Omicron Increases In Oregon, Officials Await Confirmed Data

PORTLAND, OR — The Oregon Health Authority keeps a dashboard where they list the number of COVID-19 cases in the state and the variants that they are associated with. According to the dashboard, the number of omicron variant cases stands at 3, the same as when the cases were first discovered more than a week ago.

Health officials tell Patch that the number is actually higher, likely even significantly higher.

The problem is that the state has a very large backlog when it comes to determining which variant a person has. So, a more complete picture is probably still days if not more away.

The number is expected to be at least in the double digits and maybe higher.

Meanwhile, the state released new numbers for what was reported on Tuesday of this week.

OHA reports that there were 1,197 new cases, spread across 32 of the state's 36 counties. They also said there were 31 new deaths from the virus.

That brings the total number of deaths to 5,590 and the total number of cases to 409,232.

Here's the county by county breakdown of the newly reported cases:

Baker (11), Benton (19), Clackamas (120), Clatsop (9), Columbia (17), Coos (25), Crook (11), Curry (5), Deschutes (98), Douglas (27), Grant (9), Harney (3), Hood River (6), Jackson (73), Jefferson (6), Josephine (38), Klamath (18), Lake (2), Lane (106), Lincoln (4), Linn (52), Malheur (2), Marion (86), Morrow (8), Multnomah (253), Polk (22), Tillamook (6), Umatilla (13), Union (2), Wasco (4), Washington (122), Yamhill (20).