Reported COVID-19 cases continue to decline in Oregon, but hospitalized patients are rising

© oregonlive.com/TNS This graphic show the seven-day rolling average of cases reported in Oregon, as of Dec. 28, 2022.

The Oregon Health Authority reported a 27% decline in the rolling seven-day average of COVID-19 cases reported in the state Thursday. The number of people hospitalized with the virus, however, increased by 10%.

This marks the third straight week of declining known infections, though officials say it’s difficult to gain a true picture of infections because many cases aren’t reported. Although hospitalizations are up, they’re still below their peak over the past several months of 370 on Nov. 29.

A Dec. 16 Oregon Health & Science University forecast predicts COVID-19 hospitalizations will fall before starting to level off in February and March.

But COVID-19 is now only part of the overall respiratory virus picture. RSV and influenza have sent hundreds of Oregonians to hospitals. The precise number is unclear because Portland-area hospitals are so backed up, they haven’t been able to fully ascertain which recent hospitalizations are for influenza, according to the state’s weekly influenza monitoring report. The proportion of influenza tests netting positive results was 27% in the most recent week with data, a decline from 32% the previous week.

Since it began: Oregon has reported 939,303 confirmed or presumed COVID-19 infections and 8,962 deaths.

Hospitalizations: 346 people with confirmed coronavirus infections are hospitalized, an increase of 32 since Wednesday, Dec. 21. That includes 32 people in intensive care, up three since Dec. 21.

New deaths: Since Dec. 21, the Oregon Health Authority has reported 14 additional deaths connected to COVID-19.

— Fedor Zarkhin and Aimee Green

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