Oregon reports 416 new coronavirus cases, 5 new deaths

SALEM, Ore. (AP) — Officials on Thursday reported 416 new confirmed and presumptive COVID-19 cases in Oregon.

Additionally five more people died due to the disease, increasing Oregon’s death toll to 316. The state's total case count since the start of the pandemic has surpassed 18,100.

The county with the highest number of new cases Thursday — 101 cases — is Umatilla County, in rural northeastern Oregon. Officials attributed Umatilla’s high case count to a delay in processing electronic laboratory reports (ELRs).

Umatilla County has the state's most cases per capita and a testing positivity rate of about 17%. It is one of 10 counties on Oregon's “watch list.”

The watch list was created as a way to help the state prioritize resources and assistance to areas that are seeing the broadest spread of COVID-19.

When a county is placed on the list, the Oregon Health Authority increases monitoring and communication, and deploys additional technical assistance and resources, such as epidemiological support, case investigation and contact tracing help, officials said.

Three counties were added to the watch list Thursday — Hood River, Marion and Multnomah, Oregon's most populous county and home to Portland.

In addition two counties were removed from the list — Lincoln and Union — after successfully reducing the spread of COVID-19.

“This is also a good reminder to all Oregonians—especially to those who live in Watch List counties—of the importance of remaining vigilant," Gov. Kate Brown said. "I urge all Oregonians to keep practicing physical distancing, wearing face coverings, and practicing good hygiene. Your choices matter, and we are truly all in this together.”