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Dear Friends and Neighbors,
As we practice social distancing and cope with the uncertainty all around us, it seems like everyday life is so much harder to navigate. If you are working from home, you may have just realized that you left something in your office that you need for today’s task. If you are a parent, you are figuring out how to support your children as we transfer to Online and Distance Education. If you have a loved one in a Residential Facility, you may be worried about their health. Businesses are trying to figure out payroll, if they are open. Even a trip to the grocery store has multiple levels of complexity.
Now I need to make a mask to wear! Seriously, if we stay as positive as we can, we will figure it out together.
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Status Update: Oregon now has 1,132 confirmed cases of COVID-19, 259 of which are in Washington County.
Click on the image to be redirected to OHA's coronavirus page
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Social Distancing is working: Stay Home, Stay the Course, Save Lives! As you can see from the figures below, we have reason to be hopeful that the “Stay Home, Save Lives” order is working. Oregon is remaining below our hospital, ICU, and ventilator capacity, and should remain below capacity if we all keep doing our part. Remember that we all play a critical role in preventing transmission. We all are relying on each other through this crisis, so Stay Home, Save Lives!
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Ventilators Sent to New York: This weekend, Governor Brown sent 140 ventilators to New York State in response to an urgent call for help. Thanks to Oregonians’ strict adherence to social distancing, our hospitals have enough ventilators to share with States in need. We’re all in this together, even if we’re thousands of miles apart.
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Employment Department Updates: In past newsletters, we have discussed the wait times and technical difficulties in accessing unemployment benefits. To respond to the exploding demand, the Oregon Employment Department is hiring more staff. Apply for those jobs here. Additionally, they have released a video to walk you through applying for those benefits. Click on the video below to watch.
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Federal Student Loan Action Halted: The Federal Department of Education announced last week that all collection actions and wage garnishment for federal student loan borrowers are halted for at least 60 days, starting retroactively on March 13.
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Federal Eviction and Foreclosure Moratorium: The US Department of Housing and Urban Development has authorized the Federal Housing Administration to implement an immediate foreclosure and eviction moratorium for single family homeowners with FHA-insured mortgages for the next 60 days.
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Resources for Restaurant and Service Workers: We know that our service workers are some of the hardest hit by the lay-offs and social distancing measures. In addition to the state Unemployment Insurance program, there are some other relief resources available for tipped workers and service industry workers. These may be available to you even if you do not qualify for unemployment, (due to length of employment or immigration status).
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Information for Immigrant and Refugee Communities: Governor Brown has added an FAQ to her resource page for Immigrant and Refugee Communities. Click here to read more.
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Coronavirus Worker Safety Fund: To help Oregon employers pay for the cost of making workplaces safer during the spread of COVID-19, SAIF has created a $10 million coronavirus worker safety fund. It is meant to support employee safety, reduce injuries, and decrease hazardous exposures. To read more and get started, click here.
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CDC Guidelines on Mouth Coverings: To prevent people from touching their faces or inadvertently spreading COVID-19, the CDC now recommends that everyone wear a face covering in public. Medical masks should be saved for health care providers. When you go on an essential errand, deliver meals to an at-risk neighbor’s house, or go to work, you should wear a face covering. However, face coverings do not lessen the need to practice strict social distancing; that is as important as ever. Click on the image below to watch Surgeon General Jerome Adams explain how to make your own face covering.
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- Read about how to cope with isolation from an expert: Mark Kelly, a former NASA astronaut who spent almost a year on the International Space Station.
Click on the image to read the article
- Read epidemiologists’ views on whether “coronavirus buddies” are a safe idea (in a nutshell: not without explicit agreements, trust, and safety precautions).
Click on the image to read the article
To listen to the concerns and needs of our communities, and to communicate all the moving parts of this crisis, the Oregon Health Authority has set up multiple community calls. Each call is designed and targeted for different communities and leaders to have a chance to engage in the conversation.
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Community Partner Calls: Every Wednesday, from 1pm-2pm (in English). For community organizations and anyone else working to support their community. These calls are focused on providing support and guidance. Register here.
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En Espanol: Cada miércoles, 2:30pm - 3:30pm. Para organizaciones y la gente quién están apoyando a sus comunidades. Una conversación enfocado en el apoyo y la información. Registrar aqui.
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Regional Listening Calls: Every other Friday, time depending on region. These calls are designed to be smaller, and region specific. They will be focused on hearing from community partners and members of the community about specific needs, concerns, and solutions.
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Northwest Oregon (2:00pm - 3:00pm): Benton, Clackamas, Clatsop, Columbia, Linn, Marion, Multnomah, Polk, Tillamook, Washington, Yamhill. Register Here.
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Central and Eastern Oregon (12:00pm - 12:45pm): Baker, Crook, Deschutes, Gilliam, Grant, Harney, Hood River, Jefferson, Klamath, Lake, Malheur, Morrow, Sherman, Umatilla, Union, Wallowa, Wasco, Wheeler. Register Here.
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Central Coast and Southwest Oregon (1:00pm - 1:45pm): Coos, Curry, Douglas, Jackson, Josephine, Lane, Lincoln. Register Here.
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Migrant and Seasonal Farmworker Calls: Every Wednesday, 10am-11am. Organizations, clinics, and advocates working to protect farmworkers are invited to join the conversation focused on sharing strategies, resources, information, and needs for migrant and seasonal farmworkers in our communities. Register here.
Employers and Employees
The following list of resources is from Oregon’s Secretary of State’s Office. The fastest way to get in touch with the SOS team is by emailing business.sos@oregon.gov, using the “Need Help?” button found on most state agency websites or visiting www.oregon.gov/smallbusiness.
Education Links
Local Government
Utilities Assistance
Food and Housing Assistance
Yours truly,
 Representative Susan McLain
House District 29
email: Rep.SusanMcLain@oregonlegislature.gov I phone: 503-986-1429
address: 900 Court St NE, H-376, Salem, OR 97301
website: http://www.oregonlegislature.gov/mclain
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