Updated: 12:25 PM PDT April 23, 2021
SALEM, Ore. — Oregon Gov. Kate Brown and state health leaders said during a briefing on Friday that a fourth wave of COVID-19 has reached the state. Because of the rise in cases and the increase in hospitalizations over the past month, at least 12 counties are at risk of moving back into the extreme risk category, Brown said.
Such a move would ban indoor dining at restaurants and significantly reduce the number of people who can be inside a gym or indoor entertainment space.
The state's weekly report for April 12-18 announced 4,742 new COVID cases during that week. That’s a 27% jump over the previous week and the fourth week in a row in which COVID cases increased by 20% or more. As of Friday morning, there were 276 people hospitalized in the state because of COVID-19, a 9% increase over the past week and a 109% increase since March 1, according to state epidemiologist Dr. Dean Sidelinger.