The Oregon Health Authority on Thursday said at least 11 people have now died from the novel coronavirus as confirmed COVID-19 cases in the state climbed to 318.

A 69-year-old woman from Clackamas County was the latest patient to succumb to the illness, according to state health officials. She died Wednesday at Providence St. Vincent Medical Center in Portland and had an underlying medical condition.

Additionally, 50 residents from Clatsop (1), Deschutes (5), Josephine (2), Lane (2), Linn (1), Marion (14), Multnomah (12), Polk (3), Tillamook (1), Wasco (1), and Washington (8) counties tested positive for the virus in the last 24 hours, the health authority said.

During that time, more than 1,500 new people received coronavirus test results — up from nearly 1,200 the previous day, according to figures published on the health authority’s website.

The patient in Tillamook County is a woman between the ages of 35 and 54 who works for the county’s community health center, local officials said in a news release. She is recovering at home.

Health officials in Douglas and Lane counties separately announced new COVID-19 cases Thursday. Douglas County officials declined to provide any details about the person there who tested positive. The Lane County resident is a Eugene-Springfield-area woman in her 50s who is recovering at home, health officials said.

There are now known coronavirus cases linked to 22 of Oregon’s 36 counties: 104 in Washington County; 57 in Marion County; 45 in Multnomah County; 26 in Linn County; 21 in Clackamas County; 15 in Deschutes County; eight in Lane County; seven in Yamhill County; six in Benton and Polk counties; four in Douglas, Jackson and Josephine counties; two in Clatsop and Umatilla counties; one each in Grant, Hood River, Klamath, Lincoln, Tillamook, Union and Wasco counties.

Of the cases, 126 people are under age 50, state figures show. Another 67 are over age 70.

At least 90 of the state’s COVID-19 patients, or 28%, have been hospitalized at some point during their illness, according to the Oregon Health Authority, up from 75 the previous day.

State health officials have reported 10 previous COVID-19 deaths in the state. They’ve included residents from Clackamas (2), Lane (1), Linn (1), Multnomah (2), Marion (2) and Washington (2) counties. All reportedly had underlying medical conditions.

While state figures show more than 7,200 people in the state have now received tests, reflecting a dramatic expansion of test processing at private labs as well as Providence Health & Services in Portland, countless more remain unable to obtain one due limited availability.

The state reported that of the 7,269 tests administered so far, 6,953 were negative.

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

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 Wednesday.

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.

Oregon Health & Sciences University has also said that it will soon launch a coronavirus hotline to answer questions from prospective patients, though a date has not been announced.

-- Shane Dixon Kavanaugh; 503-294-7632

Email at skavanaugh@oregonian.com

Follow on Twitter @shanedkavanaugh

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