Episode 49: Rising Case Rates and Masking Recommendations

Additional resources

Rising Case Rates and Masking Recommendations

Q1: I hear COVID cases and hospitalizations are rising. What’s the latest?

Test positivity has risen from 7% on April 20 to 12.3% on May 23. Daily reported case counts have more than doubled as well, from a rolling seven-day average of 600 cases a day on April 20, to 1,692.4 reported on May 23. 

And, we also know that most cases are not being reported to public health — both because testing is occurring at home and because some individuals do not get tested. So, our state and national trends all tell us significant disease transmission is occurring. 

As for hospitalizations, they have increased recently, but OHA is optimistic the overall number of Oregon’s hospitalized patients with COVID-19 will not exceed our hospital system’s ability to care for them. 

Modeling from Oregon Health & Science University projects that the number of COVID-19-positive patients in Oregon’s hospitals will peak at 321 around June 10. This is less than a third of the number we saw during the Delta and Omicron waves We will continue to watch COVID-19 hospitalizations closely and we are ready to respond to any future surges. 

Q2: With cases rising, what can I do to protect myself and those around me?

Being vaccinated and boosted is the best way to protect ourselves from severe disease. 

One way to assess your risk is to monitor the spread of the virus in your community.

Our local public health partners continue to inform their residents about COVID-19 trends in their areas. Multnomah County, for example, recently recommended its residents consider wearing masks for the next few weeks in school, work and other indoor settings.

Finally, folks at high risk of severe illness from COVID-19 will face greater challenges, even if they have been vaccinated and boosted. 

Those with underlying medical conditions, or who are immunocompromised, should consider contacting their health care providers now to make a plan to get tested and receive treatment — should they become ill. People who don’t have a health care provider can contact their local community health center or call 211. 

OHA strongly encourages people with these risk factors minimize indoor social gatherings. We recommend wearing masks in these social settings, and choose the highest quality mask that fits them well.

Q3: When do you anticipate cases will stop rising?

Recent data show a slowing of the increase in reported cases, indicating we may be nearing the top of this current peak. 

Q4: Now that my children go to school in-person, they seem to be getting sick more often. Why is this and how can we take care of ourselves at home?

Oregon did see a late-season rise in flu cases – flu season generally peaks around late January or February – as people began removing their masks after mask requirements were lifted for indoor public places and schools on March 19, and as people resumed indoor activities. This made it easier to spread the influenza, and potentially other respiratory viruses such as the common cold, from person to person.

Q5: What is the latest news on vaccinations and boosters for children?

We do not know yet when vaccinations may become available for children from 6 months to five years of age. 

However, the FDA, the CDC and the Western States Scientific Safety Review Workgroup authorized a single booster dose for children ages 5-11 last week, so that means parents of children in that age group can now better protect their children ages 5-11 from serious illness from COVID by getting their childrn a booster.

Document accessibility: For individuals with disabilities or individuals who speak a language other than English, OHA can provide information in alternate formats such as translations, large print, or braille. Contact the Health Information Center at 1-971-673-2411, 711 TTY or COVID19.LanguageAccess@dhsoha.state.or.us.