Updates from Salem and the Great City of Gresham

Greetings,

There is a lot of information about there about the COVID-19 situation. I want to take a step back from the scary headlines and bring you action: what you can do to contribute to Oregon's response, and the resources out there to help us make it through this scary time.

While COVID-19 is still new to scientists, we do know that the disease spreads quickly and is more dangerous than the flu. While many people who contract COVID-19 have mild symptoms or no symptoms at all, they can easily pass the disease on to people who are at greater risk. That is why it is important that we all work together to protect our community and prevent the spread of the disease.

What are we doing at the state and local level?

Many of the steps we are taking are focusing on “social distancing,” or preventing the spread of the virus so that our health system does not get overwhelmed.

• Governor Brown has banned all public gatherings of more than 250 people. In addition, the CDC is recommending the cancellation of all gatherings of over 50 people. That includes bars, restaurants, and theaters.
• All schools in Oregon will close starting Monday, March 16th, until Wednesday, April 1st. Click for information from Gresham-Barlow and Reynolds School Districts.
• The Multnomah County Library system and Portland Parks and Recreation facilities will be closed until April.
• Both Gresham City Hall and Portland City Hall remain open, but have cancelled all non-essential meetings.
• The Department of Transportation is asking that people use the DMV's online services as much as possible rather than coming in to the DMV. 
• Many other public and private organizations have closed, cancelled, or postponed services and events. It is a good idea to call ahead before going out. You can also contact my office for information about state and local services. 

In addition, Governor Brown has declared a State of Emergency for Oregon, and Multnomah County Chair Kafoury, Gresham Mayor Bemis, and Portland Mayor Wheeler have declared emergencies here at the local level. This will give us greater access to resources and latitude to act quickly in response to new challenges.

We expect the federal government to pass an aid package in the next week that will provide assistance to states and local government and help Americans afford care and necessities. This is a rapidly changing situation, and there is a lot of uncertainty. The Governor’s office is keeping this webpage up-to-date with information about the conditions here in Oregon and resources for Oregonians.

What can you do to help?

1. Stay home! This virus is spread by people in close contact with each other. Turn that coffee meeting into a phone call. If you can, work from home. If you are hosting an event, cancel it. You can transmit the disease even when you don't feel sick, so it is better to be cautious. 
2. Be safe when in public. If you go out, try to avoid crowded locations, cough into your elbow, and wash your hands frequently.
3. Be careful of vulnerable people. People over 65 and those with existing medical conditions are more vulnerable to complications from COVID-19. Be especially careful around loved ones who fall into these groups. The Oregon Health Authority released a guidance about relatives in long-term-care facilities.
4. If you can, support your community. Check on vulnerable neighbors and see if you can help pick up food or prescriptions. Consider donating to organizations like the Oregon Food Bank that are still hard at work serving vulnerable people in need, or buying a gift card to the small businesses in your neighborhood that are struggling.
5. Don’t spread bad information. Pause and think before you share information online and double-check that it’s accurate. The Multnomah County Health Department is an especially good resource about the situation here. This is a time for preparation, not panic.

What resources are out there?

The steps we are taking to lessen the spread of the virus are crucial, but they will cause disruption to our lives. Here is a list of resources that can help us get through this. 

211Info is an excellent source of information about resources and benefits, and they are also ready to answer your questions about coronavirus. They are open seven days a week, 8 a.m. to 11 p.m. by phone (call 211), text (text your ZIP code to 898211) or email (help@211info.org).

Food. This article from Partners for a Hunger-Free Oregon has excellent information about accessing food. For instance, you can now use your Oregon Trail Card to order groceries online through Amazon and Walmart.

• Gresham-Barlow SD will provide free breakfast and lunch to children under 18 March 16-20 and March 30-31. Find information about picking up meals here.
• Reynolds SD will provide free meals to kids between 11:30 and 1 p.m. March 16-20. More information about picking up meals here.
• The Oregon Food Bank is still open for business. Their Food Finder can help you find food resources across the Metro region.

Paying your bills. Portland General Electric, Pacific Power, Northwest Natural Gas, and the Portland Water Bureau will all temporarily stop service disconnections for non-payment of bills. Comcast is offering free internet access for some families for the next 60 days.

For workers and businesses. Businesses can do their part by allowing their employees to work from home as much as possible. Here is more guidance for employers from Business Oregon. In addition:

• Sick time: Workers at most companies are entitled to one hour of protected, paid sick time for every thirty hours they work. This time can be used to care for a loved one who is sick or to care for kids who are out of school due to closures. More information from the Bureau of Labor and Industries here.
• Help for small businesses: Here are some resources for small businesses who may be struggling. The state’s WorkShare Oregon program helps businesses avoid layoffs or furloughs by providing partial unemployment insurance benefits to workers.
• Unemployment insurance and other programs: Employees who are laid off or whose hours are reduced are often eligible for unemployment benefits.The state is working to expand eligibility for people who lose income due to public health shutdowns. This website has some helpful information and resources and will be updated.
• We expect that Congress will pass federal legislation in the next week to provide some additional resources for workers and businesses--so stay tuned.

Thank you for your patience, thank you for helping your neighbors, and thank you for staying home as much as you can!  Team Piluso will be working remotely, but shoot us an email any time and we will do our best to answer your questions and find you resources. 

Be safe, 

Carla C. Piluso
State Representative, House District 50

email: Rep.CarlaPiluso@oregonlegislature.gov I phone: 503-986-1450
address: 900 Court St NE, H-491, Salem, OR 97301
website: http://www.oregonlegislature.gov/piluso