COVID-19 cases up among younger people
By Terry Murry on Thursday, April 22nd, 2021 in Columbia Basin News More Top Stories
PENDLETON – Umatilla County is one of three counties that showed enough of an increase in COVID-19 numbers to move it out of moderate risk and back into high risk. The other two counties are Grant and Malheur. All three are now in a two-week probationary period. Umatilla County saw 54 new cases reported last week.
“With that high number of 54, it makes it even more challenging to get low enough so we can stay under the 82 for the two-week rolling average,” Umatilla County Board of Commissioners Chairman George Murdock said.
Health officials are reporting the virus is impacting younger people.
“The prevalent cases are in the 20-year-old age group,” Murdock said. “Next to that is the 30-year-old group, next to that is teenagers, and the fourth-highest group is 50 year olds.” Murdock, who is the commissioner who oversees the Umatilla County Health Department, said contact tracers are reporting an increase in social gatherings is at the root of the higher spread.
