Dec. 18, 2020
As the holiday season continues and the days get shorter – and darker and rainier – we may find ourselves wishing we could gather indoors with family and friends. The desire to see our loved ones can make us lose sight of how we could be putting ourselves or others at risk. Making a plan ahead of time can help us to remember why we’re choosing activities that keep us safe, even though they mean we are physically distant.
Oregon Health Authority’s Safe + Strong campaign launched a new home page today that can help with planning lower-risk activities. This recent update encourages visitors to make a plan to keep your loved ones safe with resources and information about the impacts of the pandemic. Here are some tips on how to stay safe and connected to loved ones while following COVID-19 public health guidelines:
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Wear a mask: With anyone you don’t live with, indoors or out
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Stay six feet apart: We all miss hugs. But right now it’s the best way to show how much we care
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Go digital: Even 10 minutes together online or on the phone can make someone’s day
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Meet outdoors: Put on your warmest clothes and meet outside this winter
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Keep groups small: There’s strength in small numbers
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Make strong choices: Share this chart to help make a plan
The site is designed to provide resources to Black, Indigenous and People of Color communities about COVID-19. The updated site provides resources and information in 12 languages to support people in Oregon whose primary language is not English.
This winter, let’s plan to change the way we do things—to keep our families safe.
Today, Oregon has crossed another threshold since COVID-19 was first detected in our state in February, with more than 100,000 cases reported. OHA reported 1,390 new confirmed and presumptive cases of COVID-19 as of 12:01 a.m. today, bringing the state total to 100,308.
OHA Public Health Director Rachael Banks noted the milestone: “While this significant number reflects how widely the novel coronavirus has spread within our communities, I want to acknowledge every Oregonian who has been affected by this pandemic and thank the vast majority of Oregonians who’ve taken steps to protect their families, their neighbors, and the most vulnerable members of our communities.”
“COVID-19 hasn’t spread as fast as it has in most other states. But every infection, every hospitalization and every death are one too many. The safe and effective vaccines we’re distributing across the state offer real hope we can end this pandemic. But it’s too soon to drop our guard.”
Both Idaho and Nevada, two of our neighboring states with fewer residents, have reported more total cases — more than 125,000 for Idaho and 194,000 for Nevada. Oregon also has the 44th lowest level of average daily cases among all states, according the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Oregon has received its full scheduled supply of 35,100 Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine doses for the week of Dec. 13-Dec. 19, 2020.
A total of 685 health care workers received their first doses of the COVID-19 vaccine by the end of Thursday Dec. 17. Of that total, 433 health care workers were vaccinated yesterday.
OHA Director Patrick Allen said, “The sprint to the starting line is over. Now the hard work begins to vaccinate the critical mass of adult Oregonians needed to end this pandemic. Thanks to all the front-line health care workers who literally rolled-up their sleeves to take their first doses of this safe and effective vaccine. By taking this vaccine, they’re not only getting the protection they need and deserve to care for patients, they’re also showing the rest of us that the vaccine is safe to take and it works to stop the virus.”
Oregon issued its guidelines for prioritizing health care workers earlier this week. Oregon has defined health care workers who are eligible for the first phase of vaccine distribution as any worker in a health care setting who comes into contact with patients and could be exposed to the virus.
Oregon’s definition of health care workers includes, but isn’t limited to: Emergency medical service personnel, nurses, nursing assistants, home healthcare personnel, physicians, technicians, therapists, phlebotomists, pharmacists, students and trainees. It also means staff in clerical, dietary, environmental services, laundry, security, engineering and facilities management, billing, volunteer services and other roles.
This week, Governor Kate Brown extended her declaration of a state of emergency regarding COVID-19 for an additional 60 days, until March 3, 2021. The previous executive order was set to expire on Jan. 2, 2021.
The state of emergency declaration is the legal underpinning for the executive orders the governor has issued to keep Oregonians healthy and safe throughout this crisis, including orders regarding the risk level framework that establishes essential health and safety protections for Oregon and orders around childcare, schools, and higher education operations. Extending the state of emergency declaration allows those orders to stay in effect.
The Governor reviews and re-evaluates each emergency order every 60 days to determine whether those orders should be continued, modified or rescinded. The findings of this review process are listed in the executive order.
Today OHA released its latest modeling, which shows a projected increase in COVID-19 cases. It also shows that more Oregonians are staying home and physically distant.
According to the model, the effective reproduction rate — the expected number of secondary cases that a single case generates — was estimated to be 1.22 as of Nov. 28.
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The current level of transmission could result in in approximately 2,200 new daily cases and 110 additional daily hospitalizations by Jan 1.
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If people are not diligent about mask wearing and physical distancing, resulting in a rise in transmission like what Oregon experienced in early November, new daily cases could rise to 2,550. COVID-19 patients needing hospital care in the next two weeks would similarly rise, to 125 per day.
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Conversely, if people remain diligent against the virus, transmission could mirror the levels from mid-October, with daily cases at about 1,200. Under that scenario, hospitalizations would drop substantially to about 55 per day.
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The model shows that Oregonians are travelling less frequently and that three out of four are regularly wearing masks or face coverings.
