July 13, 2022 4:20 a.m. 

Officials with the Oregon Health Authority say the spread of COVID-19 subvariants reinforces the need for vaccination and boosters.

An OHA release said the BA.4 and BA.5 subvariants are now the predominate COVID-19 variants in Oregon and across the United States, leading to a rise in COVID-19 related hospitalizations, including admissions to the Intensive Care Unit.

Melissa Sutton, OHA’s medical director of respiratory viral pathogens said, “Recorded cases are approaching levels seen during the Delta wave, but we know that we’re only detecting a small fraction of cases overall”.

A new forecast from the Oregon Health and Science University said the number of people hospitalized for the virus may peak at 479 by the middle of this month.

OHA said residents should consider wearing masks in indoor public spaces like retail stores, movie theaters and gyms and should move any social activities outdoors.