Seventeenth COVID-19 related death reported

PRESS RELEASE

The Oregon Health Authority reported the seventeenth COVID-19 related death of a Baker County resident. The report is the 2,820th COVID-19 death for Oregon, an 83 year-old woman from Baker County who tested positive on March 17 and died on March 25 at Wayne Memorial Hospital in Honesdale, PA. Presence of underlying conditions is being confirmed.”

According to the Oregon Health Authority, “The counting of deaths from death certificates may take time to process because they are determined by physicians and then sent to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) for further review before the cause of death is ultimately determined. Out of state deaths in particular…may lag because of the review process. Once this information is confirmed, the information is reported back with a final cause of death to states.”

Commissioner Mark Bennett said, “Her passing was reported to us almost four months after the fact, and our condolences are certainly belated, but I want to take this opportunity to let their loved ones know I’m deeply sorry and they are in our thoughts.” 

To protect the privacy and well-being of the family, and to maintain compliance with health information privacy regulations, no further information about the individual will be released by the County. We encourage everyone to be respectful as a family in our community grieves.