the pandemic, 73,301 people have been diagnosed with COVID-19 in Washington, and 1,905 have died, according to the latest data available from the state.
The Oregon Health Authority is urging people to avoid or limit social gatherings as the state works to further slow the spread of COVID-19. The agency on Thursday outlined details of two recent get-togethers that that resulted in hundreds of coronavirus infections.
There was the 10-person family party, where everyone seemed healthy when they gathered. Health officials later determined that two attendees were likely infectious despite not having symptoms. Others at the party worked with vulnerable populations, and one lived with older family members and people with preexisting conditions. As the party ended and family members went home, the virus spread, eventually sickening people in 10 households.
Then there was the three-day beach-house celebration that drew 20 friends. None had symptoms, but four may have been infectious. Ultimately, 12 adults who attended the party were diagnosed with COVID-19. They went home, returned to work and their communities, and ultimately spread the virus to more than 300 people.
State health officer Dr. Dean Sidelinger declined to specify where or when these parties took place. He said that limiting gatherings like these is key to further slowing the spread of coronavirus.
“If you have a small gathering, consider hosting it outdoors rather than indoors,” said Patrick Allen, Oregon Health Authority director. “We cannot afford the setbacks after holidays.”
The state agency that oversees archaeological permits, funds small-town revitalization programs and administers Oregon’s participation in the National Register of Historic Places asked for patience Thursday as it strives to meet its obligations with less funding and fewer people on staff.
Oregon Heritage relies on lottery funds, park user fees and RV fees. All those revenue sources dropped dramatically after COVID-19 prompted the closure of state parks, restaurants and bars this spring, Chrissy Curran, director of the agency and deputy state historic preservation officer, wrote in an email newsletter Thursday.
The agency has cut its staff by 30%, closed its offices to the public, and said that all programs will experience delayed response times. Grant programs funded by lottery dollars have been placed on hold until spring 2021, and funding for next year’s Main Street Revitalization Grant program is uncertain.
“We have no intention of letting COVID-19 divert us permanently from our mission to administer federal preservation programs and to provide statewide leadership in the areas of historic preservation, archaeology, and cultural heritage,” Curran wrote.
Vineyards and wineries across the Northwest are faced with crushing decisions as their grapes ripen this year. Wineries can’t hold in-person tastings due to COVID-19. Many restaurants are closed. Events are canceled. And while supermarket wine sales are up, many regional producers depend on other distribution channels. That’s left wine makers with a bumper crop of fruit, and not enough demand to justify bottling it all.
Copyright 2020 Oregon Public Broadcasting