COVID-19 cases in Baker County declined last week after reaching a one-month high the previous week.

For the period Nov. 21-27, the county reported 37 new cases, said Nancy Staten, director of the Baker County Health Department.

There were 46 new cases for the previous week, Nov. 14-20. That was the highest weekly total in the county since Oct. 17-23, when there were 51.

Totals for the intervening weeks were 24 (Oct. 24-30), 20 (Oct. 31-Nov. 6) and 24 (Nov. 7-13).

The county has reported 2,179 cases during the pandemic — almost 13% of the county’s population of 16,800.

With just two days left in November, the month was on pace to have fewer cases than any month since July.

Through Nov. 28, the monthly total was 126.

There were 168 cases during October. September set a record with 465 cases, breaking the record of 300 during August.

During July there were 91 cases, as the surge driven by the much more contagious delta variant didn’t start to boost cases in Baker County until the final week of that month.

The percentage of tests that are positive in the county has risen over the past few weeks, from 4.6% the week of Oct. 31-Nov. 6 to 12.9% the week of Nov. 21-27.

The statewide average for the latter week was 6%.

Breakthrough cases

For Nov. 14-20, the most recent week for which statistics are available from the Oregon Health Authority (OHA), 10 of Baker County’s 46 cases were breakthrough — infections in fully vaccinated people.

The breakthrough case rate of 21.7% was up from 16.7% the previous week (four of 24 cases) and 10% the week Oct. 31-Nov. 6 (two of 20 cases).