UPDATE (7:07 p.m. PT) — Oregon state and local officials reported 55 new confirmed coronavirus cases Wednesday, bringing the state's known total to 3,338.
Health officials Wednesday reported four new presumptive cases. Those are people who have not tested positive but have coronavirus symptoms and have had close contact with someone confirmed to be infected with the virus.
Officials Wednesday also reported four new coronavirus-related deaths. In Oregon, 134 people are known to have died from COVID-19.
The Oregon Health Authority detailed those deaths as:
- A 91-year-old man in Polk County who tested positive on May 2 and died on May 8 at Salem Hospital. He had underlying medical conditions.
- A 100-year-old woman in Polk County who tested positive on May 2 and died on May 11 in her residence. She had underlying medical conditions.
- A 90-year-old woman in Polk County who tested positive on May 1 and died on May 12 at Salem Hospital. She had underlying medical conditions.
- A 91-year-old woman in Washington County who tested positive on May 11 and died on May 12 at Legacy Meridian Park Medical Center. She had underlying medical conditions.
Oregon COVID-19 Map
Jacob Fenton, The Accountability Project at the Investigative Reporting Workshop
Washington has more than 17,000 confirmed cases
In Southwest Washington, Clark County Public Health announced two new confirmed cases of coronavirus Wednesday, bringing the county’s total number of known cases to 395.
No additional deaths were reported Wednesday. In total, 24 people are known to have died of COVID-19 in Clark County.
According to the most recently available data from the Washington Department of Health, the state of Washington has 17,512 confirmed coronavirus cases and 975 coronavirus-related deaths.
Portland International Airport to require face masks
The Port of Portland Wednesday announced Portland International Airport will require airport employees and travelers to wear face masks beginning Monday.
Only children under the age of 2 and people with medical conditions who cannot wear face coverings are exempt from the new rule, the Port of Portland said in a statement.
Hood To Coast 2020 canceled
The annual Providence Hood To Coast and Portland To Coast relays will not be taking place this year, according to race organizers.
“Although Gov. [Kate] Brown has announced phased re-opening guidelines for the State of Oregon, she’s also stated that large-scale sporting events will not take place sooner than October,” Hood To Coast Relay said in a statement.
Registration for the 200-mile relay event spanning from Mount Hood to the Oregon Coast has sold out for 22 consecutive years, and teams enter by lottery selection.
Organizers said teams who have registered for this year’s relays, set to take place in August, will have their registration transferred to the 2021 race and skip the lottery selection process.
Wilsonville World of Speed motorsport museum announces closure
The Board of Directors for the Wilsonville-based World of Speed motorsport museum announced Tuesday the decision to permanently close the facility.
“Voting to close the museum permanently was an extremely difficult decision for the board,” Sally Bany, cofounder of World of Speed, said in a statement. “As with other Oregon establishments, World of Speed has been temporarily shut down since March 16 due to the COVID-19 outbreak. As currently outlined, the museum would fall into Phase Two or Three of Oregon’s reopening plan, pushing our ability to reopen potentially into 2021. After much deliberation, our board determined that we are unable to continue our mission for such an extended closure period.”
The museum opened five years ago.
Its assets will be distributed to 501(c)(3) museums and schools, as required by Oregon law, the museum said.
First case of pediatric multisystem inflammatory syndrome diagnosed in Oregon
Doctors at Randall Children’s Hospital in Portland have confirmed Oregon’s first case of pediatric multisystem inflammatory syndrome.
The syndrome can cause life-threatening inflammation in critical organs and appears to be connected to the coronavirus.
Symptoms include swollen hands and feet, a fever, rash and stomach pain. Doctors do not believe the syndrome is contagious.
So far, more than 100 cases have been reported in New York state. The majority of those cases are in children between the ages of 5 and 14. At least three children have died.
Officials at Randall Children’s Hospital are not yet releasing details on their patient, who was admitted this week.
All but 3 Oregon counties apply to partially reopen
All but three Oregon counties have now applied to reopen some businesses under Gov. Kate Brown's framework, unveiled on Thursday.
The three that have not applied are all in the Portland metro area — Washington, Multnomah and Clackamas counties. The other 33 have a tag saying "Under Review," which means, according to the state's COVID-19 information website, the Oregon Health Authority is determining whether they meet the criteria for loosening restrictions.
Restaurants, bars, gyms and salons in approved counties could open as early as May 15. Residents of those counties could gather in groups of up to 25 without facing potential consequences.
