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Friends and Neighbors,
New guidance from the Oregon Health Authority and CDC suggest that wearing cloth face masks may help in reducing the spread of the coronavirus. Follow this link to learn how to make your own no-sew face masks at home. You can use a bandana or any type of fabric you have on hand. Make sure that it is thick enough to not see through for best protection. Make sure it covers both your nose and mouth and is a snug fit.
Guidance about Homemade Masks and Face Coverings
Remember:
- Medical-grade masks should be reserved for health care providers.
- Homemade masks may be useful for others to reduce the spread of the virus.
- Homemade face coverings do NOT change the need for social distancing, washing your hands, and staying home as much as possible.
Here is a video that was shared by Dr. Lyn Jacobs on the importance of wearing a mask.
Trimet Updates
Please read the following updates from Trimet regarding limiting ridership, new social distancing signage and service reductions.
As ridership has dropped due to COVID-19, we are temporarily reducing service. This is a painful-but-necessary adjustment that will help us quickly bounce back when this public health crisis passes.
During this time, our priorities are to run transit throughout our service district that:
- Is safe for riders and operators, following the recommendations of the Oregon Health Authority.
- Enables essential workers — nurses, doctors, first responders, and other similar roles — to get to their places of work, so they can keep our community going during this time.
- Is sustainable for our finances and staffing.
Transit should only be used if necessary to access food, medicine and essential employment. All other trips should be avoided — please follow the guidance of Governor Brown and the Oregon Health Authority to stay home.
Other Information to Know:
- Cleaning: All buses, MAX, WES and LIFT vehicles are cleaned with disinfectant nightly.
- Distancing: Our buses now have a second yellow line that’s six feet back from the driver, near the Priority Seating area. On all buses we ask riders to stay at least six feet from the operator. You can move but they can't.
- No Longer Taking Cash: This is a temporary measure to help with social distancing and to minimize the time riders spend near our bus operators. Instead, you’ll need to pay with Hop: a plastic Hop card, your phone using a mobile wallet or virtual card, or a Hop ticket purchased at a ticket machine at a MAX or WES station.
Local Grocery Stores
Many of our local grocery stores have implemented social distancing measures within their stores to keep it safe for everyone to shop. Here are some highlights:
Winco
Temporary Store Hours:
- Sunday 7:00 am - 10:00 pm
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Monday 7:00 am - 10:00 pm
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Tuesday 7:30 am - 10:00 pm
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Wednesday 7:00 am - 10:00 pm
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Thursday 7:30 am - 10:00 pm
- Friday 7:00 am - 10:00 pm
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Saturday 7:00 am - 10:00 pm
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Please note:
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Tuesday/Thursday Early Access - (Seniors, Vulnerable Population & WinCo Employees) 6:00 am - 7:30 am
Entry Into Store: Please note that entry into the store may be metered to allow for social distancing and to follow guidelines. This means that you may experience a wait in line before being able to enter the store, please dress accordingly for possible time outside and observe social distancing at all times, including while in line.
Bulk bins, Olive bar, Soup bar and Self-Serve beverage station are closed.
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Online Ordering/Curbside Pickup, Delivery: WinCo Foods has temporarily paused online ordering (which only included bakery trays, deli trays, sealed cases of bulk bin items) and we will look to make this feature available again once we return to normal. WinCo Foods does not offer curbside pick-up/delivery (and has never offered this); and while we can't guarantee a yes, it is a request that has been forwarded to leadership for consideration.
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New Seasons
- Capacity Limits and Social Distancing: To provide extra space and service to our community, we have instituted temporary store capacity limits at all locations. We ask that families please select one member to do the shopping whenever possible and to limit store visits to 30 minutes or less to help minimize potential wait times and maintain a healthy distance of 6ft between other customers and staff members. Other health and safety measures include managing the flow of traffic, the installation of protective plexiglass guards for our cashiers at all registers, and added in-store signage that helps demonstrate a healthy social distance at checkout, as well as service counters to help accommodate customers as they navigate these changes.
