COVID-19 cases increasing in region

Nine new cases of COVID-19 were reported in Deschutes County on Thursday, among 375 new confirmed and presumptive cases reported for the day by Oregon Health Authority, bringing the state total to 9,294.

Sisters (97759 zip code) now has confirmed COVID-19 cases, after months of reporting zero. The exact number is not reported until it exceeds 10 case; the 97759 report from OHA as of June 24 indicates fewer than 10 cases.

Thursday’s case count is Oregon’s largest single day total since the beginning of the pandemic, following the previous largest on Wednesday. OHA notes that Oregon has experienced five weeks of case growth and cases are rising faster in our rural communities and in central and eastern Oregon.

Earlier this week, Governor Kate Brown ordered face coverings to be worn in all indoor public places throughout the state. Masks and face coverings, along with maintaining six feet of distancing between people has been shown to contain the spread of COVID-19, OHA reports.