_{*  “I am only one, but still I am one. I cannot do everything, but still I can do something; And because I cannot do everything I will not refuse to do the something that I can do.”                    —Helen Keller}

For the time being we’ll be using this newsletter to provide links to what we think are some of the most useful resources for weathering the COVID-19 pandemic. Please be sure follow the guidelines and social distancing practices provided by our public health authorities to get us through the crisis.

We know you might be missing the outdoors, so we thought we'd bring the outdoors inside. This photo was provided by ODOT. Have a photo you've taken and want to share with us? Send it to sen.jeffgolden@oregonlegislature.gov with the subject “Photo Reminder.” We’ll use some in future newsletters.

Keeping Current on COVID-19

We’re entering an odd week that combines somber projections that diagnosed cases will continue their sharp rise (first graph) with signs that social distancing is beginning to work in Oregon. The second graph shows that while the number of new cases has increased every day for well over a month, the rate of that daily increase is on a downward path. That is exactly what didn’t happen in Italy, Spain or New York City, where so many are suffering.

What accounts for the reduction of daily increases in Oregon? One factor is fast improvement in the availability of COVID-19 testing. A special shout-out here; the Oregonian just reported that one of the counties topping the nationwide list for most completed tests per capita is our own Jackson County. Our home county’s robust emergency management function and proactive attitude has served us well. That said, you should still only get tested if directed to do so by your physician. For more information about getting tested, check this FAQ that the Oregon Health Authority has put together. 

In the broader picture, the people responsible for the tentative good news are all of you who are taking social distancing and disinfecting habits seriously. The correlation between these practices and flatter curves is consistent across the country and the world. And there’s an additional practice I hope you’ll consider. The CDC has now recommended that we wear cloth masks that filter dust to reduce the odds of transmission. It’s imperfect protection that in no way substitutes for social distancing… but it’s better than nothing. The Czech Republic pioneered this practice early, with encouraging results. Check out the first bullet below for good instructions.

Here again are resources that we hope you’ll find helpful.

Senator Jeff Golden
Senate District 3 (Rogue Valley)

Important Updates

• The CDC now recommends that we wear cloth face masks when we're out in public, especially in situations where it might be difficult to maintain social distancing. However, that does not mean we should go buy medical grade masks like N95. Those should be conserved for the medical professionals who need them most. See below for how to donate masks and other personal protective equipment. To learn how to make your own mask, check out this page from Jackson County. They have guidelines for usage and tips and patterns so you can make your own, including a video from the Surgeon General about how to make a mask with just a piece of fabric and two rubber bands. 
• Congress passed the CARES Act, offering relief aid and economic stimulus to address the fallout of the pandemic. For a short NPR summary of the bill, click here. Senator Wyden's office has assembled a more detailed summary here. More specific details on how to access the relief aid can be found below.
• Social distancing is working. If we continue to follow the directions of medical experts and officials, we should avoid overwhelming our hospital system. Thank you all for staying home and saving lives; please continue to do so.
• Most state and national parks are closed to help limit the spread of coronavirus.
• The state tax filing deadline has been extended to July 15th, matching the federal delay.
• The President has announced that he will extend the deadline when it would become necessary to use Real ID to board a domestic airline. Real ID will not be required to board domestic flights until October 21, 2021.
• Donations of Personal Protective Equipment can be dropped off at a drive-through at the Expo.

Resources for Current Information

• This OHA page is dedicated to information on COVID-19 with links to the latest announcements, guidance etc. You can also subscribe to email or text updates.
• Governor Brown has a website that updates regularly with news and resources about coronavirus and the state's response to the pandemic.
• U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley have each put together pages with additional resources and information.
• The latest from Jackson County Public Health. You can call Jackson County Health and Human services with questions at 541-774-8200.
• This Employment Department Page has resources including a PDF siting what insurance benefits you may qualify for depending on how COVID-19 has impacted you, available in English and Spanish.
• The Bureau of Labor and Industries has a basic FAQ for Employers and Employees around COVID-19. There is also some specific information on Sick Time here.
• The Oregon Department of Education has a page dedicated to COVID-19 information with resources in a variety of languages.

Other Resources

How You Can Help:

• Please follow directives from the government and public health officials. Stay home if you can, and if you have to go out maintain at least a six-feet distance from other people and wear a cloth face mask to avoid spreading the virus. The latest projections show that if we strictly adhere to the plan outlined in the governor's latest executive order, our hospitals will have the capacity to treat everyone who will need it. But only if we do our part and follow the directives from the government.

