NEWS WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 27, 2021 HERMISTONHERALD.COM • A9 Umatilla County reaches 151 COVID-19 deaths EO Media Group At least 151 Umatilla County residents have died of COVID-19, the county’s health department reported Tuesday, Oct. 26. The county reported four new COVID-19 deaths in a press release Oct. 21, which brought the total to 150. Two victims died in a single Pendleton nursing home, and on Oct. 26, the county announced another death, No. 151. The disclosures mark another grim milestone as the county continues to grapple with the delta vari- ant, the highly-infectious coronavirus strain that has spread rapidly among the county’s unvaccinated res- idents in recent months, inundating hospitals with patients. But the county’s over- all infection rates have recently declined, following a positive statewide trend. The county has reported a weekly drop in cases for two consecutive weeks. The newly disclosed deaths came as the county reports several new COVID-19 cases. The daily total remains far higher than totals in late spring and early summer, but it con- tinues a general downward trend in average daily cases. As of Oct. 21, the county averaged 34 cases per day. That’s the lowest number since July 21. But as with all previous pandemic surges, COVID- 19 deaths have followed in large numbers. The county has reported 49 COVID- 19 deaths since the begin- ning of August. At least 23 residents died in August alone, making it the pan- demic’s deadliest month in the county. The following are the four deaths Uma- tilla County Public Heath reported OCt. 21: • The county’s 147th victim is an 86-year-old woman who tested positive Aug. 6 and died Aug. 20 at a private residence. She had unspecifi ed underlying health conditions. • The county’s 148th vic- tim is a 70-year-old woman who tested positive Aug. 31 and died Sept. 10 at Wil- lowbrooke Terrace Nurs- ing Home, Pendleton. She had unspecifi ed underlying health conditions. • The county’s 149th vic- tim is a 79-year-old woman who tested positive Aug. 31 and died Sept. 21 at Wil- lowbrooke Terrace Nurs- ing Home, Pendleton. She had unspecifi ed underlying health conditions. • The county’s 150th vic- tim is a 78-year-old man who tested positive Aug. 3 and died Sept. 23 at the Mil- ton-Freewater Health and Rehabilitation Center. He had unspecifi ed underlying health conditions. • The county’s 151st vic- tim is a 97-year-old woman who tested positive on Oct. 2 and died Oct. 23 at Leg- acy Meridian Park Medical Center in Tualatin, Ore. She had underlying conditions. Since the pandemic started, the county has reported 14,566 confi rmed and presumptive coronavi- rus cases. Welcome Val Hoxie Hermiston Chamber Executive Director! Follow the Hermiston Chamber Facebook page for special announcements on Wednesdays from Val for the Dining Dollars promotion at local businesses! Come Visit Us At Our New Location! 630 S. Hwy 395 next to Obie’s Express and across from Tom Denchel’s Ford dealership Police arrest man in Boardman stabbing incident EO Media Group BOARDMAN — A man is facing assault and attempted murder charges after a stabbing, Oct. 19, at mobile home park in Boardman that injured a 27-year-old woman. Boardman Police Chief Rick Stokoe reported offi cers arrested Pablo Alonzo Hernandez, 20, in connection to the stab- bing and booked him into the Umatilla County Jail, Pendleton. Police responded around 9 a.m. to a report of a stabbing at the Wil- son Road Mobile Home Park, 600 S.W. Wilson Road. Stokoe said offi cers found the woman, who had multiple stab wounds and lacerations, and they found Hernandez, who had “facial trauma,” and called medical services. An ambulance trans- ported the two to Good Shepherd Medical Cen- ter, Hermiston. Police reported the woman had been on her front porch when Hernan- dez allegedly attacked her with a knife. The wom- an’s boyfriend inter- rupted the fi ght, wrestled Hernandez to the ground and beat him, subduing him until police got there, Stokoe said. Stokoe said police are not yet aware of any con- nection between Hernan- dez and the woman. The woman has since been released from the hospi- tal, the police chief added, which also was where offi - cers arrested Hernandez. His preliminary bail is $380,000, according to the jail website. Stokoe said police continue to investigate the case. KEEP IT LOCAL