Oregon has 4 more COVID-19 deaths, 184 new cases; Union County outbreak tied to church
(Update: More details from state about NE Oregon outbreak)
PORTLAND, Ore. (KTVZ) — COVID-19 has claimed four more lives in Oregon, raising the state’s death toll to 180, and a record 184 new cases, more than half of them in Eastern Oregon’s Union County, the Oregon Health Authority reported Monday.
OHA also reported 184 new confirmed and presumptive cases of COVID-19 as of 12:01 a.m. Monday, bringing the state total to 5,820 cases, along with 170,316 negative test results.
The 184 cases represent the largest single daily tally since the pandemic began, six more than the record count reported last Thursday.
The new confirmed and presumptive COVID-19 cases reported Monday were in the following counties: Clackamas (6), Hood River (1), Jackson (1), Jefferson (1), Klamath (2), Lake (1), Malheur (2), Marion (4), Multnomah (37), Polk (3), Umatilla (9), Union (99), Wasco (2), Washington (15), Yamhill (1).
The OHA says a portion of the increase is due to an outbreak in Union County in the rural northeastern part of the state, where 99 people tested positive for COVID-19. A number of cases are associated with the Lighthouse Pentecostal Church in Island City, said Dr. Paul Cieslak, medical director for infectious diseases and immunizations at the health authority’s Public Health Division.
Authorities weren’t more specific about exactly how many cases were tied to the church.
Cieslak said because there were cases associated with the church, the county worked with it to host a testing clinic.
“We have been doing testing, especially targeted testing, around the places where we are starting to see clusters,” Cieslak. “The clusters cue us off where the disease transmission is going on, and once you find a cluster and have a testing event like this, you find a lot of people infected.”
Cieslak said 365 people in Union County were tested over the weekend, and officials are expecting the remaining test results Tuesday.
Union County has a population of nearly 27,000, according to the U.S. Census. Prior to the latest outbreak, Union County has had fewer than 25 confirmed cases during the pandemic.
“We were surprised by the number that tested positive,” Cieslak said.
The county moved into Phase 2 of the state’s reopening plan, which loosens restrictions on restaurants and gatherings, on June 5.
“One of our messages that we are trying to get out to the public is that large gatherings, especially in close quarters if distancing can’t be maintained, are really an efficient way in spreading COVID-19,” Cieslak said. “Whether it be in a workplace, or especially a closed assembly area, this is really a concern.”
Deschutes County has had 137 COVID-19 cases and 7,535 negative test results. Crook County has had eight cases, with 779 negative test results. Jefferson County, including Warm Springs, has had 68 cases, with 1,399 negative test results; Warm Springs reported 50 cases as of late Friday.
Oregon’s 177th COVID-19 death is a 78-year-old woman in Clackamas County, who tested positive on June 6 and died on June 12 in her residence. She had underlying medical conditions.
Oregon’s 178th COVID-19 death is an 85-year-old man in Clackamas County, who tested positive on June 5 and died on June 14 in his residence. He had underlying medical conditions.
Oregon’s 179th COVID-19 death is a 65-year-old woman in Clackamas County, who tested positive on June 5 and died on June 12 in her residence. She had underlying medical conditions.
Oregon’s 180th COVID-19 death is a 75-year-old woman in Clackamas County, who tested positive on June 4 and died on June 11 in her residence. She had underlying medical conditions.
Stay informed about COVID-19:
Oregon response: The Oregon Health Authority leads the state response.
United States response: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention leads the U.S. response.
Global response: The World Health Organization guides the global response.
