Emerging Respiratory Infections: COVID-19

Page last updated March 15, 2020

Novel Coronavirus Updates (COVID-19)

The Oregon Health Authority is responding to an outbreak of respiratory illness, called COVID-19, caused by a novel (new) coronavirus. Health officials urge good hand hygiene, covering coughs and staying home if you are sick.

For general information on novel coronavirus in Oregon, call 211. If you are having a medical emergency, call 911.

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Situation in Oregon

COVID-19 Cases in Oregon

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Beginning March 15, 2020, the Oregon Health Authority is updating the way we report COVID-19 cases in Oregon. Results from the Oregon State Public Health Laboratory no longer require confirmation through CDC. Because testing has expanded to include commercial laboratories, we are receiving results from multiple sources throughout the day. Also, OHA no longer receives detailed information about specific symptoms and severity of all people being tested for COVID-19 infection.

In an effort to get the most accurate and most current information to Oregonians, we will update statewide cases once a day.

Our updates on cases will include:

Cases from the Oregon State Public Health Laboratory.
Cases from commercial and out-of-state labs.
Because confirmation from CDC is no longer required, we will simply report total number of cases and will remove earlier information about CDC confirmatory testing.
Because reporting about travel and nature of illness isn’t available for cases reported from commercial labs, we are removing hospitalization status and information about travel to a country where COVID-19 is circulating.
We will continue to track and report COVID-19 deaths.

Test Results for Persons Under Investigation (PUI)* As of 3/15/2020, 12:00 PM
Cases	39
Negative	579
Pending	182
Total PUI (Cumulative since January 24, 2020)	800
*A PUI is an individual with COVID-19 symptoms—but not necessarily the virus—who may have been exposed through close contact with a confirmed case or travel to an affected region, or who has pneumonia, thought by the clinician to be viral, requiring hospitalization with no more likely diagnosis and no source of exposure has been identified.

Persons Under Monitoring (PUM)* As of 3/15/2020, 12:00 PM
Currently under monitoring	355
PUM who have completed monitoring without developing symptoms or were determined to have no risk	366
Total PUM (Cumulative since January 24, 2020)	721
*A PUM is an individual who does not have COVID-19 symptoms but who may have been exposed to COVID-19 through close contact with a confirmed case.

County	Number of cases	Deaths
Clackamas	1	0
Deschutes	4	0
Douglas	1	0
Jackson	2	0
Klamath	1	0
Linn	10	0
Marion	2	0
Multnomah	1	1
Polk	1	0
Umatilla	2	0
Washington	13	0
Yamhill	1	0
Total	39	1

Age group	Number of cases
17 or younger	1
18 to 24	3
25 to 34	1
35 to 54	10
55+	24
Total	39

Governor Brown's Executive Orders and Guidance from OHA and DHS

Guidance for large events, public gatherings, employers and more

Information from the Office of the Governor

Guidance from OHA and DHS

Frequently Asked Questions

FAQs about the Governor's Executive Order prohibiting large gatherings

Latest Updates from OHA

For Healthcare Partners

Healthcare Providers, EMS, PSAPs, Clinical Laboratories and Pharmacies

COVID-19 Testing

OHA Provisional Guidance for Health Systems Regarding COVID-19 Testing Updated 3/11/2020

NOTE: Clinicians throughout the community can order COVID-19 testing at their discretion through commercial labs WITHOUT approval by public health.

To Get Approval for Testing through the Oregon State Public Health Laboratory

Use the Confidential Oregon Morbidity Report form to request testing through OSPHL.
See Provisional Guidance above for details.

Clinical and Infection Control Guidance

Guidance for Clinics and Hospitals

OHA Provisional Guidance: Clinical Care and Healthcare Infection Prevention and Control for COVID-19 Updated 3/9/2020, includes PPE recommendation changes
CDC Clinical Care Guidance
CDC Inpatient Obstetric Guidance

Guidance for Long-Term Care Facilities

CDC Strategies to Prevent the Spread of COVID-19 in Long-Term Care Facilities

Guidance for Home Care

Prehospital Guidance

OHA Interim Prehospital Guidance for Novel Coronavirus

Prehospital Guidance: PSAPs Updated 3/5/2020 to correct links
Prehospital Guidance: EMS Updated 3/5/2020 to correct links
Provisional Guidance: EMS Healthcare Exposure and Work Exclusion – Infection Prevention and Control for COVID-19

Q&A Webinar

Oregon EMS COVID-19 Q&A Webinar Recorded 3/4/2020

Crisis Care Guidance

Oregon Crisis Care Guidance

Submitting Specimens to OSPHL

Obtain approval for testing through the Oregon State Public Health Laboratory by submitting a Confidential Oregon Morbidity Report (see Provisional Guidance for details).

Specimens approved for testing should be shipped refrigerated (2-8°C) to the Oregon State Public Health Laboratory (OSPHL) following appropriate shipping regulations.

Virology/Immunology Test Request Form (one form per specimen)

In the “OTHER/MOLECULAR” section, mark the checkbox indicating “Other” and type or write in “2019-nCoV” or “COVID-19” on the line provided.

Please refer to the OSPHL Lab Test Menu and the CDC Interim Guidance for Collecting, Handling, and Testing Clinical Specimens from PUIs for complete specimen collection guidance.

For Pharmacies

Information from the Oregon Board of Pharmacy 3/13/2020

Local Public Health Authorities and Tribes

Templates

Letter to Persons Under Monitoring Updated 2/20/2020, formatting changes for ease of customization

If you have trouble opening the PDF files, right click the PDF link and choose "Save Link As" or "Save Target As" to save the file to your computer.