OHA Chief Medical Officer Dr. Dana Hargunani speaking during today’s press conference: "Connected to high case counts are hospitalizations. Hospitals are seeing an increase in the hospital census numbers. We currently have 285 hospitalized patients w/positive COVID-19 tests."

"We’ve seen an 57% increase in the past week (11/03-11/10) in hospital census of patients who have tested positive for COVID-19, and an 83% increase over the past four weeks (10/12-11/10)."

"We can also look at bed counts overall. In Oregon today, we currently have 146 available Adult ICU beds, 701 available Adult non-ICU beds, 130 available NICU/PICU beds, and 116 available Pediatric non-ICU beds."

"When we look at #COVID19 hospital cases by region in the past week
- Region 1 (PDX metro): 57% increase
- Region 2 (upper Willamette Valley): 36% increase
- Region 3 (lower Willamette Valley + Coos/Curry): 79% increase
- Region 5 (Jackson/Josephine counties): 162% increase"

"Thankfully we have more ventilator capacity than we did in the spring and we feel confident about our understanding that there are 762 ventilators available in the state."

"We now have in place multiple systems and plans that leave us much better prepared to handle high case counts and sick Oregonians. We are better prepared today than we were in February when we identified our first COVID-19 case."

"Our regional approach to hospital preparedness and response remains the cornerstone of our planning. We work with our hospital partners across 7 regions in Oregon to make sure that if one hospital is unable to meet demand, other regional partners can step in to assist."

"A key feature of this system is the communication and coordination that allows patient admissions to be distributed within a region or across regions if capacity is strained."

"This system was put to the test during our wildfires this fall, when hospitals in close proximity to fires facing evacuation. The surrounding hospitals and the regional health system were able to communicate, coordinate and flex to meet that demand. In short, the system worked."

"But there are limitations to what Oregon’s health care system can handle. Even with regional planning and the hard work of all our partners, we cannot handle persistent high daily case counts and the resulting widespread hospitalizations."

"The system is flexible and has capacity, but only to a point. For this reason, you’ve heard from state officials for months that we need each individual Oregonian to take steps to limit the spread of this virus. We must keep a new surge in cases from overwhelming our system."

"Oregonians are worn out, tired of a year with limited social connection and difficulties of all types. Our health care workers have felt all this, too – even as they continue to face the virus on a daily basis."

"Let’s repay our health care heroes by taking seriously the recommendations to stay physically distant, wear face coverings when interacting w/anyone who lives outside your household, and taking the difficult step of avoiding gatherings even as we enter the holiday season."