The Oregon Health Authority reported 1,111 new known cases of COVID-19 and 25 newly reported deaths Wednesday, as the first known case of the omicron variant in the U.S. was announced in California hours earlier.
Oregon officials say they are closely watching for the arrival of the variant within the state. That’s an easier task than it might seem because a commonly used COVID-19 PCR test already identifies positive test results that might have been caused by omicron.
The Oregon Health Authority said all test samples that have been identified as possibly caused by omicron are being analyzed through DNA sequencing to learn if omicron is indeed the culprit.
Next week, the authority and Oregon State University also will start testing for omicron in wastewater through an existing testing program that tests sewage from more than 40 Oregon communities, officials said.
Where the new cases are by county: Baker (10), Benton (9), Clackamas (90), Clatsop (9), Columbia (29), Coos (29), Crook (23), Curry (5), Deschutes (82), Douglas (64), Hood River (8), Jackson (75), Jefferson (6), Josephine (55), Klamath (19), Lake (2), Lane (67), Lincoln (17), Linn (72), Malheur (3), Marion (100), Morrow (3), Multnomah (141), Polk (36), Tillamook (4), Umatilla (9), Union (5), Wallowa (3), Wasco (9), Washington (102) and Yamhill (25).
Deaths: State officials didn’t provide information Wednesday about the ages and home counties of those who died. Officials said they will release that information later.
Hospitalizations: 404 people with confirmed cases of COVID-19 are hospitalized, the same as on Tuesday. That number includes 92 people in intensive care units, two fewer than the previous day.
Vaccines: The state reported 4,460 people have received first shots since Tuesday.
Since it began: Oregon has reported 392,197 confirmed or presumed infections and 5,186 deaths, among the lowest per capita numbers in the nation. To date, the state has reported 6,121,483 vaccine doses administered, fully vaccinating 2,662,164 people and partially vaccinating 288,559 people.
— Aimee Green; agreen@oregonian.com; @o_aimee