Oregon reports 342 new coronavirus cases, 5 more deaths

SALEM, Ore. — Oregon health officials reported 342 confirmed coronavirus cases Tuesday, increasing the state’s total cases since the start of the pandemic to 19,699.

In addition there were five new deaths related to COVID-19, the Oregon Health Authority said. The total death toll is 333.

On Monday the state reported one of its highest weekly coronavirus testing positivity rates — 6.1 percent. The previous week it had been less than 5%.

Oregon Health Authority officials said they continue to receive widespread reports of extended turnaround time from commercial laboratories, with some case results being reported two weeks after the initial test.

The state’s increased positivity rate raises concerns about the possibility for students returning to school in the fall.

Based on school reopening measures, the guidelines for which were released by Gov. Kate Brown last week, the county the school district is in must have 10 or fewer new cases per 100,000 residents over seven days. In addition, the countywide and state test positivity rate must be 5% or less over the span of a week.

There are exceptions to the state’s school reopening requirements, including kindergarten through grade three classrooms and rural school districts with fewer than 100 students.