- Community Care Shopping Hours and Extended Senior Discount:
8am-9am Community Care Hour
9am-8pm Everyone Welcome
We encourage those at risk for serious illness to take advantage of grocery delivery or enlist family members to shop in their place. However, we know that is not always possible, so we have made temporary changes to our store hours to better accommodate our high-risk community, including immunocompromised, pregnant and senior customers. We have also temporarily extended our Wednesday Senior Discount days to all hours, every day of the week.
- Reusable Bags and Beverage Containers: To help ensure the safety of our staff and community, we are temporarily suspending the use of reusable beverage containers and reusable bags at all locations. If your preference is to bag your own groceries, we understand. Just let your cashier know—they are there to support you!
- Temporary Venue and Station Closures: In order to prioritize the health and safety of our staff and community, the following are temporarily closed: coffee bars, seating and dining areas (this extends to the use of our durable serve-ware, cups and utensils), bottle redemption, sampling, classes and in-store events. These closures are in effect through April.
Fred Meyer
- We’re adding plexiglass partitions at all check lanes, Pharmacy counters and Starbucks registers.
- Floor decals to help with social distancing are being added at check lanes and other counters.
- We encourage you to use pickup and delivery. Pickup is now FREE to make it easier to get what you need. Demand has increased significantly for this service, so please bear with us as we do our best to serve our community in a timely manner.
- Updated Store Hours: 7am – 10pm (Exclusive Shopping for Seniors 60 & Older: 7am – 8am, Monday - Thursday)
- Will limit the number of customers allowed in its stores at one time due to the coronavirus crisis to one person per 120 square feet in order to ensure customers can adhere to proper physical distancing. This is a 50% decrease from the standard building capacity for a grocery store of one person per 60 feet.
Costco
- Updated Guest Shopping Policy: Effective Friday, April 3, Costco will allow no more than two people to enter the warehouse with each membership card.
- Updated Shopping Hours: U.S. Costco warehouses will close at 6:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. U.S. Costco gas stations will open at 7:30 a.m. daily, and close at 7 p.m. on weekdays and 6:30 p.m. on weekends.
- Special Hours: Until further notice, Costco warehouses will open from 8 to 9 a.m. Tuesday through Thursday for members ages 60 and older, and for those with physical impairments.
- Product Limitations: Costco has implemented limits on certain items to help ensure more members are able to purchase merchandise they want and need. Our buyers and suppliers are working hard to provide essential, high demand merchandise as well as everyday favorites.
- Costco Food Courts: A limited menu is available at Costco Food Courts. Orders are only available for takeout — seating is not available. Please ask Costco Food Court employees for available condiments.
Albertsons
- Running Clean Stores and Pharmacies: We have stepped up how often we clean and disinfect all departments, restrooms, and other high-touch points of the store, like checkstands and service counters. Cart wipes and hand sanitizer stations have been installed in key locations within the stores for your convenience, too. As always, we encourage customers to wash their fresh and packaged produce before consuming at home.
- In-Stock Items: In many markets, we are asking customers to respect quantity limits of select, high-demand items (like hand sanitizers and household cleaners) to help ensure more of our neighbors can find the products they need. We’re refilling high-demand products as quickly as we can.
- Planning for Local Needs: Our team is also planning to make sure we can serve you if your community becomes impacted in a significant way. From a single case to local community outbreaks or situations, we have plans to keep our stores and pharmacies open and serving our communities.
- Shopping for You: Our Grocery Delivery, Pharmacy Delivery, and Drive Up & Go services are still available to you. You can find more information at your store’s website, Albertsons.com
Oregon Department of Justice
Oregon is leading the fight against hate. Hate crimes are on the rise, both in Oregon and nationally. It is up to all Oregonians to make sure that everyone is safe in their community. Join Attorney General Ellen Rosenblum and take a stand against hate in your community. I've signed the pledge and you can too here. Visit the Oregon Department of Justice's webpage, Bias crimes-About the Law to learn more or to report a hate or bias incident.
