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Local data shows scattered new COVID-19 cases in past week, but no large outbreaks

Andrea Davila, a nurse at the Kaiser Permanente North Lancaster clinic administers a test for COVID-19 at the clinic’s drive-thru testing site on Wednesday, April 29. (Amanda Loman/Salem Reporter)

Marion County has so far avoided large spikes in residents with COVID-19, even as testing rates have climbed in recent weeks and some businesses have reopened or loosened restrictions.

To date, 999 county residents have had COVID-19. Most of those were confirmed with a positive test, according to data published by the Marion County Health Department, while 24 are “presumptive,” meaning the person displayed COVID-19 symptoms and was in close contact with another confirmed case. Twenty-six Marion County residents have died from the virus, and 149 have been hospitalized.

Polk County has 100 residents who have had COVID-19, more than half tied to an outbreak at the Prestige Senior Living Orchard Heights nursing home in west Salem.

The numbers as of June 3 may not reflect the full impact of Gov. Kate Brown’s May 20 decision allowing both counties to begin reopening, as it can take up to two weeks for someone infected with the virus to begin showing symptoms. People who are sick, especially with mild symptoms, may not immediately seek testing.

Oregon Health Authority hasn’t updated its information about county indicators for COVID-19 since May 24. As of that date, Marion County was meeting all state criteria, including following up on at least 95% of new cases within one day, and the percentage of positive tests falling. Those indicators suggest the spread of the virus was within the health department’s ability to monitor and respond to.

(Graphic by Rachel Alexander/Salem Reporter)

Marion County’s data shows people have tested positive recently around most corners of Salem and in Woodburn.

Oregon Health Authority on Wednesday for the first time published a list of active workplace outbreaks in Oregon, where five or more people have tested positive for the virus. Other than state prisons, Marion County’s only outbreak is at MacLaren Youth Correctional Facility in Woodburn, with five people testing positive.

In Polk County, seven people have tested positive at Meduri Farms in Dallas.

(Graphic by Rachel Alexander/Salem Reporter)

Salem hospitalizations related to COVID-19 have continued to fall, while Salem Hospital is seeing a higher overall number of patients as elective surgeries and other non-urgent procedures resume.

(Graphic by Rachel Alexander/Salem Reporter)

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Contact reporter Rachel Alexander: [email protected] or 503-575-1241.

Rachel Alexander is Salem Reporter’s managing editor. She joined Salem Reporter when it was founded in 2018 and covers city news, education, nonprofits and a little bit of everything else. She’s been a journalist in Oregon and Washington for a decade. Outside of work, she’s a skater and board member with Salem’s Cherry City Roller Derby and can often be found with her nose buried in a book.