'Breakthrough' COVID cases found in county

The Oregon Health Authority announced over the weekend it had discovered four “breakthrough” cases of COVID-19 in the state — two in Yamhill County — in which a person tests positive for COVID-19 at least 14 days after completing the vaccination doses.

Since no vaccine is 100% effective, the state noted, this news was not unexpected. It said the vaccine is still expected to significantly reduce the severity of the illness in anyone who contracts it despite being vaccinated. Participants in the vaccine trials who had breakthrough cases experienced reduced severity, according to the OHA.

It said genome sequencing is underway, and results are expected this week.

Meanwhile, it said, OHA is working with local public health officials to investigate the origin. Their illnesses range from asymptomatic to mild symptoms. The other two cases were in Lane County.

Yamhill County does not update its COVID-19 page on weekends or holidays, but according to the Oregon Health Authority, the county reported a 62nd death over the weekend.

The OHA provided details on two deaths from the county: an 84-year-old man with underlying conditions, who tested positive Jan. 17 and died Jan. 27 at his residence, and a 46-year-old man who tested positive Jan. 7 and died Jan. 13 at his residence. He had underlying conditions.

The OHA reported 14 new cases in the county on Sauturday and six on Sunday.

Statewide, it said, as of Sunday, there had been 2,137 deaths, and 150,281 cases.

According to the OHA, the county has now vaccinated 10,577 people with at least one dose of vaccine.