The Oregon Health Authority announced 227 new confirmed and presumptive COVID-19 diagnoses Monday and one virus-related death.
The new coronavirus cases were mostly concentrated in Multnomah (45), Washington (37), Marion (27), Malheur (21) and Morrow (15) counties.
Oregon’s most recent confirmed COVID-19 death was an 88-year-old Multnomah County man who tested positive on July 29 and died on Aug. 5 at his home. He had underlying medical conditions.
Since the start of the pandemic, 357 people are known to have died in Oregon as a result of COVID-19.
Health officials said Friday that the weekly growth in cases seems to have plateaued, though they cautioned that if people do not continue to wear masks and avoid crowds the pandemic could surge again.
“We cannot let our guard down,” said Dean Sidelinger, the state’s epidemiologist.
Related: COVID-19 by the numbers
Washington requires 300-square-feet per person in gyms
Washington has implemented strict new guidelines on capacity at fitness centers and gyms allowed to operate under in Phase 2 or 3 of the state’s coronavirus reopening plans. The new guidelines aim to further slow the spread of COVID-19 by increasing the required space between patrons from 6 feet to 300-square-feet, which comes out to about 17 feet of space.
The regulations also reduce the number of people allowed to work out in a gym or fitness center at one time. Large facilities with at least 12,000-square-feet must cap their capacity at 25% of normal. The rules apply to all gyms and fitness centers in the state, including classes. Showers, hot tubs, saunas, steam rooms, squash courts and racquetball courts must remain closed. Locker rooms can only be used for handwashing and restrooms.
Washington Fitness Alliance CEO Blair McJaney said larger gyms and fitness centers should be able to comply with the more stringent rules, but said they will likely prohibit smaller gyms from operating.
Related: New guidelines for gyms go into effect in Washington Monday
COVID-19 diagnoses climb, as Oregon Legislature convenes
More than 21,000 people have been diagnosed with COVID-19 in Oregon, and the pandemic’s far-reaching impacts have touched nearly every corner of life across the Pacific Northwest. That will be exceedingly clear in Salem Monday, when the state Legislature convenes for its second special legislative session in two months.
In a short span between the start of the year and the full impact of the pandemic, Oregon lawmakers went from debating how to spend millions in unexpected revenue to facing a budget ravaged by the virus and a bleak economic future. The state budget will be front-and-center this session, but lawmakers may also tackle changes to the unemployment system, which has been overwhelmed by jobless claims from people put out of work by the coronavirus.
Related: MAP: Track new COVID-19 cases in Oregon by ZIP code
Related: Oregon’s budget-focused special session could include much more
Clark County passes 2,000 diagnoses
Clark County, Washington, has now had more than 2,000 COVID-19 diagnoses. The state announced 26 more positive test results on Friday and one new death. That brings total diagnoses to 2,018, and deaths to 42.
Statewide, 63,072 people in Washington have been diagnosed with the coronavirus, and 1,688 have died, according to the latest data available from the state.
