Oregon reports 481 new coronavirus cases, launches tool on variants of concern

PORTLAND, Ore. — The Oregon Health Authority reported 481 new cases of the coronavirus, both confirmed and presumptive, on Wednesday as health officials announced a new dashboard that will also track concerning variants of the virus. The daily report brings the total number of cases of COVID-19 to 168,128 since the pandemic began.

The new variant dashboard will be updated weekly and includes five variants of concern and three of interest.

Additionally, health officials reported seven new deaths attributed to the virus, raising the state's death toll to 2,434.

TUESDAY REPORT | Oregon reports 33 more COVID-19 deaths, 544 new coronavirus cases Tuesday

Meanwhile, vaccination efforts continue as new groups of Oregonians became eligible for the jab on Monday, April 5. The OHA reported Wednesday that 36,104 new doses of vaccine had been added to the state's immunization registry. Of the three vaccines cleared for use in the US, Oregon has administered the following totals:

• 1,057,696 doses of Pfizer
  
• 952,957 doses of Moderna
  
• 55,505 doses of Johnson & Johnson
  

Health officials have also begun publishing weekly reports on vaccine spoilage and "mishaps" -- shipping issues, refrigeration fluctuations, breakage and/or vaccination expiration. The waste disclosure log also includes any vaccine recalls, though there have not been any yet.

RELATED | Multnomah, Clackamas among Oregon counties moving back to 'high' COVID risk level Friday

The total number of hospitalizations in Oregon rose by eight from Tuesday's report to 171--42 of those patients are in Intensive Care Unit beds.

The new cases of the virus were found in the following Oregon counties: Baker (4), Benton (9), Clackamas (55), Clatsop (4), Columbia (13), Coos (5), Crook (1), Deschutes (32), Douglas (11), Harney (1), Hood River (1), Jackson (23), Jefferson (1), Josephine (17), Klamath (11), Lake (2), Lane (40), Lincoln (3), Linn (21), Malheur (3), Marion (29), Morrow (3), Multnomah (92), Polk (11), Sherman (2), Tillamook (4), Umatilla (5), Union (1), Wallowa (3), Wasco (3), Washington (61) and Yamhill (10).

READ MORE | Nearly half of new US COVID-19 infections are in 5 states

The OHA released the following information about the recently reported deaths:

• A 60-year-old man in Clackamas County who tested positive on March 29 and died on April 6 at his residence. Presence of underlying conditions is being confirmed.
• A 90-year-old woman in Douglas County who tested positive on Feb. 22 and died on March 25 at her residence. She had underlying conditions.
• A 96-year-old woman in Deschutes County who tested positive on March 29 and died on March 30 at her residence. She had underlying conditions.
• A 72-year-old man in Jackson County who tested positive on Feb. 1 and died on April 5 at Asante Three Rivers Medical Center. He had underlying conditions.
• A 51-year-old woman in Multnomah County who tested positive on March 9 and died on March 30 at Kaiser Sunnyside Hospital. Presence of underlying conditions is being confirmed.
• A 67-year-old man in Polk County who tested positive on March 6 and died on April 5 at Salem Hospital. He had underlying conditions.
• A 48-year-old man in Union County who tested positive on Nov. 11 and died on March 23 at Legacy Emanuel Hospital. The death certificate listed COVID-19 disease or SARS-CoV-2 as a cause of death or a significant condition contributing to death. He had no underlying conditions.