Dec. 11, 2020
Governor Kate Brown held a press briefing today with Dr. Dean Sidelinger, state epidemiologist, and Darrah Isaacson, a special guest.
Dr. Sidelinger spoke about a worrisome trend in Oregon. The state continues to set records for new cases, hospitalizations and deaths. Pausing to reflect on what the losses mean, Dr. Sidelinger said:
Each death marks the anguished end of a lost battle against the virus.
Each death leaves a hole in someone’s life. Each death cuts short love, laughter and memories for families and friends.
Each death means a neighbor – a fellow Oregonian – who will not be here to ring in the new year.
And every single COVID-19 death is avoidable.
Dr. Sidelinger also pointed out some good news. Oregon saw a decrease in people’s movement before Thanksgiving. A national survey showed that Oregon had a high percentage of people who reported they were going to spend the holiday with only members of their household.
These decisions likely slowed the increase in cases, he said. If everyone continues to reduce the risks of their actions, we may avoid the rapid rise in cases that we feared.
At the briefing, Governor Brown gave an update on the COVID-19 vaccine campaign to distribute adequate supplies of vaccine to Oregon communities as quickly as possible starting with those who have been hardest hit and are most at-risk. By the end of December, Oregon expects to receive 147,000 doses of the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines. Approximately 100,000 Oregonians are estimated to receive their first vaccine doses by the end of the year.
Darrah Isaacson is what is known as a COVID-19 long-hauler. She has been ill with the disease since March 2, 2020. Isaacson took the time to tell her story at the news conference today. She talks of the long-term effects of COVID-19, of having to give up the things she loves to do like reading, hiking, biking, camping and of not being able to play with her 5-year-old daughter.
A lifelong Oregonian, Isaacson wrapped up her story by saying, “Oregonians look out for one another. It’s one thing I love, of many, about this state. During the wildfires this summer, neighbors came together and bonded and helped people with the wildfire response. They stepped up. They didn’t think twice.
"Now we need to step up again. To protect one another from this devastating virus. This is not the time for blame or arguments. This is the time to make some sacrifices so that we can come together and keep this virus from harming any more of our families, like mine.”
Please take the time to watch Darrah Isaacson tell her important story about living with COVID-19.
We asked Coronavirus Update readers to share how they are celebrating the holidays safely this year. So many creative ideas were sent in. We appreciate the commitment readers bring to stopping the spread of COVID-19 in Oregon’s communities and thank you for sharing with us. We’ll be sharing your ideas today and in future issues.
Here are a few of the plans readers have for celebrating safely:
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“We plan to do a drive-by, contactless delivery of traditional holiday cookies and gifts for those we are usually with during the holidays. We plan to send one another photos or livestream our respective holiday décor.”
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“We will not be getting together as normal this year. Instead, we are doing an outdoor, masked and socially distanced hike, rain or shine!”
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“We will remain home and will not have family come from other parts of the state as we usually do. It will be a quiet, mellow, cozy holiday time for our small family. We will cook together, play games, make puzzles, watch Christmas favorites on TV, enjoy neighborhood walks and decorate the house like crazy!”
COVID-19 has claimed 16 more lives in Oregon, raising the state’s death toll to 1,138, the Oregon Health Authority reported at 12:01 a.m. today.
Oregon Health Authority reported 1,610 new confirmed and presumptive cases of COVID-19 as of 12:01 a.m. today, bringing the state total to 91,421.
COVID-19 hospitalizations: The number of hospitalized COVID-19 patients across Oregon is 576, which remains unchanged from yesterday. There are 128 COVID-19 patients in Intensive Care Unit (ICU) beds, which is one more than yesterday. The total number of patients in hospital beds may fluctuate between report times. The numbers do not reflect admissions per day, nor the length of hospital stay. Staffing limitations are not captured in this data and may further limit bed capacity. More information about hospital capacity can be found here.
The new confirmed and presumptive COVID-19 cases reported today are in the following counties: Baker (6), Benton (34), Clackamas (185), Clatsop (2), Columbia (8), Coos (6), Crook (19), Curry (7), Deschutes (108), Douglas (18), Grant (4), Hood River (21), Jackson (82), Jefferson (21), Josephine (36), Klamath (40), Lake (7), Lane (85), Lincoln (11), Linn (63), Malheur (23), Marion (175), Morrow (14), Multnomah (289), Polk (25), Sherman (1), Tillamook (5), Umatilla (38), Union (10), Wasco (17), Washington (198) and Yamhill (52).
