The total number of positive COVID-19 tests statewide increased to 1,956 as of Monday morning, up from 1,584 a week earlier, on April 13.
The state’s death toll reached 75 as of Monday morning, up from 53 a week earlier.
Linn County had 62 cases Monday morning, up from 52 last week and 42 one week earlier. The Oregon Health Authority reported two deaths in Linn County during the past week, bringing the total to six.
Linn County’s fifth COVID-19 death was a 95-year-old man who tested positive on April 2 and died April 14 at his residence. He had underlying medical conditions.
Linn County’s sixth COVID-19 death was an 86-year-old man who tested positive on April 6 and died April 15 at his residence. He had underlying medical conditions.
As of Monday, statewide, 40,045 persons had been tested, and 38,089 were negative.
Among those who have tested positive, 1,074 were female, and 877 were male, with the sex of five unknown, and 465 were hospitalized.
During the week of April 5 to April 11, the Oregon Employment Department received 53,800 initial claims for unemployment benefits. That’s in addition to a revised total of 243,000 initial claims filed during the prior three weeks.
With the first federal CARES Act payments on April 10, Oregon is among the early states getting an extra $600 per week to those out of work as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.
During the week of March 29 to April 4, the Employment Department paid $23 million in benefits to Oregonians. During the week of April 5 to April 11, that more than quadrupled to $97 million in benefits paid.
The Employment Department’s efforts continue with more hiring underway, and programming the unemployment benefits system for Pandemic Unemployment Assistance, according to an Employment Department press release. Once ready, the PUA program will allow the self-employed, contract workers, and gig workers not already eligible to receive unemployment benefits for the first time.
The Employment Department will continue to examine opportunities to improve services to Oregonians, such as waiving the “waiting week” for benefits, according to the press release.
As of now, waiving the waiting week requires thousands of hours of programming, and would delay processing record numbers of claims that are getting benefits to Oregonians who need them now.
Locally, City of Sweet Home buildings and parks remain closed. The Police Department lobby remains open for emergencies, but in general, people are urged to call the Police Department instead of visiting the lobby at (541) 367-5181.
The city continues to offer all of its services, said City Manager Ray Towry. It’s just in a modified form to eliminate or minimize contact among people.
“The good news is that we have confirmation that the governor is working on strategies to reopen,” Towry said. “It’s good to know that we’re at least looking that way.”