Remember to be vigilant against COVID-19 related scams right now. Follow the guidelines from the Department of Justice on the following scams:
COVID-19 Scam Alerts/Press Releases
Education Updates
Distance Learning is new for many of us. We are all in this together- parents, students and educators alike. This is a stressful time for all, please lend patience to your student’s teacher as they work hard to completely change their models for teaching from in-person to online. They love and miss their students and this has been a difficult transition for them too. The safety and well-being of their students and families have always weighed on them, but now even more. Please consider sending a word of encouragement to your child’s teacher. I know they will appreciate the moment of appreciation. ❤
Here is a helpful guide for at home learning by the Oregon Department of Education with resources and links for ideas and activities. Some of the recommendations include:
- Spark simple conversation
- Maintain some routine
- Focus on learning in everyday life
- Build from the interests and choices of your children
- Help children find purpose in their learning
House District 30 teachers and students are connecting and learning! Send us a picture of your student hard at work.
Additional Education Links:
Higher Education Updates
Oregon’s seven public comprehensive universities and Oregon Health & Science University announced jointly today that none will require freshman applicants to submit SAT or ACT scores to be considered for admission, starting with fall term 2021.
Going forward, undergraduate students applying to any of Oregon’s public universities will have the option—rather than the requirement—of submitting standardized test scores with their application for admission.
Across the nation, more than 1,000 four-year universities and colleges, including almost 400 top-tier four-year universities and colleges, have either abandoned standardized testing altogether or now provide students the option to take such tests. These changes follow decades of research regarding the contribution of standardized admissions tests in accurately predicting a student’s academic success once in college.
Test-optional policies nationwide allow students to determine whether a standardized test score is reflective of their academic accomplishments and ability.
Read the full press release here.
Hillsboro to Launch the “Food 2 You” Food Pantry Delivery Program
The City of Hillsboro is launching the “Food 2 You” food pantry delivery program today, April 7, in partnership with St. Vincent de Paul and The Salvation Army of Hillsboro.
The Food 2 You program will deliver essential food to Hillsboro community members who need it most during the COVID-19 pandemic, when getting to a food pantry may be difficult or dangerous to their health.
The program will accept requests and deliver food two (2) days each week, hence the name: Food 2 You.
Read more about how this program works here.
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Additional Resources
District Links
Utilities Assistance
Food and Housing Assistance
- Governor Brown’s Executive Order 20-11: places a temporary moratorium on residential evictions for nonpayment in light of the public health emergency caused by the spread of coronavirus in Oregon. The order is effective for 90 days.
- Governor Brown's Executive Order 20-13 strengthens Governor Brown's previous ban on residential evictions, and prohibits landlords from charging tenants late fees for nonpayment of rent during the moratorium.
- Community Action.org
- Oregon Food Bank
- Meals on Wheels
Oregonians, you're doing great and you've got to keep doing it. The Stay Home, Save Lives measures that Governor Brown put in place appear to be flattening our curve, but we have not yet reached our peak. We must continue to practice staying home and maintaining strict social distance rules in order to keep our hospitals and health care providers from being overwhelmed all at once like other states are experiencing. The urge to bust out of our houses and be around people is real, the weather will be beautiful this week. Please spend time in your own yard or take a walk or bike ride in your own neighborhood, but STAY HOME if it is not necessary to go out.
I understand how isolation from friends and family members that do not live with you can take a toll on our individual and collective mental health. Always remember, you don’t have to go through this alone. Make sure you are connecting with friends, family, neighbors and coworkers. #WeAreAllInThisTogether. When you need help, don’t be afraid to ask. When you need a break from the stress of the day, find some fun activities to shake up the day in a positive way. A friend shared this great Quarantine Bucket List on social media. You can give it a try, or better yet, create your own. You could enjoy a fun scavenger hunt in your house or yard – that can be fun for all ages.
Please don't hesitate to reach out to my office with any questions or concerns. We will get through this.
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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