The Oregon Health Authority on Tuesday reported the novel coronavirus claimed two more lives in the state as confirmed COVID-19 cases jumped by seven dozen to 690.

The agency said a 90-year-old Yamhill County man and an 88-year-old Benton County woman were the latest patients to succumb to the illness, bringing the statewide death toll to 18. Each had underlying medical conditions, though state health officials won’t say what they are, citing privacy concerns.

Additionally, 84 residents -- in Marion (18), Washington (18), Multnomah (16), Clackamas (10), Lane (4), Benton (3), Polk (3), Wasco (2), Yamhill (2), Douglas (1), Hood River (1), Jackson (1), Klamath (1), Lincoln (1), Linn (1), Malheur (1), Umatilla (1) and Wallowa (1) counties -- tested positive for the virus in the last 24 hours, the health authority said.

During that time, just over 940 new people received coronavirus test results — the fewest in a single day since March 25, when 719 people received test results, according to figures published on the health authority’s website.

There are now known coronavirus cases linked to 26 of Oregon’s 36 counties: 186 in Washington County; 141 in Marion County; 116 in Multnomah County; 50 in Clackamas County; 37 in Linn County; 24 in Deschutes County; 21 in Jackson County; 18 in Polk County; 16 in Yamhill County; 16 in Lane County; 12 in Benton County; 10 in Josephine County; nine in Douglas County; seven in Wasco County; five in Umatilla and Klamath counties; three in Clatsop, Hood River and Tillamook counties; two in Lincoln County and; one each in Columbia, Grant, Malheur, Morrow, Union and Wallowa counties.

Of the cases, 270 people, or 45%, are under age 50, state figures show. Another 122, or 18%, are over 70.

At least 154 of the state’s COVID-19 patients, or 25%, have been hospitalized at some point during their illness, according to the Oregon Health Authority, up from 140 the previous day. Forty COVID-19 patients are currently on ventilators.

State health officials have reported 16 previous COVID-19 deaths in Oregon. They’ve included residents from Clackamas (3), Marion (3), Washington (3), Linn (2), Multnomah (2), Yamhill (2) and Lane (1) counties. Their ages ranged from 60 to 93. All had underlying medical conditions, state health officials said, but didn’t release any details.

Nationwide, more than 183,000 Americans have tested positive for COVID-19 while the number of deaths rose to more than 3,600, including at least 223 in Washington. Nearly half of all states have reported 1,000 or more coronavirus cases.

Testing shortages remain a problem across the U.S., not only in Oregon, creating a dramatic undercount of how many people actually are infected with the virus.

While state figures show nearly 14,000 people in the state have now received tests, reflecting a continued expansion of test processing at private labs as well as hospitals, countless more remain unable to obtain one due limited availability.

The state reported that of the 13,826 tests administered so far, 13,136 were negative, or about 95 out of every 100.

At this time, health care providers, people older than 60 and those with underlying health issues or who are pregnant should be prioritized for testing in the state, the Oregon Health Authority said in its latest testing guidelines, published last week.

Others who exhibit COVID-19 symptoms — such as a dry cough, fever or shortness of breath — are being asked by state and local health officials to contact a primary care physician, clinic or to self-quarantine at home.

-- Shane Dixon Kavanaugh; 503-294-7632

Email at skavanaugh@oregonian.com

Follow on Twitter @shanedkavanaugh

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