A screengrab of a chart showing the number of Covid-positive patients hospitalized in the region which includes Benton, Lincoln, Linn, Marion, Polk and Yamhill counties.
As Covid hospitalizations continue to decline, Salem Reporter will stop reporting case and hospitalization information each day at the end of this week. Here’s our daily report for Thursday, Oct. 21.
New Covid cases reported in Marion County: 98
New Covid cases reported in Polk County: 37
Total Salem Hospital patients with Covid: 55 as of Thursday morning, an increase of four from Wednesday. Of those, 11 are in the intensive care unit, and three are on ventilators.
Forty-seven of those in the hospital are not vaccinated against Covid.
Total Salem Hospital bed occupancy: 512 patients; the hospital is licensed for 494 beds
Salem Hospital is able to expand care beyond licensed bed capacity through waivers tied to the federal emergency declaration.
“Throughout this surge we have prioritized flexibility, creating new spaces for patients beyond traditional care areas and utilizing double occupancy rooms. We continue to make room for all patients who need care, but today’s numbers continue to underscore the seriousness of the persistent surge even as it declines,” hospital spokesperson Lisa Wood explained in an email.
Total people hospitalized with Covid in Region 2 (Marion, Polk, Yamhill, Linn, Benton, Lincoln counties): 88, an increase of one from Wednesday. Of those, 19 are in the intensive care unit and three are on ventilators.
Total Region 2 hospital bed occupancy: 83 of 88 staffed ICU beds and 559 of 575 non-ICU beds in use.
New Covid deaths reported: 40
No Marion or Polk County deaths were reported Wednesday.
The Oregon Health Authority said Thursday it will begin reporting hundreds of deaths that occurred between May and August, but only recently became known to state epidemiologists due to a technical computer error.
Reported Covid deaths will be higher than usual as a result until the backlog of 550 deaths is resolved, the agency said in a news release.
New Covid vaccines in Oregon: 5,405 new Covid vaccine doses on Oct. 20, including 871 first doses, 933 second doses and 3,558 third doses.
Source: Oregon Health Authority, Salem Health
Our team will keep an eye on Covid data and report those numbers when warranted. Reach out to Rachel Alexander [email protected] or Saphara Harrell [email protected] if there are specific metrics you’d like to see us report on.
-Saphara Harrell
