Governor Kate Brown held a press conference today to provide an update on the status of COVID-19 in Oregon. The conference addressed the recent increase in cases and hospitalizations: 

• Cases have increased 20% or more for the last five weeks. 
• Oregon is the state with the highest rate of increase in cases over the last two weeks. 
• Hospitalizations are increasing at almost double what they were a week ago.  
• The portion of hospitalized cases of people who are 18 to 34 has increased by almost 50 percent. 

“As we are facing widespread cases, driven by new, more contagious variants, I was presented with data showing two paths Oregon could take: One in which we took no additional action and stood by while more people die from this disease, and another that required a temporary tightening of restrictions for certain counties but could save hundreds of lives and prevent as many as 450 hospitalizations over the next three weeks. As your governor, I chose to save lives,” Gov. Brown said.

“There is some good news. The same scientific modeling also shows that over the course of the next two-to-three weeks, based on current vaccination rates, we can get ahead of these variants. Following that trajectory, we should be able to lift restrictions statewide and return to a sense of normalcy no later than the end of June.”

A Governor’s Office press release from today’s conference is available here.

… the overwhelming majority of our new COVID-19 cases are from people who have not yet been vaccinated. Younger, unvaccinated Oregonians are now showing up in our hospitals with severe cases of COVID-19.

Gov. Kate Brown

Governor Kate Brown today extended her declaration of a state of emergency for COVID-19 for 60 days, until June 28, 2021, unless earlier rescinded or extended.

The declaration is the legal underpinning for the Governor’s COVID-19 executive orders and the Oregon Health Authority’s health and safety guidance; it also provides additional flexibility for the state and private parties responding to the challenges of the pandemic, from allowing restaurants to offer cocktails-to-go to allowing greater flexibility in who may administer vaccines. Extending the state of emergency also helps ensure Oregon is able to fully utilize available federal COVID-19 relief and assistance, including assistance with vaccine distribution.

The full press release is available here.

Twenty-five COVID-19 cases over the two-week period from April 11-24 are enough to send Malheur County back into Moderate Risk this Friday. A Governor’s Office press release on Tuesday urged Oregonians to get vaccinated as case counts rise throughout the state.

Malheur County is one of 18 counties moving to a higher risk level this week following cancelation of the state’s warning week; 15 of them are moving to Extreme Risk. Under the risk level framework, explained here, counties move to or remain in Extreme Risk when they meet the county metrics for test positivity and case rates, and Oregon meets statewide hospitalization metrics: COVID-19-positive patients occupying 300 hospital beds or more, and a 15% increase in the seven-day hospitalization average over the past week. 

 “If we don’t act now, doctors, nurses, hospitals, and other health care providers in Oregon will be stretched to their limits treating severe cases of COVID-19,” Gov. Kate Brown said.

Gov. Brown is partnering with lawmakers to approve a $20 million small business emergency relief package to immediately support impacted businesses in Extreme Risk counties.

In Malheur County, restaurant owners received an email on Tuesday from Environmental Health Director Craig Geddes regarding the upcoming risk level change and resulting restrictions on capacity and services:

• Indoor seating is allowed at 50% occupancy and maximum capacity of 100 people
• Groups of no more than 6 people
• Outdoor dining with up to 150 people
• 11 p.m. closing time

Other affected sectors include social and at-home gatherings, indoor and outdoor recreation and fitness, indoor and outdoor entertainment, faith institutions, funeral homes, mortuaries, cemeteries, and offices. Detailed Moderate Risk guidance is available here.

Gov. Brown encouraged Oregonians to keep their gatherings limited to outdoor settings. “Indoor transmission is a key driver in the COVID-19 surge that is making renewed health and safety restrictions necessary,” she said.

In an effort to speed up the return to normal business operations, county risk levels will be updated weekly for at least the next three weeks. Counties that improve their COVID-19 metrics will have the opportunity to move to a lower risk level. Those at Extreme Risk will remain there for a maximum of three weeks.

The Malheur County Health Department joins the Governor in encouraging all eligible Oregonians to get vaccinated. “With 14 cases in just the last three days, we are unfortunately seeing the result of more people not following the precautions of wearing masks and avoiding gatherings combined with a slow-down in the number of people protected by the COVID-19 vaccines,” MCHD Director Sarah Poe said. “The variants of SARS-CoV-2 are far more transmissible and are leading to more outbreaks and hospitalizations in both Idaho and Oregon. I can’t emphasize enough the importance of protecting those who are most vulnerable to save lives and getting vaccinated to prevent outbreaks. Talk to those you love about the importance of vaccination and call your pharmacy, healthcare provider, or the health department for help getting the vaccine to the eligible people in your life.”

Governor Kate Brown today announced that the cancelation of the state’s warning week system may be necessary next week to combat the COVID-19 crisis Oregon currently faces. She said that a fourth surge of cases has arrived and that right now, in a race between vaccines and variants, “the variants are gaining ground and have the upper hand. Today’s cases topped 1,000, with Oregon now ranking second in the nation for having the most rapid growth of infection spread.”

