Reports of new Covid cases decreased in Marion and Polk Counties this week, and increased slightly statewide.
HOSPITAL CAPACITY
As of Friday, March 31, Salem Hospital had 17 inpatients with Covid. Of those, three were in the ICU and one was on a ventilator.
367 of the 415 adult acute and critical care beds were in use, or 88%.
438 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 15 and 21 over the past week, according to Lisa Wood, Salem Health spokeswoman. Last week, the daily number was between 19 and 23.
Region 2, which is Marion, Polk, Yamhill, Linn, Benton and Lincoln counties, had 32 people hospitalized with Covid as of March 29, compared with 39 last week and 28 two weeks ago.
CASES
For the week ending March 22, the average daily number of new Covid cases reported decreased statewide and in Marion and Polk Counties compared to the previous week.
Marion County: 16.3 new Covid cases per day on average, a rate of 32.8 cases per 100,000 residents.
That’s down from 18.3 average daily cases last week and 23.5 two weeks ago.
7.9% of Covid tests this week were positive, matching 7.9% last week and down from 8.1% two weeks ago.
The Oregon Health Authority reported two newly identified deaths of a county resident with Covid in the past week.
Polk County: 3.4 new Covid cases per day on average, a rate of 27 cases per 100,000 residents.
That’s down from 4.4 average daily cases last week and 6.7 two weeks ago.
7.9% of Covid tests this week were positive, down from 8.5% last week.
The Oregon Health Authority reported zero newly identified deaths of a county resident with Covid in the past week.
Oregon: 250 new cases per day on average, up from 247 average daily cases last week and 289 two weeks ago; 8.1% of tests were positive, unchanged from 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.
