Umatilla County reports 58th COVID-19 death eastoregonian.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from eastoregonian.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
PENDLETON â The Umatilla County Health Department announced the countyâs 57th COVID-19 death in a Thursday, Dec. 31, 2020, press release.
The victim is a 66-year-old male who tested positive Dec. 10, 2020, and died Dec. 25, 2020, at Good Shepherd Health Care System in Hermiston. This individual had underlying medical conditions, according to the press release.
The announcement comes as the health department reported 143 new cases on Dec. 31, bringing the county s total to 5,640 total cases reported in the county, according to the Umatilla County COVID-19 dashboard.
According to a press release, 77 of these cases are connected to outbreaks at local prisons.
Morrow County reported 10 new cases, bringing its total to 815 cases. Morrow County has had eight deaths since the pandemic started earlier this year.
PENDLETON â The atmosphere in the St. Anthony Hospital conference room on Monday, Dec. 28, was upbeat. Ten health care workers who waited there to receive the hospitalâs first coronavirus vaccinations could barely contain their elation.
âThis is huge,â said Dr. John McBee. âThis is the beginning of the end of the pandemic.â
Each person answered screening questions and signed a consent form.
McBee went forward first, sat down in the hot seat and rolled up his left sleeve. Tracy Wart, infection prevention nurse at St. Anthony, cleaned the surgeonâs arm with alcohol and prepared the syringe.
âReady?â Wart asked.