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Friends and Neighbors,
In order to protect the health and safety of Oregon families we must work together and support each other. Governor Brown’s Stay Home, Save Lives executive order directs everyone in Oregon to stay home to the maximum extent possible. The order will remain in effect until ended by the Governor. The more seriously we take this message, the quicker we can shut down the spread. We can avoid much of the issues we are seeing in other states with the rapid spread and the toll it is taking on their health care system.
Oregon State Police have issued an Emergency Declaration Enforcement FAQ in order to help provide guidance for enforcement concerning the Governor's Executive Order.
Education Updates (E-Learning Updates)
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Hillsboro School District: Hillsboro School District’s current plan is to begin providing supplemental learning materials to students on Wednesday, April 1. These materials would be available online as well as in paper form.
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Beaverton School District: Over spring break, our Teaching & Learning team is working on the Pre-K-12 remote learning plan for ALL students. We are also committed to ensuring that students receiving special services have their needs met. Our Student Services team is working with peers across the State to develop strategies. We also have a team working to identify students and families that may not have access to technology and Internet service. More information will be forthcoming about accessing devices for students in K-5.
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Oregon Department of Education: The newest guidance is aimed at supporting schools in evaluating this approach, understanding their legal obligations, and the standards for the delivery of instruction and student supports that must be adhered to in moving to fully online school.
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Higher Education Updates: While recognizing that decision-making authority around what programs are “essential to emergency response and resiliency effort” resides with individual colleges and universities and their boards, the Higher Education Coordinating Commission is providing the following guidance about face-to-face program offerings during the COVID-19 outbreak to help inform decision making.
Young People are Getting COVID-19
To be clear, while their symptoms may not be severe, young people can still run the risk of contracting the virus. In fact, they may be more likely given their high mobility and social behavior throughout our communities. You might be able to spread the coronavirus even if you feel OK.
- Young People are getting COVID-19: In the United States, about 1 in 2 infected is under age 55. 1 in 3 is under age 45.
- COVID-19 can make young people very sick: Nearly 2 in 5 U.S. patients needing hospital care in a recent study were under age 55. 1 in 5 was under 45. 1 in 2 ICU patients in the Netherlands were under 50. More than 1 in 2 ICU patients in France were under 60.
- Young people can infect and endanger someone they love: COVID-19 is highly contagious. Older people and those with other conditions are at higher risk of serious illness or death. You might be able to spread the coronavirus even if you feel OK.
Resources for Youth
Thank you to my three high school interns Lily, Ryan and Olivia for creating these social media graphics to help get the message out to their peers. Feel free to screenshot and share to your own pages as well.
Emergency Coordination Center
Response to emergencies or disasters that affect all or part of the state takes place at the local level, in the city or county in which the emergency or disaster occurs. In a large incident or one that affects multiple jurisdictions, Office of Emergency Management may support a coordinated response. The State Emergency Coordination Center (ECC) may be activated in a multi-jurisdictional emergency or disaster and serve as a communications hub to ensure all participating response agencies are coordinated.
On March 8, 2020, Gov. Kate Brown declared a state of emergency to address the spread of COVID-19 in Oregon. This declaration gives the Governor authority to direct state agencies to use and employ state personnel, equipment, and facilities for activities designated to prevent or alleviate actual or threatened damage due to the emergency.
In response to the declaration, the Office of Emergency Management (OEM) mobilized the state Emergency Coordination Center (ECC) to coordinate and support state and local recovery efforts. The ECC is collaborating with the Oregon Health Authority (OHA) and its Agency Operations Center (AOC).
OHA serves as the lead agency for public health response efforts and the ECC is focused on minimizing any disruption to critical services in Oregon.
For more information about the ECC, donations, offering services or volunteering follow this link.
Making a Difference
- Hillsboro School District donates more than 3,500 masks to local hospitals and fire station. Read more about it here.
- Intel announced on Monday they will donate more than 1 million pieces of protective equipment to healthcare workers. Read more about it here.
- Nike will donate $15 million to COVID-19 response efforts, most of which will go to efforts in Oregon, and including a two-to-one match for any employee donations to support COVID-19 responses locally. Read more about it here.
- Kaiser Permanente is contributing $1 million to 10 leading public health organizations that are working to stop the spread of COVID-19. They are also contributing $1 million to increase capacity for prevention and treatment of COVID-19 within the homeless community. Read more about it here.
If you have new personal protective equipment, or PPE, visit this site to donate.
Resources for our Furry Friends
We all love our furry friends and they are so important to our comfort during this time of uncertainty. The Humane Society has shared some links to pet owners and pet providers resources during the coronavirus pandemic.
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Guidance for animal shelters and rescues to navigate COVID-19.
- FAQs about pet preparedness and what people can do to help animals in need.
- The Oregon Veterinary Medical Association has updated information for both veterinarians and pet owners on their homepage.
- This blog is for groups that do community outreach and pet owner support work.
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Several other specific ways people can make a difference to help others with pets:
- Contact a local shelter or rescue to find out their urgent requirements. Many of these groups post wish lists on social media and their websites. Share their social media posts to spread the word about critical items they need to take care of an influx of animals due to increased pet surrenders.
- Many shelters and rescues are accepting donations of pet food to distribute to members of the community in need. The HSUS and other local humane societies are working to ensure food pantries also carry pet food. If your local food pantry does not, please offer to help them start a pet food program.
- While closed to the general public, many Oregon animal shelters, and rescues remain open for by-appointment adoptions or virtual-based adoptions like the Oregon Humane Society and Humane Society of Central Oregon. Adoptions and fosters are more important now than ever as shelters and rescues will likely undergo temporary loss of staff and volunteers, limited resources and space, and a surge of animal intakes/surrenders.
- If there are horse owners that need help with hay during this time of crisis, please have them contact the Oregon Hay Bank.
 My staff and I with our Furry Friends-From top left clockwise: Me with my dog Annie and cat Kado, Nickole with cat Kobe and cat Tessa, Shannon and Shelby with dog Annie and cat Mokey
Additional Resources
Education Links
City Links
Utilities Assistance
Food and Housing Assistance
I know these are difficult times. Each day can feel heavy with worry of the unknown of what tomorrow will bring. Now, more than ever, it is critical that we take the time for self-care. We cannot take care of others well, without first taking care of ourselves. Please consider, when you are traveling on a plane with someone in your care, in the event of an emergency and the cabin pressure changes, they have directed you to first put your air mask on before you help others with theirs. Please take care of yourself. Take breaks from social media and news on tv. Take breaks to get some exercise. Take breaks to cuddle with a furry friend. When you are good to yourself, you can be even better for those around you. Check in on a friend, on an older neighbor or family member. We are all in this together and will get through this. Stay home the absolute most you can. Be safe. Stay well.
Onward and Upward,
 Capitol Phone: 503-986-1430
Capitol Address: 900 Court St. NE, H-487, Salem, Oregon 97301
Email: Rep.JaneenSollman@oregonlegislature.gov
Website: http://www.oregonlegislature.gov/sollman
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