Stay Informed: Public health news and advisories

• Malheur County Health Department Media Contacts
  • Sarah Poe, Director:  541-889-7279 x127
• See our Meet Our Team page for direct contacts by program
• Find all Oregon Health Authority News and Press Releases here.

Press Releases by Date

• May 6, 2022 County Health Rankings Report shows progress and opportunities for Malheur County
• April 20, 2022 Vaccine Booster Information
• February 4, 2022 100th Malheur County resident dies from COVID-related causes
• January 13, 2022 OHA launches hotline, website, for COVID-19-positive people
• December 28, 2021 Malheur County passes 6,000-case milestone
• December 6, 2021 Six Malheur County residents die from COVID-19 related illness
• December 1, 2021 Needle exchange recycles more than 15,000 pounds of syringes
• November 23, 2021 OHA lifts mask requirements for outdoor gatherings
• November 5, 2021 COVID-19 Vaccine clinics scheduled (flyer)
• November 5, 2021 Recreational use advisory lifted for Malheur Reservoir Nov. 5
• October 21, 2021 Extended Clinic Hours, Weekend Vaccine Clinics in November and December
• October 11, 2021 Fairgrounds COVID-19 Testing & Vaccine Events in October Flyer – Spanish
• October 11, 2021 Fairgrounds COVID-19 Testing & Vaccine Events in October Flyer – English
• September 15, 2021 Health Alert Network Message on Fentanyl Overdoses
• August 4, 2021 New Health and Safety Rule for Employees in Health Care Settings
• August 3, 2021 Take Your Shot Malheur County Winner Announced
• July 30, 2021 First mosquitoes with West Nile virus in Oregon this year found in Malheur County
• July 29, 2021 K-12 Mask Guidance with CDC Recommendations
• July 27, 2021 OHA recommends universal mask use for all public indoor settings
• June 16, 2021 Malheur County Submits COVID-19 Vaccine Health Equity Plan
• May 14, 2021 Teen birth rate on a steady decline in Malheur County
• May 11, 2021 Governor announces vaccination goals for reopening local economies
• May 4, 2021 Malheur County moving to High Risk following 35 new cases, 3 deaths
• April 28, 2021 Malheur County will return to Moderate Risk on Friday
• April 20, 2021 Malheur County will remain at Lower Risk despite rising COVID-19 cases
• April 14, 2021 Warning Week: COVID-19 test positivity rate and cases are rising in Malheur County
• April 13, 2021 Malheur County pauses use of Johnson & Johnson vaccine in accordance with state and federal guidance
• April 12, 2021 Eligible people under age 18 urged to get Pfizer vaccine while local supply lasts
• April 7, 2021 Eight-day vaccine event begins April 16 in Ontario
• April 6, 2021 Malheur County will move to Lower Risk this Friday
• March 31, 2021 Malheur County gets the OK to open eligibility to Group 7 effective immediately
• March 23, 2021 Malheur County’s test positivity and case rates continue to decline
• March 22, 2021 Malheur County gets green light from state to move on to next eligibility group
• March 19, 2021 Agricultural workers become eligible for vaccine on Monday
• March 16, 2021 Warning Week: Malheur County case rate solidly in Moderate Risk range
• March 12, 2021 OHA Update: Good news on vaccine allocation & COVID-19 trends, update on new mutations
• March 12, 2021 County vaccinator reaches bittersweet milestone
• March 12, 2021 Governor Kate Brown issues executive order reopening schools for in-person instruction
• March 9, 2021 Malheur County will remain at Moderate Risk despite case rate
• March 5, 2021 Governor Kate Brown announces return to in-person instruction for Oregon public schools
• March 4, 2021 Governor Kate Brown Announces Two-Week Extension for Counties Facing Moves Back to Extreme Risk
• March 3, 2021 Warning Week: Malheur County could be moving to High Risk if case rate doesn’t decrease
• March 2, 2021 Sexually transmitted infections show increase in Malheur County
• February 26, 2021 State announces timeline for remaining COVID-19 vaccine phases
