Oregon Health Authority has noted a 14% positivity rate for COVID-19 test results reported today, Tuesday, Nov. 16. However, epidemiologists have not found a corresponding increase in virus cases that would be expected with such a high rate.
OHA epidemiologists do not see other indications that today’s reported high positivity rate is evidence of an impending surge, such as similar increases in hospitalizations. However, health officials will continue to investigate today’s numbers.
OHA is reviewing whether technical issues over the weekend, including problems with a server that caused a backlog of electronic laboratory reports (ELRs) waiting to be processed, played a role in the high positivity rate. OHA will report results of its investigation in its daily news release in the coming days.