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Hello Friends,
First and foremost, I hope this finds you and yours well. The massive amount of information continues to flow in from the state and federal level as we face the COVID-19 Crisis. On the federal level we now have the CARES Act (Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security), which will bring much needed relief to individuals and small businesses that are struggling during this time.
The federal government as part of the CARES act has an additional resource for small businesses called the Paycheck Protection Program. Information can be found here. This program is specifically designed to help small businesses keep their workforce employed.
The state continues to struggle with supplying essential PPE to all front-line healthcare providers. To date the state has distributed over 10,000 face shields, 400,000 N95 masks and 50,000 surgical masks, and has received more PPE from the federal government in a shipment from FEMA. The personnel at the fully operational PPE distribution center in Wilsonville have begun processing the supplies and will begin shipping it to all 36 counties and 9 tribes in Oregon the first of next week.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION AND RESOURCES
Daily Updates via Txt
State and federal updates on COVID-19/Coronavirus are rapidly changing. For the latest, please consider following the link for daily updates. A note on this, I hesitate to sign up for items such as this, but I have found this daily update to be very comprehensive. It ranges from the latest on health, education, business, and the economy. You may want to give it a try, there is an opt out if find it does not provide what you are seeking.
Real ID
The national deadline for switching to the use of standardized Real IDs has been extended by a year to October 2021. ODOT is still on track to begin issuing REAL IDs July 2020, but we have an additional year to make the switch. This increased timeline will be extremely helpful to Oregonians as we work to comply and provide access for receiving new ID. See more info here.
Gas Pumps: temporary suspension on self-service ban
The Office of State Fire Marshal is temporarily allowing self-service at gas stations statewide until April 11. This addresses the workforce shortage at stations due to childcare needs, safety concerns and illness, and ensures fuel is available for essential workers who need to travel.
There will be instructions posted on how to use the pump and an attendant at every station to supervise. Self-service is not mandatory. Individual stations will decide what works best for their workforce availability. Stations will be allowed to offer self-service unattended if no one is available to work, and only for one consecutive shift. One employee must be designated to enforce social distancing.
Volunteering and Donations
Many Oregonians have been stepping up to offer donations and services for the COVID-19 response. The Office of Emergency Management has created a webpage where you can register. There are instructions for individuals, businesses looking to sell or donate to the state, and non-profit agencies looking for volunteers or supplies.
Coronavirus Worker Safety Fund
SAIF unveiled a $10 million coronavirus worker safety fund that will help Oregon employers pay for expenses tied to making workplaces safer. The fund is designed to support employee safety, reduce injuries, and decrease hazardous exposures by helping businesses most impacted by the coronavirus. More than 53,000 SAIF policyholders across the state are eligible for funds. Here is a link to the press release for more information: https://www.saif.com/news/new-fund-to-help-oregon-businesses-respond-to-coronavirus.html
Mental Health Resources
The COVID-19 crisis is impacting routines, livelihoods and mental health. Here are some ways to protect your mental health from the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention:
- Separate what's in your control from what is not
- Do what helps you feel a sense of safety
- Get outside in nature—maintaining social distance
- Challenge yourself to stay in the present
- Stay connected and reach out if you need support
- National Alliance on Mental Illness COVID-19 Information and Resource Guide
Health Update: modeling projection
Stay Home Stay Healthy policies appear to be having an effect and helping flatten the curve as we continue to battle the spread of the COVID-19 virus. Oregon Health Authority graphs (below) clearly illustrate the value of the aggressive measures that have been implemented to ensure “social distancing,” preventing many more infections and a sharp rise in hospitalizations in the coming weeks.
Oregon Health Authority published the findings of modeling done to project the spread of COVID-19 in Oregon, in order to plan to the best of their ability for the healthcare system needs in the state. The model and analysis was performed by the Institute for Disease Modeling in Bellevue, Washington, using data compiled from studies performed in areas where COVID-19 has already spread widely and Oregon testing data.
The report models infection rates with three social distancing scenarios*:
- Green: aggressive interventions: “Stay Home, Save Lives” Executive Order currently in place with 90% compliance.
- Orange: moderate interventions: ban on large events over 250 and school closures.
- Blue: stop social distancing, return to business as usual.
[*Shaded areas represent range of compliance with social distancing (height of blue shade is low to no compliance and lowest of green shade is full compliance, with margin of error) green shade is full compliance, with margin of error].
Conclusions from the model:
- The current aggressive social distancing practice is the only action that decreases the number of hospital beds we need and slow the spread.
- If we let up on these measures, the number of beds required will steadily rise.
- Bed space – the number of beds available along with healthcare teams is the critical information the state is monitoring.
- We will need to continue to watch the situation.
- We have yet to see the full impact of aggressive social distancing in testing data because symptoms can take up to 2 weeks to show after contracting COVID-19.
- Statewide efforts are working to increase hospital capacity. If the need for bed space begins to outweigh current hospital capacity, the plan is to be prepared with additional hospital capacity, i.e., the emergency hospital set up at the Oregon State Fair Grounds here in Salem.
- Implementation of social distancing measures have already fundamentally altered our lives in many ways and although we may face hardships during this time we must focus on the future while continuing to help keep our community safe.
This unique time calls for a delicate balancing act as we face a health crisis and the need for all of us to return to work and our daily routines. We know we are in the midst of a horrible virus and we must do all we can to flatten the curve of infection and death. We must also do everything we can to flatten the curve of small businesses dying and continued unemployment.
To those that are staying home and staying healthy, thank you. For the time being that is the best course of action. For those around us who are challenged with the parameters of social distancing - isolation, stress, and uncertainty - as family and friends we can encourage one another, watch over our at risk loved ones, and work towards getting the economy moving again.
This health crisis will end and when it does our small businesses need to be ready to welcome back the hundreds of thousands of hard-working Oregonians to their jobs. I remain committed to listening, responding, and leading. We as Oregonians can and will weather this crisis and return to our daily routines including our jobs, education, and the ever so valued leisure time outdoors.
Thank you for engaging with your state government. Please know my door is always open and my staff, Pam McClain, Lena Prine, and I welcome your participation.
Yours truly,
 Representative Raquel Moore-Green
House District 19
Capitol Phone: 503-986-1419
Capitol Address: 900 Court St NE, H-385, Salem, OR 97301
Email: Rep.RaquelMooreGreen@oregonlegislature.gov
Website: http://www.oregonlegislature.gov/moore-green
Be sure to follow my legislative Facebook @reprmghd19
Link here to the resources list on my legislative website
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