Oregon health officials warn of consequences of Thanksgiving

Health officials in the Portland area issued a final plea Tuesday to Oregonians, asking them to celebrate Thanksgiving responsibly — at home and with no more than six people.

After previous holidays, COVID-19 cases in Oregon have increased. Health officials say they are worried if that pattern continues hospitals will be overburdened and not able to assist everyone in a timely manner.

“The key take away today is to cancel or extremely dial back Thanksgiving plans,” said Jennifer Vines, the Multnomah County Health Officer. “An increase (in cases) two or three weeks from now would land us in an extremely difficult position.”

As COVID-19 cases increase in Oregon, officials’ concerns about hospitals reaching capacity are also growing. Currently there are 474 COVID-19 patients in Oregon hospitals — a 176 percent increase from the start of the month and up 25 percent from last week.

Of the COVID-19 patients currently hospitalized, 113 are in intensive care units.

Ritu Sahni, the Washington County EMS Medical Director, warned if hospitalizations continue to increase emergency care and response could be delayed or even “in a very terrible situation, unavailable.”

“Our hospital systems are at the brink right now and a surge two weeks from now can quickly overwhelm them,” Sahni said.

The Oregon Health Authority reported 1,011 new confirmed and presumptive cases of COVID-19, bringing the state total to 67,333.