Vaccination and Masking Mandates Follow Surge in COVID-19, Delta and Breakthrough Cases

As COVID-19 restrictions continue, vaccination and mask mandates are being reinstated in an attempt to slow infection rates as the Delta variant and COVID-19 cases increase in both the state, as well as nationwide.  

New numbers regarding ‘breakthrough’ cases were released by the Oregon Health Authority Thursday, August 19th, showing that these cases continue to grow. Vaccine breakthrough cases are defined as instances in which an individual received a positive COVID-19 test result at least 14 days following the completion of any COVID-19 vaccine series.

Through August 15th, the Oregon Health Authority has identified just under 3,000 COVID-19 vaccine breakthrough cases. According to Thursdays Oregon Health Authority report, almost 1 in 6 cases, or 15% of the states new cases this past month, were among people who had been fully vaccinated.  

Vaccination rates for the state slowed even further in the past week as the state sat at 70.2% vaccinated last week, and to date, now sits at 70.9% an increase of .7% in the past week. Oregon Health Authority, said Friday, July 17th, that the fully vaccinated are well protected from COVID, including the delta variant. The Oregon Health Authority has reported a total of 800 Delta variant cases.  

As of Friday, August, 20th, the state of Oregon had tested 6,073,435 individuals, an increase of 147,803 individuals and now over 1,783,995 more people than the states 4,289,440 population. 5,714,358 have tested negative for the novel COVID-19 virus and 359,077 have tested positive. Oregon has recorded 14,514 new cases in the past week, and 252,977 total cases. Individuals hospitalized rose to 610 hospitalizations statewide in the past week, and now stands at 13,689. In the past week 77 deaths were recorded statewide, and Oregonians who have unfortunately succumbed to COVID-19 has now reached 3,012 in the entire state since the pandemic began.  

Curry County’s latest numbers as reported Friday, August 20th, by the Oregon Health Authority, now reports testing 16,591 individuals with 15,396 negative tests, 1,195 total positive COVID-19 tests and the latest data from the Oregon Health Authority and has recorded 1,256 total cases and 13 deaths since the beginning of the pandemic.

Del Norte County Department of Health and Human Services reported adding 387 new cases in the past week now reaching 2,447 total confirmed cases reported by Public Health, with 404 active cases, 21 current hospitalizations and 15 deaths.

Coos County to the north, reported testing 62,579 individuals last week with 59,186 negative results, adding 267 new cases in the past week with now 3,393 total positive cases and 46 deaths since the beginning of the pandemic.

Josephine County has seen significant increases in recent weeks has reported testing 111,193 individuals with 102,360 negative results, 8,752 total positive test results with now 6,116 total cases of COVID-19 and now 95 deaths.

Jackson County, which includes the Medford area, with a total population of 221,290, reports testing 305,275 individuals, 83,985 more people than the counties total population, with 280,766 negative test results, 24,509 positive results, and 16,070 total cases of COVID-19 with now 179 deaths as of Friday, August 20th.