UMATILLA COUNTY — A massive COVID-19 outbreak in Union County has captured much of the attention in Eastern Oregon, but Umatilla and Morrow counties are still seeing the virus spread in their communities, albeit at a much more modest pace.

Umatilla County announced two more positive cases on June 16, bringing the county’s total to 187 since the beginning of the pandemic.

The two newest patients are recovering from home in self-isolation, joining the 46 active cases in the county, the rest having recovered from the virus. Three remain hospitalized with COVID-19 while four have died.

The Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation also announced its first case Tuesday, breaking a long streak of no reported cases as the virus spread to other parts of the county.

Although the CTUIR had tested 100 frontline workers three times over six weeks, the positive case came from a test outside the study.

As with Umatilla County Public Health, Yellowhawk Tribal Health Center is contacting all the close contacts of the individual. The first case is also spurring the clinic to begin a new round of testing.

Morrow County’s cases continue to climb as its public health department announced one new case on Tuesday, bringing the county up to 19.

The case is connected to a previously reported case of COVID-19, and the newest patient is a part of seven people in self-isolation while they recover from the virus. Twelve have already recovered from COVID-19.

Broken down by community, twelve cases reside in Boardman, five in Irrigon and two in the Heppner, Lexington and Ione areas.