Oregon expands COVID-19 testing

Today, Oregon Health Authority announced an expansion of COVID-19 testing in Oregon. Starting this week, Oregon will receive between 60,000 and 80,000 Abbott BinaxNOW rapid point-of-care antigen tests per week through the end of the year.

The new tests will nearly double Oregon’s testing capacity, which will help identify more people who are infected with COVID-19.

OHA also now recommends testing for anyone who has symptoms of COVID-19, regardless of severity, and all close contacts of those individuals, even if they have no symptoms.

The rapid antigen tests yield quick results, in as little as 15 minutes. But there are limitations. The tests must be administered by a medical professional or at a location that meets certain lab testing standards. As in other forms of COVID-19 testing, positive results from antigen tests are considered reliable.

However, false negative results are common, even among asymptomatic individuals.

If you test negative using any form of COVID-19 test, please continue to:

Wear a mask
Remain physically distant from other people (especially older people)

Avoid large gatherings and
Wash hands frequently

The first 15,000 tests were distributed to counties and long-term care facilities affected by recent wildfires. The communities slated to receive the next allotment of tests are those hardest hit by COVID-19:

Migrant and seasonal farmworkers
Communities of color and tribal communities

Residents of congregate care settings

Plans call for eventually expanding testing to students and staff at schools, colleges and universities through school-based health centers and other community partners. Some tests will be maintained as a strategic reserve to ensure a supply beyond December (when the current allocation is scheduled to end) and to help contain major outbreaks in counties.

Learn more in today’s press release and on our testing webpage.

You can watch today’s press conference on OHA’s YouTube channel (in English) or OHA en Espanol on Facebook (in Spanish).

What about false negatives?

Oregon reports 301 new confirmed and presumptive COVID-19 cases, nine new deaths

COVID-19 has claimed nine more lives in Oregon, raising the state’s death toll to 581, the Oregon Health Authority reported at 12:01 a.m. Tuesday.

Oregon Health Authority reported 301 new confirmed and presumptive cases of COVID-19 as of 12:01 a.m. Tuesday bringing the state total to 35,340.

The new confirmed and presumptive COVID-19 cases reported today are in the following counties: Baker (1), Benton (9), Clackamas (28), Clatsop (3), Columbia (3), Coos (7), Crook (1), Deschutes (12), Douglas (3), Hood River (1), Jackson (8), Jefferson (2), Josephine (1), Klamath (1), Lane (52), Lincoln (3), Linn (7), Malheur (9), Marion (34), Morrow (1), Multnomah (51), Polk (11), Umatilla (9), Union (1), Wallowa (1), Wasco (1), Washington (30), and Yamhill (11).

Oregon’s 573rd COVID-19 death is an 89-year-old woman in Marion County who tested positive on Sept. 16 and died on Oct. 5 in her residence. She had underlying conditions.

Oregon’s 574th COVID-19 death is an 81-year-old woman in Washington County who tested positive on Sept. 22 and died on Oct. 3 at Providence St. Vincent Medical Center. She had underlying conditions.

Oregon’s 575th COVID-19 death is a 64-year-old woman in Marion County who tested positive on Aug. 29 and died on Oct. 4 at Providence St. Vincent Medical Center. She had underlying conditions.

Oregon’s 576th COVID-19 death is an 81-year-old man in Malheur County who tested positive on Sept. 29 and died on Oct. 3 at St. Alphonsus Regional Medical Center in Boise, Idaho. He had underlying conditions.

Oregon’s 577th COVID-19 death is a 71-year-old man in Malheur County who tested positive on Sept. 8 and died on Oct. 5 at St. Alphonsus Regional Medical Center in Boise, Idaho. He did not have underlying conditions.

Oregon’s 578th COVID-19 death is a 61-year-old man in Malheur County who tested positive on Aug. 31 and died on Oct. 4 at St. Alphonsus Regional Medical Center in Boise, Idaho. He had underlying conditions.

Oregon’s 579th COVID-19 death is a 72-year-old man in Clackamas County who tested positive on July 31 and died on Aug. 4. Place of death is being confirmed. He had underlying conditions.

Oregon’s 580th COVID-19 death is a 93-year-old woman in Wasco County who tested positive on Sept. 18 and died on Sept. 26 in her residence. Presence of underlying conditions is being confirmed.

Oregon’s 581st COVID-19 death is a 91-year-old woman in Multnomah County who died on Sept. 2 in her residence. The death certificate listed COVID-19 disease or SARS-CoV-2 as a cause of death or a significant condition contributing to death.