Today, Malheur County reported its 20^th death in someone with COVID-19 and surpassed 1,300 cases. Our thoughts are with those who are sick, those who are caring for are ill, and those who have lost someone during this pandemic.

The Malheur County Health Department (MCHD) strives to share as much COVID-19 case information as possible on the COVID-19 Cases page of our website and the COVID-19 Resources page for links to additional data sources. While some health departments do not share data separate from the Oregon Health Authority (OHA), MCHD has updated the daily case count and demographic case data since March 30^th, when the first case was reported in Malheur County. The COVID-19 Cases page reports total positive and presumptive case counts, negative and total test counts, percent of tests reported positive over time and within the last week, last and past three week number of cases, daily number of new cases, deaths, presumed to be recovered, age and sex of cases, number currently hospitalized, number of tests completed by week, and the rate of cases.

While we want to report on information that will keep our community informed, more information is available by referring to the frequently updated OHA Data Dashboards and Data Reports, including Daily Update, Weekly COVID-19 Report, Weekly Testing Summary, OHP Enrollment, Pediatric COVID-19 Report, Epidemic Trends and Projections, School Metrics, and County Watch List Data. Previous reports can be found here. Data Dashboards include Oregon COVID-19 Update, Case and Testing Counts Statewide, Case Demographics and Disease Severity Statewide, Testing and Outcomes by County, Hospital Capacity, and Public Health Indicators.

The Weekly COVID-19 Report is an excellent way to get an overview at the county and state level each Wednesday. The latest report can be found on the OHA COVID-19 website under the heading “Situation in Oregon.” The Weekly Reports identify outbreaks and cases by zip code, as covered in a recent post on malheurhealth.org.

With so much data to evaluate, it’s important to keep in mind why the data is important. We need the public to be informed and know the current risk of COVID-19 around them to keep themselves and others safe. Everyone in Malheur County should follow these simple steps can save lives by to slowing the spread of COVID-19:

• Follow the statewide requirement to wear a face covering when in indoor public spaces and outdoors when six feet of distance cannot be maintained.
• Limit social gatherings to groups of 10 indoors and 25 outdoors.
• Wash your hands often with running water and soap for 20 seconds.
• If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
• Cover your coughs and sneezes using your sleeve or a tissue, not your bare hand.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth.
• Stay home and away from the rest of your household if you’re feeling sick.
• Avoid close contact with people who are sick. Quarantine according to public health direction if you are in close contact with a known case.
• Clean and disinfect objects and surfaces that are frequently touched surfaces at home and at work, including your mobile devices.
• Pregnant women should visit the CDC’s website for the most current guidance.
• Breastfeeding women should visit Academy of Breastfeeding Medicine for the most current guidance.

MCHD officials also ask that the public stay informed and educated through trustworthy sources of information, such as the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and Safe + Strong Oregon.