Oregon coronavirus hospitalizations climb 10% as state mulls lifting health care masking mandate

Oregon’s coronavirus standing stays comparatively steady, with well being officers reporting a marginal enhance in reported circumstances this week and a 24-bed enhance in hospitalizations.

Final week, well being officers mentioned tendencies throughout the board have been wanting good, together with for hospitalizations associated not simply to COVID-19 however to RSV and influenza, too, to the purpose that they may take into account lifting Oregon’s final remaining masks mandate in coming months.

“I really feel pretty assured in saying that we are going to have standards and tendencies that may permit the lifting of the healthcare masking necessities over the following couple of months,” state epidemiologist Dr. Dean Sidelinger mentioned at a information briefing Feb. 9.

Oregon lifted its mandate for masks in public areas about 11 months in the past, final March, however the requirement for masks in well being care settings remained.

The newest Oregon Well being & Science College pandemic forecast predicts rising hospitalizations in coming weeks, peaking round 280 occupied beds throughout the first week of March.

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Because it started: Oregon has reported 956,770 confirmed or presumed infections and 9,296 deaths.

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Hospitalizations: 250 folks with confirmed coronavirus infections are hospitalized, up 24 since Feb. 8. That features 30 folks in intensive care, up 4 since Feb. 8.

New deaths: Since Feb. 8, the Oregon Well being Authority has reported 46 further deaths linked to COVID-19.

— Fedor Zarkhin

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