Reports of new Covid cases decreased statewide and in Marion and Polk Counties this week.
In December, Gov. Kate Brown issued several executive orders intended to provide more resources to health care facilities amid a sustained surge of Covid, flu and RSV cases, scheduled to lift March 6.
HOSPITAL CAPACITY
As of Friday, March 3, Salem Hospital had 22 inpatients with Covid. Of those, one was in the ICU and one was on a ventilator.
384 of the 415 adult acute and critical care beds were in use, or 93%.
461 total hospital beds were in use on Friday. 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 22 and 27 over the past week, according to Lisa Wood, Salem Health spokeswoman. Last week, the daily number was between 23 and 37.
Region 2, which is Marion, Polk, Yamhill, Linn, Benton and Lincoln counties, had 39 people hospitalized with Covid as of March 1, compared with 33 last week and 28 two weeks ago.
CASES
For the week ending March 1, the average daily number of new Covid cases reported decreased statewide and in Marion and Polk Counties, compared to the previous week.
Marion County: 26 new Covid cases per day on average, a rate of 52.4 cases per 100,000 residents.
That’s down from 34.85 average daily cases last week and 47.29 two weeks ago.
8.1% of Covid tests this week were positive, down from 9.1% last week and 13.5% two weeks ago.
The Oregon Health Authority reported three newly identified deaths of a county resident with Covid in the past week.
Polk County: 7.28 new Covid cases per day on average, a rate of 57.4 cases per 100,000 residents.
That’s down from 7.8 average daily cases last week and 11 two weeks ago.
8.9% of Covid tests this week were positive, down from 11.2% last week.
The Oregon Health Authority reported zero newly identified deaths of a county resident with Covid in the past week.
Oregon: 315 new cases per day on average, down from 368 average daily cases last week and 408 two weeks ago; 9.6% of tests were positive, down from 10% last week.
VACCINATION AND BREAKTHROUGH CASES
The Oregon Health Authority has a data dashboard showing trends in cases, hospitalizations and deaths by vaccination status.
The most recent data as of Dec. 25 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.
Hospitalization rates in December were six per 100,000 unvaccinated adults, compared with two per 100,000 vaccinated as recommended.
Contact reporter Abbey McDonald: [email protected] or 503-704-0355.
SUBSCRIBE TO GET SALEM NEWS – We report on your community with care and depth, fairness and accuracy. Get local news that matters to you. Subscribe today to get our daily newsletters and more. Click I want to subscribe!
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.