• February 23, 2021 New COVID-19 risk level will loosen safety restrictions on businesses, activities in Malheur County
• February 17, 2021 Tomorrow’s COVID-19 vaccine clinic canceled due to weather-related shipping delays
• February 16, 2021 Risk level report confirms downward trend in cases, test positivity rates in Malheur County
• February 12, 2021 Malheur County’s declining new COVID-19 case counts bring optimism
• February 8, 2021 Malheur County sees significant drop in test positivity; no change to risk level status
• February 5, 2021 Oregonians age 80+ become eligible for vaccination on Monday
• February 4, 2021 MCHD will host vaccine clinic on Saturday, Feb. 6
• February 3, 2021 State now requires insurers to cover COVID-19 vaccinations
• January 28, 2021 Malheur County sees significant increase in COVID-19 outbreaks
• January 22, 2021 MCHD submits Phase 1b readiness letter to state health authority
• January 15, 2021 OHA Phase 1a Checklist
• January 11, 2021 MCHD will offer two Phase 1a vaccine clinics this week
• January 4, 2021 MCHD Will Begin Administering COVID-19 Vaccines on Wednesday
• December 29, 2020 Malheur Among Six Counties Appealing to OHA for Flexibility in Risk Level Determinations
• December 24, 2020 MCHD Will Work with School Districts to Return Students to the Classroom
• December 4, 2020 Governor Kate Brown Provides COVID-19 and Vaccine Update
• December 1, 2020 Governor Kate Brown Announces Updates to County Risk Levels
• November 18, 2020 Weekly cases and hospitalizations at record highs
• November 13, 2020 Governor Kate Brown Announces Statewide Two-Week Freeze to Stop Rapid Spread of COVID-19
• November 13, 2020 Oregon, California & Washington Issue Travel Advisories
• November 13, 2020 Governor Kate Brown Announces Statewide Two-Week Freeze to Stop Rapid Spread of COVID-19
• November 10, 2020 Health Officials Urge the Public to Stop the Spread
• November 9, 2020 Governor Kate Brown Places Four Additional Counties on Two-Week Pause
• October 29, 2020 Make safety part of your holiday celebrations
• October 26, 2020 County Health Rankings Report Shows Progress and Opportunities for Malheur County
• October 20, 2020 Updated Statewide Face Covering Guidance
• October 13, 2020 Malheur County Health Department Asks the Public for Help Preventing COVID-19 Spread
• October 9, 2020 Clarification on School COVID-19 Case Numbers
• October 9, 2020 Upcoming COVID-19 Testing Events and Planning for Halloween
• September 18, 2020 COVID-19 Drive Up Testing and Flu POD Press Release
• September 18, 2020 October 14 COVID-19 Drive Up Testing Flyer
• September 15, 2020 COVID-19 Community Resources for Agricultural Workers and Employers
• September 8, 2020 Malheur County COVID-19 Data Update
• September 3, 2020 Malheur COVID-19 Outbreaks Update
• August 27, 2020 First Mosquitoes with West Nile Virus Found in Malheur County
• August 26, 2020 Malheur County Court Resolution for Size of Local Social Gatherings Extended Through End of Year
• August 21, 2020 Malheur County Reviews School Blueprints for Reentry
• August 17, 2020 Open Letter to Governor Brown on Malheur Returning to Phase 1
• August 13, 2020 Malheur County Returns To Phase 1 August 17th
• August 7, 2020 MCHD COVID-19 Situation Update
• August 6, 2020 Malheur County Court Resolution for Size of Local Social Gatherings Extended
• July 22, 2020 “Keep Malheur County Open” Campaign Launches
• July 18, 2020 Malheur County Announces Three New Deaths Associated with COVID-19
• July 15, 2020 Malheur County Court Proclamation: Together, We Can Keep Malheur County Open
• July 15, 2020 Malheur County Court Resolution to protect Malheur County citizens and mitigate the effects of the COVID-19
• July 13, 2020 Malheur County Announces Second and Third Death Associated with COVID-19
• July 13, 2020 MCHD and SRCI Report on Increasing COVID-19 Cases
• July 4, 2020 Malheur County on State Watch List as Cases Climb
• June 24, 2020 Expanded COVID-19 Testing Criteria Addresses Disparities
