Jackson County reports 106 new COVID-19 cases, 4 deaths

Sep. 22—Jackson County Public Health reported 106 new COVID-19 cases Wednesday and four more COVID-19-related deaths.

Those who died were a 64-year-old woman, a 70-year-old woman, a 56-year-old woman and an 89-year-old man. All had underlying conditions, according to Jackson County Public Health.

Statewide, the Oregon Health Authority reported 2,312 new COVID-19 cases Wednesday and 26 more deaths.

Although cases have been dropping in Oregon since early September, hospitals remain under severe strain, with widespread shortages of intensive care unit beds.

Jackson and Josephine counties' four hospitals had seven open ICU beds and 50 occupied ICU beds Wednesday, according to hospital data. The two counties make up region five in the state's Hospital Preparedness Program.

On Wednesday, a six-county region in Eastern Oregon had no open ICU beds, a four-county region that includes Hood River had no available ICU beds, a six-county region that includes Salem had one ICU bed available, and an eight-county region that includes Bend had two open ICU beds, state data show.

For all of Oregon, there were 39 available ICU beds, with most clustered in the Portland area, according to hospital data.

Oregon's population is almost 4.3 million people. The state has 36 counties.

On Wednesday, Asante reported that 84% of COVID-19 patients in its three Rogue Valley hospitals were unvaccinated, 94% of COVID-19 patients in ICU beds were unvaccinated, and 94% of COVID-19 patients on ventilators were unvaccinated.

The health system said 85% of COVID-19-related deaths have occurred among unvaccinated people.

For information on where to get a COVID-19 vaccination in Jackson County, visit jacksoncountyor.org/hhs/COVID-19/Vaccine-Appointments/where-to-get-vaccinated-in-jackson-county.

At least 62.7% of Jackson County residents 18 and older have been vaccinated, according to the Oregon Health Authority.

County officials believe the real vaccination percentage is at least 2% higher because of shots delivered by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs to Jackson County veterans and family members at VA clinics.

Reach Mail Tribune reporter Vickie Aldous at 541-776-4486 or valdous@rosebudmedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @VickieAldous.