This week, there was an increase in new Covid cases and test positivity rates across the Salem area.
HOSPITAL CAPACITY
As of Thursday, Nov. 10, Salem Hospital had 9 inpatients with Covid. Of those, none were in the ICU and none were on a ventilator.
389 of the 415 adult acute and critical care beds were in use, or 94%.
456 total hospital beds were in use on Thursday. The hospital recently expanded its licensed bed capacity from 494 to 644 with the addition of a new tower, but that total includes every potential licensed bed at Salem Hospital including those dedicated to specific uses, like pediatrics, inpatient psychiatry, and labor and delivery.
The daily number of hospitalized Covid patients has ranged between 9 and 15 patients over the past week, according to Lisa Wood, Salem Health spokeswoman. Last week, she said the number ranged between 13 and 17.
Region 2, which is Marion, Polk, Yamhill, Linn, Benton and Lincoln counties, had 20 people hospitalized with Covid as of Nov. 9, compared with 26 the week prior and 29 two weeks ago.
CASES
In the week ending Nov 9, the average daily number of new Covid cases reported increased statewide and in Marion and Polk Counties compared to the week prior.
Marion County: 26 new Covid cases per day on average, a rate of 52.1 cases per 100,000 residents.
That’s up from 21 average daily cases last week and 23 the week before.
6.4% of Covid tests this week were positive, up from 5% last week.
The Oregon Health Authority reported two newly identified deaths of county residents with Covid in the past week. It reported none the week prior.
Polk County: 8 new Covid cases per day on average, a rate of 59.6 cases per 100,000 residents.
That’s up from last week’s average of 7 daily cases, and 7 the week before.
7.9% of Covid tests this week were positive, an increase from 6.8% last week.
The Oregon Health Authority reported no newly identified deaths of county residents with Covid in the past week.
Oregon: 401 new cases per day on average, up from 360 average daily cases last week; 6.5% of tests were positive, compared with 6.9% last week.
VACCINATION AND BREAKTHROUGH CASES
The Oregon Health Authority switched to a new data dashboard showing trends in cases, hospitalizations and deaths by vaccination status, updated on the second Wednesday of each month.
The most recent data as of Oct. 23 shows Covid infection, hospitalization and death rates continue to be highest among Oregonians not vaccinated against Covid compared with those vaccinated as recommended, which includes a booster shot.
In September, the state recorded seven deaths with Covid per 100,000 unvaccinated adult Oregonians, compared to two deaths per 100,000 adults vaccinated as recommended. Hospitalization rates in September were 42 per 100,000 unvaccinated adults compared to 14 per 100,000 vaccinated as recommended.
MANDATES
Oregon’s mask mandate lifted on March 11 at 11:59 p.m.
Contact reporter Abbey McDonald: [email protected] or 503-704-0355.
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Abbey McDonald joined the Salem Reporter in 2022. She previously worked as the business reporter at The Astorian, where she covered labor issues, health care and social services. A University of Oregon grad, she has also reported for the Malheur Enterprise, The News-Review and Willamette Week.
