Taking a look at COVID metrics for Oregon's extreme risk level Here are the metrics state leaders look at to determine if a county should be moved into the 'extreme risk' category. Author: Pat Dooris Updated: 7:53 PM PDT April 28, 2021 PORTLAND, Oregon — Fifteen Oregon counties are going back into the extreme COVID-19 risk level on Friday. So, what are the metrics used to decide that? Oregon health leaders look to a few data points. First, they want to know at the county level how many new cases of COVID-19 were reported over the last two weeks. They also look at the number of cases per 100,000 people so that the number can be compared to others around the state and even the nation.