Oregon Omicron COVID-19 Cases Still High But Declining

BEAVERTON, OR — Last week, Oregon's chief health office and researchers at Oregon Health Sciences University both came to the same conclusion: the end of the omicron-driven surge of COVID-19 could be nearing an end. The numbers this week appear to be backing up those forecasts.

The Oregon Health Authority says that on Monday there were 5,179 new cases reported across the state. That's just over half of what had been reported one week ago.

Officials caution that while the number of total cases is on the decline, hospitalizations are still on the rise. And people keep dying.

There were 24 more deaths reported on Monday, bringing the total number of Oregonians who have died to 6,124 since the pandemic began. Meanwhile, the 5,179 new cases bring the total number of cases to 638,823.

On Tuesday, 1,113 Oregonians woke up in one of the 40 hospitals across the hospital. Of those 178 are located in intensive care units.

There are still some counties without any beds available for adults.

Officials say that hospitalizations are a lagging indicator, meaning that the number changes a week or two after total cases.

The 5,179 new cases are located in 35 of Oregon's 36 counties.

Here's the county by county breakdown of the new cases:

Baker (12), Benton (169), Clackamas (375), Clatsop (30), Columbia (72), Coos (95), Crook (66), Curry (27), Deschutes (304), Douglas (201), Gilliam (8), Grant (10), Harney (2), Hood River (36), Jackson (277), Jefferson (20), Josephine (100), Klamath (78), Lake (19), Lane (479), Lincoln (76), Linn (255), Malheur (115), Marion (544), Morrow (26), Multnomah (674), Polk (140), Sherman (1), Tillamook (48), Umatilla (119), Union (15), Wallowa (26), Wasco (79), Washington (467) and Yamhill (214).