Genetic variants of SARS-CoV-2 have been emerging and circulating around the world, and in the United States, these viral mutations and variants are routinely monitored through sequence-based surveillance, laboratory studies, and epidemiological investigations.
Viruses constantly change through mutation and a variant has one or more mutations that differentiate it from other variants in circulation. As expected, multiple variants of SARS-CoV-2 have been documented in the United States and globally throughout this pandemic, however, according to the Center for Disease Control, to date, no variants of high consequence have been identified in the United States.
The Delta variant, identified as a ‘Variant of Concern’ by the CDC, has been identified in the United States, and in Oregon as well. This new variant, first identified and ‘named’ in India is reportedly more easily transmittable and to date, the Oregon Health Authority has reported a total of 14 cases in the state with the first two cases discovered April 11th, 2021 according to the Oregon Health Authority.
Vaccination rates for the state slowed even further in the past week as the state sat at 66.3% vaccinated last week, and to date, now sits at 66.8% an increase of .05% in the past week.
As of Friday, July, 9th, the state of Oregon has tested 5,492,007 individuals, an increase of 52,950 individuals in the past week and now 13,298 fewer than the week prior. Over 1,202,567 more people than the states 4,289,440 population has now been tested and of that, 5,187,285 have tested negative for the novel COVID-19 virus and 304,722 have tested positive. Since the pandemic began, Oregon has recorded 843 fewer cases than last week with just 1,692 new cases in the past week, and 210,229 total cases. Individuals hospitalized continues to stay steady with just 81 hospitalizations statewide in the past week, again 6 fewer than the week prior, and now stands at 11,838. In the past week only 9 deaths were recorded statewide, and Oregonians who have unfortunately succumbed to COVID-19 has now reached 2,790 in the entire state since the pandemic began.
Curry County’s latest numbers as reported Friday July 2nd, by the Oregon Health Authority, now reports testing 13,700 individuals with 13,015 negative tests, 685 total positive COVID-19 tests and after adding no new cases in the last week according to the latest data from the Oregon Health Authority has recorded 746 total cases and 12 deaths since the beginning of the pandemic.
Del Norte County Department of Health and Human Services reported testing 15,632 individuals, with 1,502 negative results, after adding 7 new cases in the past week now reaching 1,502 total confirmed cases reported by Public Health, with 16 active cases, 1 current hospitalizations and 8 deaths.
Coos County to the north, reported testing 55,481 individuals last week with 52,803 negative results, adding 7 new cases in the past week with now 2,678 total positive cases and 39 deaths since the beginning of the pandemic.
Josephine County has seen significant increases in recent weeks has reported testing 93,911 individuals with 89,380 negative results, 4,531 total positive test results adding 68 new cases in the past week with now 3,710 total cases of COVID-19 and now 73 deaths.
Humboldt County, to the south of Del Norte County, which includes the Eureka area, reports 62 new cases in the past week with 4,647 total cases after testing 99,038 individuals, 4,472 recoveries, 214 hospitalizations, and now 51 deaths since the beginning of the pandemic.
Jackson County, which includes the Medford area, with a total population of 221,290, reports testing 264,881 individuals, 43,591 more people than the counties total population, with 247,080 negative test results, 17,801 positive results, and 11,724 total cases of COVID-19 with now 148 deaths as of Friday, July 9th.
