Coronavirus in Oregon: State reports 426 new cases, 2 deaths

The Oregon Health Authority reported 426 new cases of COVID-19 on Saturday along with two new deaths, raising the state’s coronavirus death toll to 2,375.

More than 1.6 million doses of COVID-19 vaccine have been administered, state officials reported. Case numbers have fluctuated during the previous week but have generally plateaued over the past month.

The state health authority recorded 1,920 confirmed or presumed infections for the week ending Sunday, March 21, down 15% from the previous week. Cases declined despite a 9% increase in week-to-week testing.

Vaccine eligibility continues to expand as adults 45 to 64 with underlying medical conditions that put them at particularly significant risk of severe illness or death will be eligible starting Monday, along with migrant and seasonal farm workers, food and seafood workers, agricultural workers, people living in low-income senior housing and people experiencing homelessness.

Vaccines: Oregon reported 34,508 newly administered doses, which includes 20,559 on Friday and the remainder from previous days.

Where the new cases are by county: Baker (7), Benton (9), Clackamas (47), Clatsop (2), Columbia (8), Coos (10), Crook (2), Curry (3), Deschutes (25), Douglas (11), Grant (1), Hood River (3), Jackson (49), Jefferson (1), Josephine (21), Klamath (22), Lane (19), Lincoln (3), Linn (3), Marion (31), Morrow (7), Multnomah (42), Polk (4), Tillamook (6), Umatilla (8), Union (4), Wallowa (1), Wasco (2), Washington (69) and Yamhill (6).

Who died: Oregon’s 2,374th COVID-19 death is an 81-year-old Linn County man who tested positive March 14 and died March 26 at Legacy Meridian Park Medical Center. He had underlying conditions.

The 2,375th death is an 87-year-old Grant County woman who tested positive March 11 and died March 23 at her residence. She had underlying conditions.

Hospitalizations: 118 people with confirmed cases of COVID-19 are hospitalized, which is 10 more than Friday. Twenty-two people are in intensive care.

Since it began: Oregon has reported 163,702 confirmed or presumed infections and 2,375 deaths, among the lowest per capita numbers in the nation. To date, the state has reported 1,688,726 vaccine doses administered.

To see more coronavirus data and trends, visit https://projects.oregonlive.com/coronavirus/

— Jaimie Ding

jding@oregonian.com; 503-221-4395; @j_dingdingding