Health & Wellness

Omicron continues to spread

New confirmed and presumptive COVID-19 cases soared to 18,538 in Oregon with 18 new deaths, Oregon Health Authority (OHA) reported Monday – raising the state’s death toll to 5,779. The 18 new deaths and 18,538 new cases include data recorded by counties between Jan. 7-9.

Lane County hospital beds are becoming increasingly in short supply as the Omicron variant of the COVID-19 virus continues to spread at a high rate in our area. 

Covid cases reported through Jan. 5: Cottage Grove (97424 zip code), 1,806 cases in a population of 17,594, with “cases per 100k” at 10,264.9; in Creswell (97426), 1,040, pop. 9,716, cases per 100k at 10,704.0; and Springfield (97477): 4,060, pop. 36,874, cases per 100k at 11,010.5

Those numbers are straining health care resources, and reducing bed space. Lane, Coos, Curry and Douglas counties are part of Oregon Health Authority’s Region 3. Through Monday, out of 91 total staffed ICU beds, 85 were occupied and six available; there are 575 staffed adult non-ICU beds in Lane, with 499 occupied and 76 available.

Statewide, there are 46 available adult ICU beds out of 647 total (7% availability) and 295 available adult non-ICU beds out of 4,061 (7%).

School districts continue to monitor guidance from state education and health agencies, and continue adhering to current policy and mitigation efforts.

County-wide, 269,674 people have initiated the vaccination process; that breaks down to 19,107 in-progress and 250,567 who have completed their series.

Need a vaccine or test? Go to getvaccinated.Oregon.gov/ to find times and locations.

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