The Oregon Health Authority reported 1,072 new known cases and five deaths from COVID-19 Friday, as officials brace for what they expect will be a new and record-breaking surge brought on by the fast-spreading omicron variant.
Earlier in the day, Gov. Kate Brown and state public health officials announced a bombshell forecast predicting the number of hospitalized COVID-19 patients could exceed 3,000 by early February, more than 2.5 times the previous record.
Omicron appears to significantly undermine the effectiveness of current vaccines, with some data showing two shots of Pfizer-BioNTech being only 33% effective against preventing infection. A booster might bump that up to 70% to 75%.
Although scientists suspect omicron causes less severe disease than delta among most people, they say it could rapidly overwhelm hospitals because it’s far more contagious.
Experts say unvaccinated people are at the greatest risk of infection, hospitalization and death.
On Friday, Brown said news of the expected surge is “disheartening” and “incredibly concerning.”
Oregon Health Authority Director Patrick Allen described it as “deeply troubling and demoralizing.”
State epidemiologist Dr. Dean Sidelinger said Oregonians should do everything they can to be prepared, including getting up-to-date with their vaccinations and boosters, as well as taking precautions.
“This is going to be disruptive,” Sidelinger said. “This is going to cause some tragedies.”
Where the new cases are by county: Baker (4), Benton (19), Clackamas (67), Clatsop (3), Columbia (144), Coos (16), Crook (8), Curry (1), Deschutes (73), Douglas (18), Grant (1), Harney (3), Hood River (4), Jackson (43), Jefferson (5), Josephine (32), Klamath (9), Lake (2), Lane (77), Lincoln (6), Linn (45), Malheur (2), Marion (58), Multnomah (212), Polk (19), Tillamook (8), Umatilla (10), Union (1), Wallowa (2), Wasco (6), Washington (143) and Yamhill (31).
State officials said a laboratory reporting error has resulted in unusually high case counts for Columbia County, and the state plans an update on Monday.
Deaths: An 87-year-old woman from Yamhill County who tested positive Dec. 10 died Dec. 13 at Willamette Valley Medical Center.
A 51-year-old man from Washington County who tested positive Dec. 1 died Dec. 16 at Legacy Mt. Hood Medical Center.
A 97-year-old woman from Marion County who tested positive Dec. 10 died Dec. 14 at Salem Hospital.
A 71-year-old man from Jackson County who tested positive Dec. 3 died Dec. 16 at Asante Rogue Regional Medical Center.
A 71-year-old man from Coos County who tested positive Dec. 10 died Dec. 15 at Bay Area Hospital.
Hospitalizations: 383 people with confirmed cases of COVID-19 are hospitalized, six fewer than Thursday. That number includes 103 people in intensive care units, seven more than the previous day.
Vaccines: The state reported 4,104 people receiving first shots since Thursday.
Since it began: Oregon has reported 405,292 confirmed or presumed infections and 5,531 deaths, among the lowest per capita numbers in the nation. To date, the state has reported 6,501,324 vaccine doses administered, fully vaccinating 2,738,697 people and partially vaccinating 272,232 people.
— Aimee Green; agreen@oregonian.com; @o_aimee