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Oregon Health Authority Reports Highest Single-Day Death Count and 555 New COVID-19 Cases

Oregon’s infection and death rates continue to trend upward but remain lower than in many states.

Socially distant candy handout in Northeast Portland, Oct. 31, 2020. (Brian Burk)
By Nigel Jaquiss

The Oregon Health Authority on Saturday, Oct. 31 announced 14 new deaths caused by COVID-19, a new single-day high since the pandemic began.

(As is the agency's practice, it reported all new deaths it learned of Oct. 31, although the actual dates of death ranged over many weeks and went as far back as Sept. 26. The 14 newly announced deaths brings the total from the pandemic to 689.)

The agency also reported 555 new COVID-19 cases, which, while short of the high of 600 established earlier this week, continues a strong upward-sloping trend.

Although Oregon's COVID-19 case count has grown significantly in recent weeks, federal data shows that our rate of infection is still lower than that in 44 other states. But nearby states, including Idaho and Montana, are among those suffering the most, so Oregon's relative geographic isolation may not protect us forever as the map below from the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows.

On Sunday, Nov. 1, Oregon Health Authority reported another 524 cases, but just two deaths.

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