• While we're stuck at home, please remember to fill out the U.S. Census. That information is critical to making sure people are accurately represented in government and get the resources they need. The self-response window opened on March 12 and can be accessed online at 2020census.gov, over the phone in 13 languages, and by mail. The 2020census.gov website is available in 59 languages; simply click the globe icon on the top right corner of the main page to open a drop-down menu of options. As of now, the response window will be open until August 14 – extended from July 31 due to the coronavirus.
• If you are a retired medical professional and would like to volunteer to help those in need of treatment, you can sign up here.
• The Governor issued an order to preserve personal protective equipment
• (PPE). If you have PPE - things like surgical masks, gloves, etc. - consider donating them here.
• Rogue Valley Recovers has a whole host of information and ways that you can help in our community.
• The Red Cross is asking people to still go out and make blood donations if they feel well enough to do so. The Surgeon General has stressed the importance of donating blood 
•  at this time, and the Red Cross has taken extra steps to make sure that donors and Red Cross employees stay safe. You can read more about them here, and you can make an appointment to donate blood at RedCrossBlood.org or by calling 1-800-733-2767.

Business Resources:

• Senator Merkley's office has put together an excellent summary of the resources made available through the federal coronavirus relief packages with tips and advice about how access that aid.

• Business Oregon has compiled both resources for businesses and business survival tips to get through the crisis.
• The Ashland Chamber of Commerce has put together a page with resources in the Rogue Valley for both employers and employees.
• The Medford Chamber of Commerce has launched their Southern Oregon Strong (S.O.S.) Campaign to give access to a whole host of resources for businesses and consumers.
• Oregon Community Foundation is opening a COVID-19 Pooled Fund to organize local foundations to provide financial assistance to community organizations in response to COVID-19.
• Unemployment Insurance: The Employment Department issued new provisions to Unemployment Insurance to improve access.

Social Services:

• SEIU has put together a really valuable page with resources for unemployment insurance, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (Food stamps), the Oregon Health Plan or other health care coverage, child care, and housing services. Check it out.
• The Governor has created a Coronavirus FAQ for immigrants and refugees in a variety of languages. You can find it by clicking here.
• Oregon Recovers has put together a list of resources for those struggling with addiction.

Meals for Students: 

Many school districts will continue to provide free meals for students.

For the Medford School District: Free “grab and go” meals for kids 18 and under will be served at six locations throughout the district (on weekdays) from Monday, March 16 through Tuesday, March 31. That includes the week of spring break. Breakfast will be served from 9:00AM - 10:00AM and lunch will be served from 11:30AM - 12:30PM.

Locations are as follows:

• North Medford High School  1900 N Keene Way Dr, Medford, OR 97504
• Howard Elementary School 286 Mace Rd, Medford, OR 97501
• Jefferson Elementary School 333 Holmes Ave, Medford, OR 97501
• Roosevelt Elementary School 1212 Queen Anne Ave, Medford, OR 97504
• Jackson Elementary School 713 Summit Avenue, Medford, OR 97501
• Oak Grove Elementary School  2838 W Main Street, Medford, OR 97501

Visitors are asked to enter through designated doors, pick up a meal from the cafeteria and then take the meal to go. Gathering inside the school will be discouraged. We are grateful to our MSD staff who are volunteering to staff the sites!

For all other school districts offering this valuable service and more information on how our schools are responding to COVID-19, please refer to the links below:

• Ashland
• Central Point
• Eagle Point
• Medford
• Phoenix and Talent
• Prospect

Meals for All: 

• Oregon Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Education’s Food Hero website with resources about meal budgeting, planning, and recipes. Its searchable database has plenty of quick, tasty, healthy and low-cost recipes
• The Oregon Food Bank has put together a "Food Finder" page to help locate local pantries and food assistance sites. They want to make sure that food is available to all who need it. If you enter your address, the Food Finder will tell you what services are in your area and is available in multiple languages. Find the Oregon Food Bank's Food Finder by clicking here.
• Access has put together a lengthy list of local food pantries.

Travel:

• Had to cancel travel because of the coronavirus? OSPIRG has put together a handy guide for how to refund your travel plans and how various airlines and hotels have adjusted their policies in response to the outbreak.

Shopping:

• Oregonians can now use SNAP benefits to purchase groceries online from Walmart and Amazon.
• Many grocery stores are setting aside specific hours for vulnerable populations. You can find more information here. 
• The Northwest Grocery Association has put together some guidelines to help make sure we all stay safe when we need to go grocery shopping. Check it out here.

For Parents:

• Food Hero, an Oregon SNAP Education initiative, is offering free online gardening lessons to parents and kids alike.
• OPB created a list of at-home learning resources to help keep kids engaged while they're stuck at home.
• Kid Time has put together some online activities for kids stuck in the house. Check them out here.
• PBS is putting together daily activities for kids who have to stay home due to school closures. You can sign up to get those activities sent too your email if you sign up here.

Please remember to watch the news and follow the advice from experts at the CDC, OHA, and Jackson County Public Health, and directives from the Governor's office. We'll get through this and we'll do it by working together.