|
Dear Friends and Neighbors,
I want to assure Oregonians that my office and state legislators are in regular communication with the Oregon Health Authority (OHA) and receiving new information on the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak every day. Your state government is taking it very seriously. We are working hard to prioritize the health, safety, and economic security of all Oregonians.
This is a very fluid situation and circumstances are changing daily. Our collective focus needs to be preventing the spread of COVID-19 and ensuring the safety of our most vulnerable residents – our seniors, people with disabilities, and those with underlying health conditions. They are at the highest risk of serious complications from getting the virus.
Even if you feel okay, you could be carrying the virus and could make someone else very sick. We must take care of each other.
I have confidence in our public health officials directing the response. I also know this situation has understandably caused a lot of fear and uncertainty throughout our communities. All of us should be following best practices for social distancing and personal hygiene to prevent more infections (see below).
It’s critical to remember that this is a scary time for high-risk populations who need to take a particularly cautious approach to daily life until this outbreak has been resolved. Please take note of the people in your life who are in this category and please do what you can to provide help, whether that’s buying groceries, making a trip to the pharmacy for someone, or just checking in by phone.
On Monday of this week, the Legislative Emergency Board dedicated $5 million to OHA to support their response to COVID-19. We also made it possible for the state to receive money from the federal government as it is released to states.
The State of Oregon, Multnomah County and the City of Portland declared states of emergency in order to take additional measures. Governor Kate Brown has ordered a four-week ban on organized gatherings of 250 people or more. The University of Oregon and Oregon State University have cancelled in-person classes.
Testing for the virus is becoming more widely available. Right now, testing is being prioritized for our most vulnerable populations. I join Governor Brown in calling on the federal government to increase our testing capacity as soon as possible.
For now, prevention is the best cure. Along with additional measures taken by the state and local governments, here are the best practices to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
- Wash your hands often with soap and water, or use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth with unwashed hands.
- Avoid close contact with sick people or animals.
- Stay home when you are sick.
- Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw it away. If you don’t have a tissue, cough into your elbow.
- Clean and disinfect objects and surfaces that you frequently touch.
- Avoid non-essential travel to regions listed in federal travel advisories.
To follow best practices for social distancing:
- Limit social events and visitors.
- Reduce group activities.
- Increase physical space between workers.
- Work remotely when possible.
For individuals at higher risk of contracting the virus:
- Stay at home as much as possible.
- Make sure you have access to several weeks of medication and supplies, in case you need to be home for extended periods of time.
- When in public, stay away from others who are sick.
- Limit close contact when in public and wash hands often.
- Avoid crowds.
Older adults are known to be at higher risk for contracting the virus. Here is what you can do to support older individuals you know:
- Track what medications they are taking and see if you can help them have extra medicine on hand.
- Monitor food and other medical supplies needed (oxygen, incontinence, dialysis, would care) and create a back-up plan.
- Stock up on non-perishable food items to have on hand in your home in order to limit trips to the store.
- Wear a mask or keep your distance if you have a cough or are sick.
- If a loved one is living in a care facility, frequently ask those in charge of the facility about the health of other residents and know the protocol if there is an outbreak.
For parents with children in school:
- It’s incredibly important that people with symptoms (fever, cough, shortness of breath) stay home. This is one of the most effective ways to minimize exposure.
- Ensure that children are aware of good hygiene measures and are regularly practicing those measures, including handwashing with soap and water for at least 20 seconds and proper practice for coughing and sneezing.
Governor Brown has been clear that school closures are a last resort since they have disproportionate impacts on low-income families since schools may be the only place for some students to access regular meals or medical care. Parents and caregivers may have jobs that don’t offer paid time off. If this recommendation changes, I will make sure to inform you as soon as possible.
For up to date information, please check this link to the Oregon Health Authority where regular updates are posted: https://www.oregon.gov/oha/ERD/Pages/News-Releases.aspx
Please email me at Rep.TinaKotek@oregonlegislature.gov if you have specific concerns that have not been addressed by the OHA. Our office will do all we can to help and protect all Oregonians.
Best,
Tina Kotek
State Representative
House District 44
Speaker of the House
email: Rep.TinaKotek@oregonlegislature.gov I phone: 503-986-1200
address: 900 Court St NE, H-269, Salem, OR 97301
website: http://www.oregonlegislature.gov/kotek
| 
