March 14, 2020 7:30 p.m.
Officials have announced the first fatality from COVID-19 in Oregon.
Information from the Oregon Health Authority said a 70-year old man in Multnomah County was hospitalized at the Portland Veteran’s Affairs Medical Center and succumbed to his symptoms on Saturday.
The release said the individual is not connected to the cases at the Oregon Veterans’ Home in Lebanon.
OHA Director Patrick Allen said “while we knew we would arrive at this day at some point, it doesn’t lessen the impact. He said “our thoughts and deepest sympathy are with the family of this individual who honorably served his country”.
The man, who had underlying health conditions, tested positive for COVID-19 on March 10th. The man had no known contact to a confirmed case and had not traveled to a country where the virus is circulating.
Multnomah County Health Officer Dr. Jennifer Vines said “this is a sobering reminder that this virus is in our community and can be serious for older people and those with underlying conditions”. She said “this loss has motivated us to continue our efforts to minimize the impact of this virus on our community”.