The Oregon Health Authority has reported another nine deaths in the state from COVID-19, bringing the state’s total to 397, according to figures released Tuesday. The number of new COVID-19 diagnoses remains similar to what it’s been in recent days. Officials reported 237 new cases Tuesday, following 192 reported Monday, bringing Oregon to 23,676 confirmed or presumed cases of the coronavirus, since the pandemic reached the state.

Deaths were reported in five different counties, including three in Washington County. Those who died ranged in age from 63 to 90. In the case of seven of the fatalities, the person had underlying health conditions. For two people who died in Lincoln County - a 97-year-old woman and a 90-year-old man - health officials said ”[p]resence of underlying conditions is being confirmed.” Both of those people died at home.

Roughly one-fifth of new diagnoses were in Marion County, where 48 cases were reported. The second-most cases were in Malheur County, which reported 32 new cases. At last count on Aug. 9, Oregon was seeing an average of 48 cases per 100,000 people, but in some counties, that’s far higher. Malheur County is reporting 381 cases per 100,000 people, and Morrow County had 410 per 100,000. Of Oregon’s more populous counties, Marion County was well above the state average at 84 cases per 100,000.

Officials in Clark County, Washington reported 26 new positive cases of COVID-19. That brings the county’s total to 2,325, with a rate of nearly 75 cases per 100,000 over the last 14 days.

OHA says coronavirus test positivity rate for Oregon is half the national average

The Oregon Health Authority released its Weekly Testing Report Monday, stating that last week, the state had a coronavirus test positivity rate of 5.4%. The test positivity rate is the percentage of positive tests among total tests processed.

“The total for that week is likely to rise as test results continue to be reported to OHA,” the agency said. “It is reassuring that test positivity is relatively stable, which suggests that the number of people newly infected with COVID-19 each week is no longer increasing rapidly.”

The state’s cumulative test positivity rate, since the beginning of the pandemic, is 4.5%. The national average is 9%, OHA said.

Washington reports 576 new COVID-19 cases

The Washington State Department of Health on Sunday reported 576 new confirmed cases of COVID-19 and 15 deaths.

King County continues to have the highest numbers in Washington, with 17,623 cases and 694 deaths. Yakima County is second, with 10,625 cases and 221 deaths. Pierce is third with cases at 6,150.

The Olympian reports Pierce County reported 55 new cases and no new deaths on Saturday. Pierce County had a total of 132 deaths likely caused by COVID-19 as of Saturday, according to the Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department.

Statewide totals from the illness caused by the coronavirus are at 67,461 cases and 1,781 deaths, up from 66,885 cases and 1,766 deaths on Friday.