Today, OHA reported 1,390 new confirmed and presumptive cases of COVID-19 bringing the state total to 100,308.
COVID-19 hospitalizations: The number of hospitalized patients with COVID-19 across Oregon is 539, which is 12 fewer than yesterday. There are 111 COVID-19 patients in intensive care unit (ICU) beds, which is two fewer 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 (7), Benton (34), Clackamas (117), Clatsop 6), Columbia (6), Coos (18), Crook (10), Curry (10), Deschutes (59), Douglas (14), Grant (3), Harney (2), Hood River (29), Jackson (76), Jefferson (27), Josephine (30), Klamath (62), Lake (1), Lane (93), Lincoln (7), Linn (43), Malheur (17), Marion (153), Morrow (4), Multnomah (200), Polk (18), Tillamook (15), Umatilla (59), Union (1), Wasco (30), Washington (221) and Yamhill (18).
Here is more information on the deaths reported today:
Oregon’s 1,284th COVID-19 death is a 94-year-old man in Clackamas County who tested positive on Dec. 2 and died on Dec. 15 at Legacy Mt. Hood Medical Center. He had underlying conditions.
Oregon’s 1,285th COVID-19 death is an 80-year-old woman in Clackamas County who tested positive on Dec. 12 and died on Dec. 16 at Providence Willamette Falls Medical Center. Presence of underlying conditions is being confirmed.
Oregon’s 1,286th COVID-19 death is a 62-year-old man in Deschutes County who died on Nov. 2 at his residence. Presence of underlying conditions is being confirmed.
Oregon’s 1,287th COVID-19 death is a 76-year-old man in Jackson County who tested positive on Nov. 19 and died on Dec. 16 at Asante Ashland Community Hospital. He had underlying conditions.
Oregon’s 1,288th COVID-19 death is a 90-year-old woman in Josephine County who tested positive on Dec. 3 and died on Dec. 15 at her residence. She had underlying conditions.
Oregon’s 1,289th COVID-19 death is a 92-year-old woman in Josephine County who tested positive on Dec. 3 and died on Dec. 16 at Asante Three Rivers Medical Center. Presence of underlying conditions is being confirmed.
Oregon’s 1,290th COVID-19 death is an 84-year-old man in Josephine County who tested positive on Dec. 3 and died on Dec. 16. Location of death and presence of underlying conditions is being confirmed.
Oregon’s 1,291st COVID-19 death is a 78-year-old man in Lake County who tested positive on Dec. 1 and died on Dec. 16 at Lake District Hospital. He had underlying conditions.
Oregon’s 1,292nd COVID-19 death is a 95-year-old man in Lake County who tested positive on Dec. 8 and died on Dec. 17 at his residence. He had underlying conditions.
Oregon’s 1,293rd COVID-19 death is a 78-year-old woman in Malheur County who tested positive on Nov. 16 and died on Dec. 16 at her residence. She had underlying conditions.
Oregon’s 1,294th COVID-19 death is a 58-year-old man in Marion County who tested positive on Nov. 28 and died on Dec. 16 at Legacy Meridian Park Medical Center. He had underlying conditions.
Oregon’s 1,295th COVID-19 death is a 90-year-old woman in Marion County who tested positive on Nov. 30 and died on Dec. 16 at Lake District Hospital. He had underlying conditions.
Oregon’s 1,296th COVID-19 death is a 76-year-old man in Lane County who tested positive on Nov. 30 and died on Dec. 16 at Lake District Hospital. He had underlying conditions.
Oregon’s 1,297th COVID-19 death is an 87-year-old man in Multnomah County who tested positive on Nov. 27 and died on Dec. 12 at his residence. He had underlying conditions.
Oregon’s 1,298th COVID-19 death is a 65-year-old woman in Multnomah County who tested positive on Dec. 7 and died on Dec. 16 at Oregon Health Science University. She had underlying conditions.
Oregon’s 1,299th COVID-19 death is an 89-year-old woman in Multnomah County who tested positive on Dec. 15 and died on Dec. 17 at Legacy Emanuel Medical Center. Presence of underlying conditions is being confirmed.
Oregon’s 1,300th COVID-19 death is a 91-year-old man in Umatilla County who tested positive on Dec. 13 and died on Dec. 15 at Good Shepherd Medical Center. He had underlying conditions.
Oregon’s 1,301st COVID-19 death is a 90-year-old woman in Wasco County who tested positive on Dec. 14 and died on Dec. 14 at her residence. She had underlying conditions.
Oregon’s 1,302nd COVID-19 death is an 80-year-old woman in Washington County who tested positive on Dec. 3 and died on Dec. 16 at Kaiser Permanente Westside Medical Center. She had underlying conditions.
Oregon’s 1,303rd COVID-19 death is a 74-year-old man in Washington County who tested positive on Nov. 12 and died on Dec. 16 at his residence. Presence of underlying conditions is being confirmed.
Oregon’s 1,304th COVID-19 death is a 93-year-old woman in Yamhill County who tested positive on Dec. 7 and died on Dec. 15 at her residence. She had underlying conditions.
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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