A COVID-19 particle is pictured in this image provided by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention [CDC/CONTRIBUTED PHOTO]

With the rate of COVID-19 cases dropping by about 50% over the past two weeks, Baker County could return to the lowest of the state’s four risk levels starting March 26.

The county, which had been at the lowest risk starting Feb. 12, moved to the moderate level — one step higher — on March 12.

That jump was due to the county reporting 44 new virus cases for the two-week measuring period, Feb. 21 through March 6.

To qualify for the lowest risk, the county must have fewer than 30 cases during the two weeks, and a test positivity rate below 5%.

Counties’ risk levels change every two weeks.

The next change, effective March 26, will be based on case totals and positivity rates for the period March 7-20.

Through Thursday, March 18, Baker County had 20 new cases during that period. That means the county could have up to nine new cases on Friday and Saturday and still meet the threshold for the lowest risk level.

The county hasn’t had that many new cases in a two-day period since March 4-5, when there were 10 total cases.

Over the ensuing two weeks the county had no more than four daily cases (March 8 and 10) and there have been four days with no cases (March 6, 7, 15 and 18).

The county’s positivity rate for the current measuring period is below 5%, as well (the precise figure wasn’t available from the Oregon Health Authority in time for this story).

That’s due in part to a testing clinic that took place during the Baker County Health Department’s most recent largescale vaccination clinic on March 12, County Commissioner Mark Bennett said. More than 100 people were tested during that event, he said.

Differences between lowest and moderate risk level

The county’s move from lowest to moderate risk on March 12 didn’t have dramatic effects on restaurants, bars and other businesses.

The main change is that restaurants and bars have to close at 11 p.m. rather than midnight, and their indoor dining, though it remains at 50% occupancy, also has a cap of 100 people. But most if not all local restaurants are small enough that the capacity limit doesn’t affect them.

Moving back to the lowest risk could affect youth sporting events, as counties at the lowest risk can have up to 300 people attending outdoor events, instead of 150 people for counties at moderate risk.

For indoor sporting events, the capacity for counties at moderate risk is 50% or 100 total people, while for counties at lowest risk the only criterion is 50% of occupancy.

12th death reported

Although the case rate has declined recently, Baker County did have its 12th COVID-19-related death this week.

The OHA reported on Wednesday that an 81-year-old Baker County man had died on March 11 in a Boise hospital, three days after testing positive.

The man did not have underlying conditions, according to the OHA. Of the 11 other county residents who died after testing positive, 10 had underlying conditions, the agency reported.

Vaccinations continue to rise

Baker County has vaccinated its residents at a higher rate, per 10,000 residents, than all but one of Oregon’s 35 other counties.

As of Friday, the county had administered the first dose of either the Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna vaccine to 3,169 people, and 2,525 people had either received both doses or the single dose of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine, which requires only one shot.

The total of 5,694 people means almost 34% of the county’s 16,800 residents are either fully or partially vaccinated.

The vaccination rate of 3,385 per 10,000 residents ranks behind only Wheeler County’s 3,450.

“The Health Department continues, along with our community partners, to vaccinate people as quickly as possible,” Staten said. “We encourage anyone who is interested to get on the list for vaccinations at the Baker County COVID-19 website, www.bakercountycovid19.com or by calling 541-523-0015 or 541-523-8211.”

All residents 18 and older can sign up.

Baker County has exceeded the statewide average in vaccinating residents 65 and older, a group for whom the virus poses a vastly greater risk of death.

Of the 2,353 Oregonians who have died after testing positive for COVID-19, 91% were 60 or older, and 77% were 70 or older.

In Baker County, about 4,716 residents — about 28% of the population — are 65 or older. As of Friday, about 76% of those residents were partially or fully vaccinated.

The breakdown by age range:

• 80 and older, 1,028 people — 89% partially or fully vaccinated

• 75 to 79, 876 people — 79% partially or fully vaccinated

• 70 to 74, 1,264 people — 83% partially or fully vaccinated

• 65 to 69, 1,548 people — 61% partially or fully vaccinated

Bennett said he is scheduled to testify on Monday, March 22 during a public hearing before the Oregon House Subcommittee on COVID-19. He said he’ll be talking about resources counties need to help businesses, and how Baker County is handling vaccinations.

Bennett said he’s grateful for the work county employees and dozens of volunteers have done.

“This has been a tough and tragic year, but we’re working hard as a county,” he said.

COVID-19 vaccinations in Baker County, by age group

As of Friday, March 19, a total of 5,694 Baker County residents — 33.9% of the population — had received either a first dose, or both doses, of a COVID-19 vaccine. Most have had either the Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna vaccine, both of which require two doses. A total of 265 doses of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine, which requires only one shot, have been administered. The breakdown:

 

• 80 and older: 

916 (16% of total)

• 75  to 79: 

689 (12.1%)

• 70  to 74: 

1,053 (18.5%)

• 65  to 69: 

939 (16.5%)

• 60  to 64: 

433 (7.6% 

• 50  to 59: 

612 (10.7%)

• 40  to 49: 

484 (8.5% 

• 30  to 39: 

353 (6.2%) 

• 20  to 29: 

176 (3.1%)

• 19 and younger: 

39 (0.68%)