The Oregonian news channel published a request from health officials on July 20, 2022. This asked citizens to kindly start wearing masks again, because the hospital system is “extremely stressed”. This came as a surprise to us, although we did previously relay information suggesting the U.S. pandemic is stirring again. Why is the Oregon health system stressed like this, has something changed?
ICU Patient Loads Stressing Oregon Health System
Oregon hospitals are battling to handle existing caseloads, despite COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations declining. Therefore, hospital officials are asking citizens to mask up to avoid inadvertently adding to the pressure.
State epidemiologist Dean Sidelinger told The Oregonian, “They are experiencing extreme stress, and doing everything they can to provide quality care for everyone across our state. But we all have a role to do in helping support them.”
Oregon officials are battling to get to the facts behind the 9,233 known cases thus far this week. This may be 11% down from the previous one, but many people are testing at home or not testing at all. This makes the accuracy of those numbers questionable.
Moreover 21 / 36 Counties Have “High Levels of COVID”
The Oregonian relays a CDC report that 21 of Oregon’s 36 counties are seeing “high levels of COVID-19”. This conflicts with the overall U.S.trend, but does include admissions, hospitalizations and case counts.
On July 20, 2022, 424 COVID-19 patients occupied hospital beds. Half of these were receiving treatment for something other than COVID-19. Therefore, the state health authority recommends people in those 21 counties wear masks in indoor public spaces.
This is a departure from previous policy of the Oregon state health authority. However, we do need to be mindful BA.5 sub-variant has shown itself to be particularly transmissible. And now appears to be the dominant one in Oregon.
State epidemiologist Dean Sidelinger told The Oregonian “There’s also the possibility that it causes more severe disease, as ICU numbers have generally trended up. Though there’s not enough data to say definitively.”
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