Earlier this week Governor Kate Brown sounded an alarm about the surge in COVID-19 in Oregon. She set two statewide rules to stop the spread of the extremely contagious virus. In her announcement, Gov. Brown said Oregon reported more COVID-19 cases last week than it did for the month of May. Data also shows people in their 20s and 30s are now the group most likely to get sick with COVID-19 in Oregon.

The first new rule is a ban on indoor social gatherings of more than 10 people. This includes gatherings such as birthday parties, book clubs and potlucks. The second rule mandates face coverings in outdoor spaces where distances of six feet or more from people outside your household cannot be maintained.

The two new rules do not change the Department’s current operations. Please keep following DHS guidance and keep the three W’s top of mind when you’re at work and in the community:

• Wear a face covering
• Watch your distance
• Wash your hands

One of our best tools for stopping the spread of COVID-19 continues to be physical distancing. Back in March, DHS shifted most of its staff to telework to reduce the number of people in our buildings so we could maintain physical distancing when serving the public in person. What we’re learning from the experience is that teleworking can be a standard part of how DHS conducts its business beyond the pandemic.

DHS recently conducted a survey to learn what staff need to successfully telework in the short-term and to gather feedback to operationalize telework for the long-term through designing effective policies, procedures and staff supports. Nearly 4,900 staff responded to the survey and 95% reported they are satisfied with their current teleworking situation. Click here to see a summary of survey results.

In today’s podcast, DHS Director Fariborz Pakseresht gives an update on the current state of COVID-19 in Oregon and the importance of maintaining telework during the pandemic. Chief Administrative Officer Don Erickson, sponsor of the telework survey, joins Fariborz to share how the survey results will be used to make teleworking a standard operating procedure for the Department. Click here to listen to the 10-minute podcast or download the transcript.

It’s hard to hear what’s being said (low volume)

Poor audio equipment quality may be the reason it’s hard to hear what’s being said during Skype meetings. Try these tips to resolve the problem:

Are you using a Skype-approved headset?

• Is the headset old or broken? Are there loose connections, loose wires, or a bad plug?
• Check the Audio settings on the computer or laptop to ensure they are set to the correct device.

For information and troubleshooting tips:

• Basic How-to Guide for Audio and Skype Calls
• Troubleshooting Audio Devices
• Join a Skype Meeting without a Headset
• Order a Skype-approved headset from OIS

The health of our employees is a top priority. Staff at affected offices are always notified as soon as possible by Human Resources and local management of any potential exposure to COVID-19. But others may also want to get this information emailed to them. Staff can subscribe here to receive email notifications of potential COVID exposure in DHS offices.

You can also visit this OWL site for a master list of all the offices that have had a potential exposure to COVID-19 and to see notification letters.

Staff can help keep work environments safe by letting their supervisors or managers know when they are having coronavirus-like symptoms or have been medically mandated to be off work. Human Resources encourages staff to use COVID leave options to seek medical care and get tested when needed. There are options for staff without accumulated sick leave. Early communication and testing are vital to stopping the spread of COVID-19. Don’t delay!