(Portland, OR)  --  Health officials say the number of COVID-19 cases in Oregon is increasing at its fastest pace since the pandemic began.  The Oregon Health Authority says new cases over the last week are up 18-percent.  The number of positive tests is also up slightly to six-point-four-percent.  Health officials want that number under five-percent.  Officials say there were also 147 new hospitalizations over the last week.  That's the highest weekly figure since mid-July.