Oregon hospitals are about to surpass 300 patients who are positive for COVID-19, crossing the threshold that would place at least 12 counties into the extreme risk level. These counties would be required to reinstate restrictions associated with the highest risk level, including closure of restaurants and bars to indoor dining and nursing homes to indoor visits. Malheur County is currently not likely to be among them, but the warning week has twice kept the county from moving to a higher level of the state’s four-tier system. Gov. Brown said the data will be analyzed again early next week before determinations are made.

Vaccines are the key to moving Oregon forward and preventing Malheur County from returning to the higher or extreme risk levels. The overwhelming majority of new COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations are among people who are not vaccinated, and the virus is affecting younger people and those with no underlying medical conditions. Common-sense safety measures like mask wearing and maintaining 6 feet of distance will need to stay in place for a while longer, until the majority of Oregonians are vaccinated. Gov. Brown said she believes the state will be able to lift most restrictions and fully reopen the economy no later than the end of June. “We will all need to make smart choices over the next several weeks so that we can move forward and into post-pandemic life.”

About half of all Oregonians age 18 and older have received at least one dose of COVID-19 vaccine, Oregon Health Authority Director Patrick Allen said today. Malheur County, with about 23% of its population vaccinated, has the second-to-lowest vaccination rate in the state.

A video of today’s press conference is available here. The conference begins at the 28:20 mark.

For prescription drugs, a drive-up drop-off site will be located in the north parking lot of the Four Rivers Cultural Center, 676 SW 5th Ave., Ontario, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

For syringe drop-off, sharps bins are available 24 hours a day:

• at Mallard Grocery in Ontario, 797 N Oregon St.
• in Nyssa, in the alcove on the residential side of the underpass
• at Valley Family Health Care in Vale, 789 Washington St. W.

For more information about Take Back Day, visit https://www.deadiversion.usdoj.gov/drug_disposal/takeback/

On Friday, Governor Kate Brown and Oregon Health Authority held a news conference to give updates about COVID-19 in Oregon. They reported that efforts to create equitable access to vaccines have fallen short and that daily cases of COVID-19 have more than doubled in just over a month. Read OHA’s bulletin here.

 “The numbers are stark and clear,” OHA Director Patrick Allen said. “For too many people, race and income are predictors of whether you can access a COVID-19 vaccine – or not. Yesterday, I heard the leaders of organizations who serve the Latino/Latina community voice their legitimate frustration at the inequitable disparity in vaccination rates for the Latino community. I share their frustration. As a state, we can and need to do better.” 

According to State Health Officer and Epidemiologist Dr. Dean Sidelinger: 

• Over the past two days, OHA has reported 1,576 new cases, the highest two-day total since early February. 
• The largest increased illnesses in Oregon are in people in their 20s.  
• The second biggest increase is in people in their 30s. 
• According to the CDC, hospitals around the U.S. are seeing more people in their 30s and 40s who have been admitted with severe cases as the virus continues to mutate.

Dr. Sidelinger cited three stories of recent outbreaks that illustrate how COVID-19 is spreading throughout the state: 

• A multi-night karaoke event led to 36 cases, three hospitalizations and one death.  
• An indoor concert at a small music venue resulted in 15 cases.  
• All 10 people who attended a backyard gathering fell ill.  

A recording of yesterday’s live-streamed press conference is available on YouTube. The video starts at the 31:45 mark.

A recording of a Spanish language translation is available on OHA’s Facebook page.

An 8-day vaccination event that begins tomorrow afternoon at the Malheur County Fairgrounds is shaping up to be a lively event, with confirmations this week from a few special guests.

Smokin’ Franny’s BBQ food truck will be on hand for the entirety of the event, offering their full menu of barbecue favorites, including brisket sandwiches, baby-back ribs and sides. A $5 food voucher to be used at the truck will be given to the first 50 vaccine recipients each weekday and the first 100 vaccine recipients on Saturday and Sunday. Recipients must be age 18 or older.

Consul Ricardo Gerardo Higuera from the Consulate of Mexico in Boise will visit the event at 5 p.m. on opening day and closing day, April 23. As consul, Gerardo-Higuera is committed to working vigorously in favor of the human rights of Mexican nationals and respecting the frame of the laws of the United States. In Oregon, he serves Malheur, Baker, Union and Wallowa counties.

On closing day, from 5-7 p.m., Spanish radio stations Radio Rancho – KDBI La Gran D 106.3 FM and KPDA  La Ponderosa 100.7 FM –  will offer a live broadcast from the event. We invite everyone to come out and get vaccinated, listen to some music, and enjoy the good food and festivities.

The drive-up event is hosted by Malheur County, the Oregon Health Authority, and FEMA. Hours are 4-8 p.m. on weekdays and 12-8 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. The Malheur County Fairgrounds is located at 795 N.W. 9th St in Ontario.