December 15, 2020 4:30 p.m.

On Tuesday, the Oregon Health Authority reported the highest daily state death count for COVID-19, since the pandemic began.

54 more deaths were announced, raising the state death toll to 1,214. 1,129 new confirmed and presumptive COVID-19 cases were announced, bringing the state total to 96,092.

OHA Director Patrick Allen said “Today’s record-high death toll tragically reminds us that the pandemic is far from over despite the arrival of vaccines in Oregon”. Allen said the rising case count that surged in November is one factor attributed to the record-high death count. OHA said the counting of deaths from death certificates may take time to process because they are determined by physicians and then sent to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for further review before the cause of death is ultimately determined. Once the information is confirmed, it is reported back with a final cause of death to states. The lagging indicator is being captured in the new information.

The new cases include:

*215 in Multnomah County

*140 in Marion County

*128 in Clackamas County

*111 in Lane County

*89 in Washington County

*86 in Jackson County

*44 in Umatilla County

*31 each in Deschutes and Yamhill counties

*30 in Linn County

*22 each in Klamath and Polk counties

*20 in Benton County

*19 in Hood River County

*18 in Malheur County

*15 each in Columbia. Jefferson and Josephine counties

*10 each in Douglas, Crook and Curry counties

*9 in Coos County

*8 in Clatsop County

*7 in Baker County

*6 in Wasco County

*5 in Union County

*4 in Tillamook County

*3 each in Lincoln and Lake counties

*2 in Grant County

*1 in Wallowa County

The new deaths ranged in age from 47 to 97.

OHA said the number of hospitalized patients with COVID-19 across Oregon is 544, 5 more than on Monday. There are 112 COVID-19 patients in intensive care unit beds, which is 9 fewer than on Monday.