Health & Medicine

A second wave? A third? A continuation of the first? Whatever you want to call it, COVID-19 seems to be spreading faster in Oregon, across the country and around the world.

Experts say this increase comes at a time when governments should be trying to get cases down, ahead of an expected fall wave.

“What we’ve seen in the last week is not good news,” said Dr. Ann Thomas, a public health physician at the Oregon Health Authority, “The trend is going up.”

Lane County saw 123 positive COVID-19 cases over the weekend, and the University of Oregon reported 30 for Saturday and Sunday.

Lane County Public Health Thursday announced three new workplace clusters for COVID-19.

Oregon State University said the first round of weekly random testing of students, faculty and staff turned up just one case of COVID-19.

As more COVID-19 cases roll in, Lane County Public Health is cautioning the community against shaming individuals who’ve tested positive.

More COVID-19 workplace clusters could be announced in Lane County, according to a public health official. Individual non-compliance with safety protocols and possible airborne transmission could behind the increase in cases found in the workplace.

Lane County surpassed a previous high count for positive COVID-19 cases, this weekend. Lane County Public Health reported 130 cases, one COVID-19 related death, and a workplace cluster.

Benton County was added to Oregon’s coronavirus watch list Friday.

The city of Newport is re-opening some city offices to the public for the first time since March.

Oregon State University is testing residents of one of its dorms and an off campus student apartment building for COVID-19 after wastewater investigators found traces of the virus in sewer outflows. 

Oregon Health Authority issued a public health advisory Tuesday for higher-than-normal levels of bacteria in ocean waters at Seaside Beach in Clatsop county.

Officials say people should avoid wading in nearby creeks, pools of water on the beach or discolored water, and stay clear of water runoff flowing into the ocean in this area until the advisory is lifted. This applies especially to children and older adults, who may be more vulnerable to illness from waterborne bacteria.

The positivity rate of people with COVID-19 in Lane County has tripled in the last couple weeks. That is an indicator of how much the virus is spreading in our communities.

Lane County reported 75 new positive COVID-19 cases, and one related death over the weekend. Six of the positive cases are associated with long term care facilities. Despite a surge in cases the past couple of weeks, a Lane County Public Health official says the rapid growth rate is starting to slow.

Lincoln County will move into Phase Two of Oregon’s coronavirus re-opening plan starting Tuesday, September 29.

Lane County Public Health has announced 20 more positive cases of COVID-19, one new death, and a new workplace cluster.

Lane County has seen a spike in new cases of COVID-19. There are 23 new cases of the virus as of Thursday. Lane County Public Health Spokesperson Jason Davis said many of the new cases come from small gatherings, often with family, when people let their guard down.

[Updated 9/17/20, 1:30pm]- Linn County Emergency Management officials received information late this morning that the positive test result received for a shelter resident on Wednesday, September 16th, was in error.  A second test performed on the individual, at a different facility, confirmed the negative result.  Linn County Public Health officials are investigating the reason for the false positive result.

Original Story: Linn County Emergency Management officials disclosed Wednesday that one individual who was sheltering at the Linn County Expo Center tested positive for COVID-19. They say the person is completely asymptomatic and was being tested as a normal precaution before being relocated to another facility. 

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.

While new confirmed cases of COVID-19 are at their lowest levels in months in Oregon, the ongoing wildfires could affect efforts to slow the spread of the virus that causes it.

As communities reel in the midst of evacuations and devastating fires in the region, Lane County Public Health reports COVID-19 continues to claim lives and sicken people.  Meantime,  in neighboring Douglas County, health officials report zero new cases. 

Regional fires have filled the skies with smoke and particulates. Throughout the Willamette Valley and in spots along the central coast, air quality can range from unhealthy to hazardous.

The staff of caregivers and hospice nurses at a Eugene long term care facility continue to work in the midst of a COVID-19 outbreak. So far, 19 residents and 8 staff at Evergreen Memory Care have been infected with the novel coronavirus, two elder residents have died.

Lane County Public Health announced Friday an additional 22 cases of COVID-19. Nine of these are attributed to the Evergreen Memory Care outbreak. The outbreak now stands at 27 cases.

The facility in northwest Eugene reports two residents have died of COVID-19 related causes. Both elders reportedly had underlying conditions.  

In a statement, Evergreen staff offered condolences to the deceased residents’ families and friends and said it was a privilege to care for them.