Coronavirus Update: Take Care of Your Mental Health

ViewOnline
House Speaker Tina Kotek

Coronavirus Update: Take Care of Your Mental Health

Dear Friends and Neighbors,

This is a difficult time for all Oregonians. Fear and anxiety are normal reactions to a very abnormal situation.

We are all better at managing stress when we stay connected with our friends and people we love. As many are already doing, stay connected. Check up on others by phone or online. If you're sharing the same space with someone, maintain your distance with each other, but have as much fun as you can. Taking breaks from reading or watching coverage about the virus will also reduce stress. I know I’m reading too much social media and watching a little too much news, so let’s take breaks!

If you or someone you know is feeling especially overwhelmed, anxious or fearful, please know that you don’t have to go through this alone. In addition to friends and family, here are people who can help talk you through it.

The federal government has a Disaster Distress Helpline that provides 24/7, 365-day-a-year crisis counseling and support to people experiencing emotional distress related to natural or human-caused disasters. Call the Disaster Distress Helpline at 1-800-985-5990 or text TalkWithUs to 66746 to speak to a trained crisis counselor.

Here are additional resources:


The Latest News

  • Governor Kate Brown announced that Oregon will delay its state income tax filing deadline by three months in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic. The new deadline is July 15, which matches the new federal filing deadline. Businesses with estimated payments must still file by April 15. The Oregon Department of Revenue will have more information on this delay available soon.
  • The Oregon Health Authority announced today there are now 266 diagnosed cases of coronavirus in the state. That is 57 more diagnosed cases than yesterday, the highest single day increase in Oregon to this point. Sadly, there have now been 10 deaths in Oregon from coronavirus. Again, the increase in diagnosed cases is to be expected because our in-state testing capacity is improving. The best way to ensure this spread stops sooner is to stay home as much as possible. It will save lives and protect our health care workers.

Workplace Complaints

Below is another reminder about which businesses can and can’t be open while the Governor’s Stay Home, Save Lives executive order is in effect. If your employer is staying open contrary to what the executive order requires, or not enforcing 6 feet of social distancing in the workplace, you can report them to Oregon’s Occupational Safety and Health (OSHA) division. The Bureau of Labor and Industries (BOLI) has information here for workers during these uncertain times.

Open/Closed

What’s Happening with Child Care?

Oregon’s Early Learning Division of the Department of Education is working to clarify the impact of Governor Brown’s Stay Home, Save Lives executive order on our state’s child care providers. This is a challenging time for child care as the state looks to strike a balance between separating children and workers to prevent the spread of coronavirus, and helping parents who are working in essential services and need safe places to leave their children while at work.

Here’s are some important updates from the Early Learning Division:

  • All regularly licensed centers must close. This does not apply to family/friend child care situations with three or fewer children.
  • However, centers may apply to become an “Emergency Child Care Provider.” If so, they must agree to:
    • Have no more than 10 children at the facility.
    • Give priority to the children of essential personnel (health care workers, first responders, grocery store workers, etc.).
    • Must accept the risk of caring for the children of parents working in occupations that may expose them to the virus.
    • Commit to a higher level of sanitation.
    • Commit to conducting regular temperature checks of the children.
    • Avoid having certain porous-surfaced furnishings that can trap the virus.
  • Providers can apply to become Emergency Providers on the Early Learning Division website or by calling 800-556-6616 by Friday, March 27.
  • Parents in essential personnel categories can use 211 to be connected to providers in their areas who are designated as Emergency Childcare Providers.

If You’re Sick, Do You Require a COVID-19 Test?

If you have flu-like symptoms – such as fever, coughing, or mild shortness of breath – first stay away from other people and take precautions to avoid transmitting illness to others (even beyond the social distancing measures everyone should follow).

Then, the best person to decide whether you require a test for COVID-19 is your health care provider.

Health care providers can order tests for COVID-19 through commercial labs, just as they order tests for other medical conditions. The testing capacity at commercial labs continues to grow but is not unlimited.

Even if you have symptoms, your health care provider still might not order a test. A key question for them is whether a positive test would actually change the care they provide. They might simply instruct you to stay home, recover, and take extra care not to spread illness to other people – the very same instructions they would give if you did test positive.

If you have serious symptoms – such as trouble breathing, chest pains, or bluish lips or face – seek care. If it is an emergency, call 911. If it is not an emergency but you feel sick enough to need a medical appointment, call your doctor’s office. If you don’t have a doctor, call 211 for a list of clinics near you. If necessary, visit your local urgent care center.

Call before you go. If you have flu-like symptoms or have reason to think you might have COVID-19, let your health care provider know before you visit. This will help avoid exposing anyone else at the health care facility.

A flyer about testing can be found here. More information about testing and other COVID-19 topics, including the flyer in more languages, can be found at www.healthoregon.org/coronavirus.


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.

We will get through this together.

Best,

Tina

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