The Oregon Health Authority on Wednesday said three people have now died from the novel coronavirus in the state as the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases climbed to 75.
A 71-year-old man in Washington County died Tuesday at Providence St. Vincent Medical Center in Portland after testing positive the day before, according to the health authority.
His death follows that of a 60-year-old woman in Lane County and a 70-year-old Multnomah County man who both died Saturday. The woman’s death was not announced until Tuesday night.
All three, who have not been publicly identified, had underlying medical conditions, state health officials said.
“We are saddened at the news of these additional lives lost in Oregon due to COVID-19,” Patrick Allen, director of the Oregon Health Authority, said in a statement. “These deaths only strengthen our resolve to slow the spread of this disease in our communities. We are in this together.”
Residents from Benton, Marion, Washington and Yamhill counties also have tested positive for the virus in the last 24 hours, state health officials said.
There are now known coronavirus cases linked to 14 of Oregon’s 36 counties: 23 in Washington County; 15 in Linn County; eight in Marion County; six each in Clackamas and Deschutes counties; three in Multnomah County; two each in Jackson, Lane, Umatilla and Yamhill counties, and; one each in Benton, Douglas, Klamath and Polk counties.
People older than 55 account for 47 of the confirmed cases in Oregon, 19 are between 35 and 54, one is between 25 and 34, four are between the age of 18 and 24 and four others are under 17.
Those infected with the virus have included public school students, a janitor, a casino worker, nursing home patients and staff, among others.
In the last day, 150 more people in Oregon have tested negative for coronavirus, while another 361 are awaiting results, according to figures published on the health authority’s website. To date, 1,554 people in Oregon have undergone testing, up from 1,248 on Tuesday.
Testing capacity throughout the state will continue to dramatically expand in the coming days. Providence Health & Services in Portland announced Wednesday that it will now be able to process tests for up to 600 patients a day.
Additionally, Quest Diagnostics, one of the nation’s private laboratories, has agreed to provide 20,000 coronavirus tests to Oregon, according to Gov. Kate Brown.
-- Shane Dixon Kavanaugh; 503-294-7632
Email at skavanaugh@oregonian.com
Follow on Twitter @shanedkavanaugh
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