• June 14, 2020 Stay Safe at Home and at Work
• June 14, 2020 Ontario COVID-19 Drive-Up Testing Flyer
• June 8, 2020 Boost Oregon Provider Seminar July 23 Flyer
• June 6, 2020 Malheur County Announces First COVID-19 Death
• June 5, 2020 Malheur County Announces Increased Contact Tracing to Support Safe Reopening
• June 4, 2020 Vale COVID-19 Drive-Up Testing Flyer
• June 4, 2020 Nyssa COVID-19 Drive-Up Testing Flyer
• June 4, 2020 Malheur County Approved to Enter Phase II
• June 1, 2020 Malheur County Request to Enter Phase II Letter to Governor
• May 28, 2020 OHA reporting of large COVID-19 workplace outbreaks
• May 26, 2020 Upcoming Ontario COVID-19 Testing Flyer
• May 26, 2020 Upcoming Ontario COVID-19 Drive-Up Testing
• May 14, 2020 Plan for Reopening Malheur County
• May 14, 2020 Malheur Reopening Plan Approved
• May 14, 2020 Recorded Webinars – Businesses Planning for Phase I
• May 11, 2020 Reopening Webinars – Businesses Planning for Phase I
• May 5, 2020 Vale COVID-19 Drive-Up Testing Flyer
• May 8, 2020 COVID-19 Drive-Up Testing Site Coming to Vale
• May 6, 2020 Oregon Health Authority Releases COVID-19 Data by Zip Code
• May 5, 2020 Nyssa COVID-19 Drive-Up Testing Flyer
• May 5, 2020 COVID-19 Drive-Up Testing Site Coming to Nyssa
• May 2, 2020 Significant Increase in COVID-19 Positive Cases and Reporting Recovered Cases
• April 30, 2020 Three Positive Malheur County Cases Reported in 24 Hours
• April 22, 2020 COVID-19 Drive-Up Testing Flyer
• April 22, 2020 COVID-19 Drive-Up Testing Site Coming to Malheur County
• April 20, 2020 PRIME+ Peer Program Brochure
• April 12, 2020 MCHD COVID-19 Case Reporting Changes
• April 11, 2020 When You Leave Home, Protect Yourself Poster
• April 11, 2020 MCHD Response to Frequently Asked Questions
• April 10, 2020 Malheur County Announces Third Positive COVID-19 Case
• April 3, 2020 COVID-19 Guidance for Malheur County Residents
• April 2, 2020 Malheur County Reports Second Positive COVID-19 Case
• March 29, 2020 Malheur County’s First Positive Case of COVID-19
• March 25, 2020 Guidance Following COVID-19 Case in Payette County
• March 24, 2020 Southwest District Health Confirms Positive COVID-19 Case in Payette County
• March 23, 2020 Business Social Distancing Essential to Slow COVID-19 Pandemic
• March 18, 2020 Malheur COVID-19 Emergency Declaration
• March 16, 2020 Malheur County Health Department Community Mitigation Recommendations
• March 12, 2020 State of Oregon Updated Mitigation Measures on Coronavirus Response
• March 12, 2020 New COVID-19 Social Distancing Measures in Place
• March 11, 2020 People at Higher Risk for Serious Illness from COVID-19
• March 10, 2020 First Multnomah County resident tests positive for COVID-19
• March 8, 2020 OHA adds 7 new presumptive positive cases to Oregon’s COVID-19 count
• March 8, 2020 State agencies issue COVID-19 guidance to Oregon schools and universities
• March 5, 2020 MCHD COVID-19 Update
• March 4, 2020 Idaho is prepared, do your part to prevent spread
• March 2, 2020 Oregon identifies third presumptive positive case of COVID-19
• March 2, 2020 Preventing COVID-19 Spread in Communities
• March 1, 2020 Second Positive Case of COVID-19 Appears in Oregon
• February 28, 2020 Oregon announces first, presumptive case of novel coronavirus
• February 24, 2020 OHA to begin regular updates o persons under monitoring for COVID-19
• February 24, 2020 MCHD Opioid Prevention
• February 3, 2020 February is National Children’s Dental Health Month
• January 31, 2020 Flu Season is in Full Swing in Malheur County
• December 12, 2019 Alarming lead levels found in certain traditional cosmetics, turmeric
• November 25, 2019 With whooping cough on the rise, health officials urge vaccination
• October 14, 2019 Malheur County Health Department to Host Emergency Preparedness Training and Conduct Drill to Provide Seasonal Flu Vaccine to Public

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