Pacific Islanders In Oregon Have The Highest Rate of COVID-19

The latest data shows Pacific Islanders in Oregon have more than 13 confirmed COVID-19 cases per 10,000 residents, twice as high as any other ethnic or racial group.

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Pacific Islanders in Oregon are being disproportionately affected by the coronavirus pandemic, according to new data released this week.

This week’s data report from the Oregon Health Authority found that Pacific Islanders have 13.1 cases per 10,000 residents, a much higher rate than any other racial or ethnic group. Statewide, Oregon’s COVID-19 infection rate is 4.6 cases per 10,000 residents.

Pacific Islanders make up a relatively small percentage of Oregon’s population, so the rate reflects the number of confirmed cases in relation to the size of the state’s Pacific Islander community.

There are 22 confirmed COVID-19 cases involving Pacific Islanders in Oregon. That’s still just 1.1% of the total 1,928 confirmed cases in the state as of April 21.

More than half of Oregon’s coronavirus cases involve patients who identify as white. But the rate of infection for white people is 3.4 per 10,000 residents. In contrast, the rate of infection for black people in Oregon is 5.7 cases per 10,000.

Oregon is reporting six Pacific Islanders have been hospitalized with COVID-19, with no reported deaths in the state so far.

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