October 29, 2020 3:50 p.m.

On Thursday, the Oregon Health Authority reported the highest daily case count of COVID-19 since the pandemic began.

575 new confirmed and presumptive cases were announced, along with two more deaths. That raises the state’s death toll to 673 and the state case total to 43,793. OHA said preliminary data shows the increase reflects continued widespread community transmission resulting in small clusters and outbreaks statewide.

The release said it is also a reminder of the importance of staying vigilant in practicing the protective measures to slow the spread of the virus. OHA face covering guidance published last week requires that people consistently wear face coverings while indoors at their workplace and all other places where they will be in contact with people outside their household. A link to that guidance is posted with this story at www.541radio.com: https://sharedsystems.dhsoha.state.or.us/DHSForms/Served/le2288K.pdf

OHA has also asked Oregonians to change their Halloween plans. That means avoid traditional door-to-door trick-or-treating and costume parties with people outside their households.

The new cases include:

*107 in Washington County

*102 in Multnomah County

*62 each in Clackamas and Marion counties

*54 in Jackson County

*42 in Umatilla County

*25 in Deschutes County

*18 in Linn County

*17 in Lane County

*15 in Benton County

*9 in Yamhill County

*7 each in Baker, Malheur, and Union counties

*5 in Hood River County

*4 in Douglas County

*3 in Wallowa County

*2 each in Clatsop, Coos, Jefferson, and Tillamook counties

*1 each in Columbia, Crook, Grant, Harney, Josephine, Klamath, and Sherman counties

The new deaths are 94-year old and 96-year old women in Multnomah County who had underlying conditions.

This is the second time in less that a week that a new record high daily case count was reported in Oregon. OHA announced 550 cases last Friday, October 23rd.

 

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