Reports of new Covid cases increased in Marion and Polk Counties this week and decreased statewide.
HOSPITAL CAPACITY
As of Friday, March 10, Salem Hospital had 22 inpatients with Covid. Of those, two were in the ICU and two were on a ventilator.
378 of the 415 adult acute and critical care beds were in use, or 91%.
439 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 18 and 24 over the past week, according to Lisa Wood, Salem Health spokeswoman. Last week, the daily number was between 22 and 27.
Region 2, which is Marion, Polk, Yamhill, Linn, Benton and Lincoln counties, had 30 people hospitalized with Covid as of March 8, compared with 39 last week and 33 two weeks ago.
CASES
For the week ending March 1, the average daily number of new Covid cases reported decreased statewide and increased in Marion and Polk Counties, compared to the previous week.
Marion County: 28.9 new Covid cases per day on average, a rate of 58.2 cases per 100,000 residents.
That’s up from 26 average daily cases last week and down from 34.9 two weeks ago.
9.8% of Covid tests this week were positive, up from 8.1% last week and 9.1% two weeks ago.
The Oregon Health Authority reported three newly identified deaths of a county resident with Covid in the past week.
Polk County: 7.6 new Covid cases per day on average, a rate of 59.6 cases per 100,000 residents.
That’s up from 7.3 average daily cases last week and down from 7.8 two weeks ago.
9.1% of Covid tests this week were positive, up from 8.9% last week.
The Oregon Health Authority reported one newly identified death of a county resident with Covid in the past week.
Oregon: 305 new cases per day on average, down from 315 average daily cases last week and 368 two weeks ago; 9.4% of tests were positive, down from 9.6% 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.
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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.
