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, this will be Salem Reporter’s last day reporting case and hospitalization information daily. Here’s our report for Friday, Oct. 22.
Oregon Health Authority released its latest COVID-19 forecast Thursday projecting a continued decline in daily cases and hospitalizations through early November.
New Covid cases reported in Marion County: 118
New Covid cases reported in Polk County: 37
Total Salem Hospital patients with Covid: 48 as of Friday morning, a decrease of seven from Thursday. Of those, nine are in the intensive care unit, and two are on ventilators.
Forty-one of those in the hospital are not vaccinated against Covid.
Total Salem Hospital bed occupancy: 499 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): 78, a decrease of 10 from Thursday. Of those, 18 are in the intensive care unit and two are on ventilators.
Total Region 2 hospital bed occupancy: 86 of 91 staffed ICU beds and 554 of 570 non-ICU beds in use.
New Covid deaths reported: 10
Six Marion County deaths were reported Thursday. They are:
A 62-year-old man who tested positive on Oct. 14 and died on Oct. 18 at Salem Hospital.
A 93-year-old man who tested positive on Oct. 4 and died on Oct. 14 at his residence.
A 61-year-old man who tested positive on Oct. 3 and died on Oct. 16 at Salem Hospital.
A 74-year-old man who tested positive on Sept. 26 and died on Oct.16 at Santiam Hospital.
An 83-year-old man who tested positive on Sept. 23 and died on Oct. 18 at Salem Hospital.
A 76-year-old man who tested positive on Sept. 23 and died on Oct. 15 at Salem Hospital.
All had underlying conditions.
No Polk County deaths were reported.
The Oregon Health Authority said 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.
New Covid vaccines in Oregon: 5,323 new Covid vaccine doses on Oct. 20, including 842 first doses, 922 second doses and 3,477 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