NOTE: Oregon’s 1,001st and 1040th COVID-19 deaths, reported on Dec. 4 and Dec. 7, are the same person. The numbers have been adjusted accordingly. OHA regrets this error.
Here is more information on the deaths reported today:
Oregon’s 1,123rd COVID-19 death is a 66-year-old man in Deschutes County who tested positive on Nov. 8 and died on Dec. 9 at St. Charles Medical Center in Bend. He has underlying conditions.
Oregon’s 1,124th COVID-19 death is a 70-year-old man in Douglas County who tested positive on Nov. 9 and died on Dec. 9 at Providence St. Vincent Medical Center. He has underlying conditions.
Oregon’s 1,125th COVID-19 death is a 75-year-old woman in Hood River County who tested positive on Nov. 15 and died on Dec. 9 at Legacy Meridian Park Medical Center. She has underlying conditions.
Oregon’s 1,126th COVID-19 death is an 87-year-old man in Jackson County who tested positive on Nov. 17 and died on Dec. 3 at his residence. He has underlying conditions.
Oregon’s 1,127th COVID-19 death is a 76-year-old man in Jackson County who tested positive on Nov. 21 and died on Nov. 29 at Rogue Valley Medical Center. He has underlying conditions.
Oregon’s 1,128th COVID-19 death is a 55-year-old woman in Jackson County who became symptomatic on Dec. 3 after contact with a confirmed case and died on Dec. 6 at her residence. She had underlying conditions.
Oregon’s 1,129th COVID-19 death is a 76-year-old man in Jefferson County who tested positive on Nov. 30 and died on Dec. 9 at St. Charles Medical Center in Bend. He has underlying conditions.
Oregon’s 1,130th COVID-19 death is a 68-year-old man in Josephine County who tested positive on Nov. 18 and died on Dec. 9 at Asante Rogue Valley Medical Center in Medford. Presence of underlying conditions is being confirmed.
Oregon’s 1,131st COVID-19 death is a 69-year-old man in Lane County who tested positive on Nov. 28 and died on Dec. 9 at PeaceHealth Sacred Heart Medical Center at Riverbend. He had underlying conditions.
Oregon’s 1,132nd COVID-19 death is a 65-year-old man in Marion County who tested positive on Nov. 19 and died on Dec. 2 at his residence. He had no underlying conditions.
Oregon’s 1,133rd COVID-19 death is a 76-year-old woman in Marion County who tested positive on Nov. 30 and died on Dec. 9 at her residence. She had underlying conditions.
Oregon’s 1,134th COVID-19 death is a 57-year-old man in Multnomah County who tested positive on Nov. 20 and died on Dec. 9 at Kaiser Permanente Sunnyside Medical Center. He had underlying conditions.
Oregon’s 1,135th COVID-19 death is a 52-year-old man in Multnomah County who tested positive on Nov. 29 and died on Dec. 9 at Legacy Mt. Hood Medical Center. He had underlying conditions.
Oregon’s 1,136th COVID-19 death is a 53-year-old man in Multnomah County who tested positive on Nov. 30 and died on Dec. 9 at Legacy Emanuel Medical Center. He had underlying conditions.
Oregon’s 1,137th COVID-19 death is a 78-year-old man in Multnomah County who tested positive on Nov. 13 and died on Dec. 1 at his residence. Presence of underlying conditions is being confirmed.
Oregon’s 1,138th COVID-19 death is an 81-year-old woman in Multnomah County who tested positive on Dec. 4 and died on Dec. 9 at Legacy Mt. Hood Medical Center. Presence of underlying conditions is being confirmed.
Mental and emotional resources for difficult times:
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Mental and emotional health resources are available on OHA’s Safe + Strong website.
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Or call the Safe + Strong Helpline at 800-923-4357 (800-923-HELP). The line offers free, 24-7 emotional support and resource referral to anyone who needs it – not only those experiencing a mental health crisis.
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