PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — Oregon hospitals are near their breaking point as the state is expected to reach peak hospitalizations in coming weeks, according to health officials.

On Friday, the Oregon Health Authority held a press conference where state health officer and state epidemiologist, Dr. Dean Sidelinger spoke on omicron’s impact on Oregon.

As hospitalizations spike, Sidelinger says the state could eclipse the pandemic high. On Thursday, OHA reported the highest daily total of COVID-positive patients in Oregon hospitals during the omicron surge.

“But, we may be seeing a light — a slight slowing of omicron’s momentum,” said Sidelinger. “Due to the recent modeling, statewide daily cases appear to have crested the pandemic highs offering a glimpse of hope, in an otherwise bleak pandemic landscape.”

Earlier this week, OHA reported the state had surpassed 6,000 COVID-19 deaths.

On Friday, OHA added 19 newly-reported deaths – raising the state’s COVID-19-related death toll to 6,086.

Meanwhile, there were 47,361 new COVID cases reported between January 17 and January 23. OHA said this was a 9.5% decrease from last week’s pandemic high.

OHA also reported 7,222 new confirmed and presumptive COVID-10 cases on Friday. This brings the state’s total case count to 620,652.

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“We saw a massive number of cases occur as we came up the peak, and we’re going to see that same massive number of cases occur as we go down the peak,” said Sidelinger.

Across the state, there are 1,125 people hospitalized with COVID-19 and 176 COVID patients in intensive care unit beds, OHA announced on Friday.

In terms of hospital capacity, OHA reported 51 available adult ICU beds out of 651 and 240 adult non-ICU beds available out of 4,185.

Health officials predict it will take several weeks for hospitalizations to peak and then come down to a level that no longer overwhelms hospitals. While hospitalizations rise, officials say the number of COVID cases are plateauing.

It is expected to happen much sooner than the delta surge. Sidelinger attributes this to omicron-positive patients requiring a shorter stay in hospitals and less critical care.

According to Sidelinger, the state will not reach endemic levels until “it’s not causing massive surges to interrupt day-to-day lives. Unfortunately, we’re not there yet with omicron in Oregon — or most other states across the county.”

Additionally, OHA is submitting extensions to the Oregon Secretary of State for indoor masking rules, and requiring healthcare and school workers to be vaccinated. Along with that, more COVID-fighting rules could soon be submitted alongside those extended rules.

This comes as many doctors are growing concerned over people delaying getting a COVID booster shot amid surging infection rates and hospitalizations time. Health officials say nearly 75% of Oregon adults are fully vaccinated, however, less than half have received their booster shot.

To meet Governor Brown’s goal of having one million Oregonians boosted by the end of January, 513,732 people would need to get the additional dose.

The seven-day running average for COVID-19 vaccines in the state is now 10,802 doses per day.

In Friday’s report, OHA also noted that 3,122,175 people have had at least one COVID-19 vaccine dose. Meanwhile, 2,822,255 people have completed a COVID-19 vaccine series.

Confirmed and presumptive cases by county

Baker (32), Benton (172), Clackamas (584), Clatsop (50), Columbia (110), Coos (115), Crook (62), Curry (39), Deschutes (401), Douglas (191), Gilliam (3), Grant (15), Harney (27), Hood River (37), Jackson (359), Jefferson (35), Josephine (128), Klamath (191), Lake (6), Lane (734), Lincoln (88), Linn (331), Malheur (92), Marion (809), Morrow (15), Multnomah (927), Polk (164), Sherman (1), Tillamook (28), Umatilla (162), Union (76), Wallowa (8), Wasco (85), Washington (938), Yamhill (207).

Oregon’s 6,068th COVID-19-related death is a 74-year-old woman from Multnomah County who tested positive Sept. 21, 2021, and died Sept. 21, 2021, at her residence. She had underlying conditions.

Oregon’s 6,069th COVID-19-related death is a 92-year-old woman from Lane County who tested positive Sept. 3, 2021, and died Sept. 30, 2021, at her residence. She had underlying conditions.

Oregon’s 6,070th COVID-19-related death is a 91-year-old man from Multnomah County who tested positive Sept. 29, 2021, and died Oct. 7, 2021, at his residence. He had underlying conditions.

Oregon’s 6,071st COVID-19-related death is a 92-year-old man from Columbia County who tested positive Sept. 14, 2021, and died Oct. 8, 2021, at Legacy Meridian Park Medical Center. He had underlying conditions.

Oregon’s 6,072nd COVID-19-related death is a 92-year-old woman from Lane County who tested positive August 27, 2021, and died Nov. 11, 2021, at her residence. She had underlying conditions.

Oregon’s 6,073rd COVID-19-related death is an 80-year-old man from Crook County who tested positive Jan. 6 and died Jan. 15 at St. Charles Bend. He had underlying conditions.

Oregon’s 6,074th COVID-19-related death is a 91-year-old man from Benton County who tested positive Jan. 13 and died Jan. 27 at Good Samaritan Regional Medical Center. Presence of underlying conditions is being confirmed.

Oregon’s 6,075th COVID-19-related death is a 74-year-old man from Baker County who tested positive Jan. 10 and died Jan. 26 at St. Alphonsus Regional Medical Center in Boise. He had underlying conditions.

Oregon’s 6,076th COVID-19-related death is a 34-year-old man from Yamhill County who tested positive Jan. 10 and died Jan. 26 at his residence. He had underlying conditions.

Oregon’s 6,077th COVID-19-related death is an 89-year-old man from Wasco County who tested positive Jan. 22 and died Jan. 28 at Mid-Columbia Medical Center. He had underlying conditions.

Oregon’s 6,078th COVID-19-related death is a 92-year-old man from Umatilla County who tested positive Jan. 21 and died Jan. 21 at Providence St. Mary Medical Center. Presence of underlying conditions is being confirmed.

Oregon’s 6,079th COVID-19-related death is a 73-year-old man from Multnomah County who tested positive Jan. 4 and died Jan. 26 at Adventist Health Portland. Presence of underlying conditions is being confirmed.

Oregon’s 6,080th COVID-19-related death is a 91-year-old woman from Malheur County who tested positive Jan. 10 and died Jan. 27 at her residence. Presence of underlying conditions is being confirmed.

Oregon’s 6,081st COVID-19-related death is a 90-year-old man from Lane County who tested positive Jan. 19 and died Jan. 26 at PeaceHealth Sacred Heart Medical Center at Riverbend. He had underlying conditions.

Oregon’s 6,082nd COVID-19-related death is a 69-year-old man from Lane County who tested positive Jan. 4 and died Jan. 27 at McKenzie Willamette Medical Center. Presence of underlying conditions is being confirmed.

Oregon’s 6,083rd COVID-19-related death is a 93-year-old man from Jackson County who tested positive Jan. 20 and died Jan. 26 at Asante Rogue Regional Medical Center. Presence of underlying conditions is being confirmed.

Oregon’s 6,084th COVID-19-related death is a 76-year-old woman from Jackson County who tested positive Jan. 19 and died Jan. 26 at Providence Medford Medical Center. She had underlying conditions.

Oregon’s 6,085th COVID-19-related death is a 100-year-old man from Clackamas County who tested positive Nov. 6, 2021 and died Nov. 15, 2021 at Kaiser Sunnyside Medical Center. Presence of underlying conditions is being confirmed.

Oregon’s 6,086th COVID-19-related death is an 81-year-old woman from Linn County who tested positive Jan. 20 and died Jan. 23 at Good Samaritan Regional Medical Center. Presence of underlying conditions is being confirmed.