Oregon
Oregon governor tests positive for COVID-19, state warns about holiday season respiratory illnesses
Oregon Gov. Kate Brown introduced Saturday that she and her husband have examined constructive for COVID-19 after coming back from a visit to Vietnam.
“We’re recuperating at house and, whereas this adjustments our Thanksgiving plans, we’re grateful for efficient vaccines and boosters which might be serving to guarantee our signs don’t change into severe,” she wrote on Twitter.
Respiratory diseases — together with COVID-19, influenza, and respiratory syncytial virus — are on the rise in Oregon and throughout the nation. Kids have been notably weak: the speed of kids hospitalized for RSV quadrupled throughout the first week of November, in keeping with the Oregon Well being Authority.
The company says hospitalization charges for adults have been decrease, however folks 65 and older are nonetheless at excessive danger for respiratory illness.
Oregon hospitals are anticipated to endure “intense pressure” over the subsequent a number of weeks, in keeping with Oregon Well being & Science College. Information from OHSU predicts the variety of kids hospitalized with RSV to peak at 129 circumstances by Nov. 30. As of Saturday, there have been 77 circumstances.
Brown declared a state of emergency as a result of rising RSV charges on Monday. Portland-area hospital leaders issued a joint assertion warning of doubtless lengthy wait instances at emergency departments.
“The perfect factor dad and mom and caregivers can do to maintain their kids wholesome and protected this fall and winter is to observe all of the measures that have been emphasised throughout the pandemic: keep away from contact with those that are sick, wash arms ceaselessly, clear and disinfect surfaces and keep updated on all routine vaccinations, together with flu photographs and COVID-19 boosters,” they warned.
Well being officers predict COVID hospitalizations to barely improve this winter as effectively. OHSU knowledge predicts hospitalizations — which stood at 230 as of Wednesday — to peak at 280 by early December.