PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — With only a few days left in 2021, Oregon reported its second-highest single day of COVID-19 cases amid the omicron surge.
On Thursday, Oregon Health Authority reported 2,948 cases, only behind 3,207 cases on Aug. 27. This brings the statewide total to 421,263.
OHA also reported 15 new COVID-19-related deaths on Thursday, bringing the statewide death toll to 5,655.
Health officials also announced the latest report on breakthrough cases of COVID-19 in vaccinated individuals. From Dec. 19 to Dec. 25, there were 6,993 reported cases of COVID-19, and of those cases, 4,426, or 63.3% were of unvaccinated individuals, while 2,567, or 36.7%, were vaccine breakthrough cases, according to OHA data.
Officials say the average age of a breakthrough case from Dec. 19 to Dec. 25 was 36
Multnomah County lead the numbers, with 641 cases — also its second-highest single day case total, followed behind only 648 cases reported on Nov. 29, 2020.
Meanwhile, the new confirmed and presumptive COVID-19 cases were in the other following counties: Baker (4), Benton (61), Clackamas (269), Clatsop (12), Columbia (15), Coos (39), Crook (26), Curry (11), Deschutes (286), Douglas (57), Gilliam (1), Grant (9), Harney (2), Hood River (19), Jackson (185), Jefferson (12), Josephine (48), Klamath (35), Lake (2), Lane (244), Lincoln (37), Linn (75), Malheur (24), Marion (148), Morrow (6), Polk (39), Sherman (3), Tillamook (15), Umatilla (121), Union (11), Wallowa (5), Wasco (10), Washington (418) and Yamhill (58).
Coos County reported three resident deaths on Thursday, while Klamath, Washington and Clackamas each reported two resident deaths. Union, Marion, Tillamook, Lane, Clatsop and Jackson counties each reported one resident death on Thursday.
Meanwhile, hospitalizations are up 101 patients from a week ago, and up 30% from that same time.
Oregon orders 12 million at-home test kits
The Oregon Health Authority ordered 6 million COVID-19 Antigen Rapid Test kits from iHealth Labs on Wednesday. Each kit contains 2 tests, which means there will be 12 million tests coming soon to the state.
These kits will be free and distributed throughout January, officials said. They will begin arriving next week at OHA’s warehouse in Wilsonville, and from there will be sent to the partner agencies and organizations OHA works with.
These tests can be performed at home with results available in 15 minutes.