Dear Friends and Neighbors,
Yesterday, Governor Brown held a press conference that provided more details on her plan for reopening Oregon. The fact that we can consider taking gradual steps towards reopening is all thanks to Oregonians following the Stay Home, Save Lives order. According to recent models, we have averted 70,000 new coronavirus cases thanks to our social distancing efforts. Your sacrifices have truly allowed Oregon to flatten the curve.
As I mentioned, the reopening process will be gradual, and it is important to remember that we will not be returning to pre-coronavirus conditions. Physical distancing and face coverings will remain a part of our lives for the foreseeable future until we have an effective treatment or vaccine.
With this new reality in mind, the Governor’s team developed a multi-stage approach to reopening guided by science and data. They also took into account the fact that counties are experiencing the impact of the coronavirus pandemic to varying degrees. This led them to develop a phased-in approach based on geography where every county must individually apply to enter each phase of reopening. We are at the point where some counties are able to consider moving into Phase One if they meet a series of detailed prerequisites developed by the Governor’s medical advisors:
- A continuing pattern of slowed growth in the number of infection cases.
- Adequate inventory of personal protective equipment available to health care providers and other professionals.
- An increase in testing.
- A robust system of regional contact tracing, to be created by the Oregon Health Authority (OHA) in partnership with local public health and medical professionals.
- Development of a quarantine and isolation program, including plans for at risk populations such as those in residential care facilities and our houseless community.
The Governor has started accepting applications from counties who believe they have met all of the above requirements. All applications are reviewed by the Governor’s office and medical advisors, and the earliest date counties could enter Phase One is May 15th. Rural counties will likely be the first to have their applications approved, because many have few or no coronavirus cases. It is unlikely that Clackamas or Multnomah County will be in the first wave of counties submitting applications to the Governor’s office, and we should assume the metro area counties will be among the last to reopen. However, I know the county commissioners are working diligently to ensure we can begin the reopening process as soon as the science and data shows we are ready.
Here is additional information regarding the Phase One guidelines for the general public and for specific industries:
Not all sector specific guidance has been finalized as of today. When additional guidance is released, it will be posted to OHA’s COVID-19 website.
The specific details of Phases Two and Three are still being developed by the Governor’s team, but her Chief of Staff created a helpful video presentation to provide a high-level overview of their current plans for those phases. You can watch his presentation here.
I recognize that this geographic, phased-in approach to reopening can be confusing. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact my office. I will continue to provide updates as new information about this process becomes available.
Expanded Testing
Oregon’s goal is to administer at least 15,000 tests per week. Last week, over 12,000 tests were administered, and the testing numbers continue to increase. Due to increased capacity and improved supply chain access, the Oregon Health Authority (OHA) expanded its guidance on who may be tested. Here is their new testing strategy:
- Test every Oregonian who is symptomatic.
- Test asymptomatic individuals in group living situations where COVID-19 is suspected. This includes nursing homes, adult foster homes, group homes, farmworker housing, fishing boats, prisons, and more.
- Widespread, voluntary sample testing, particularly for at-risk populations.
More details on testing is available here.
'Key to Oregon' Study:
As I mentioned above, part of the plan is to execute widespread, voluntary sample testing through a partnership with the State of Oregon, OHA, the OHSU-PSU School of Public Health, and 100,000 Oregonians across the state. The data collected will allow us to better understand where the disease is located, how common it is, and how it might be transmitted across the state.
Oregonians, if selected to participate in the study, will receive an invitation in the mail starting May 11th. Participation is completely voluntary, but this is a great opportunity to help provide baseline data to help the state make informed, data-driven decisions. Additional information about the program is available at www.ohsu.edu/keystudy.
Contact Tracing
We must also be able to trace contacts with new cases to identify individuals at risk for possible infection. This work will help county public health officials contain outbreaks before community spread can occur. Governor Brown’s contact tracing plan sets a goal of training at least 600 contact tracers to be deployed statewide. The hiring process focuses on recruiting individuals with cultural and linguistic competence for the populations and communities they serve.
OHA created a helpful video providing more information about how contact tracing works.
You can read the Governor’s press release that highlights the new testing and contact tracing efforts here.
Oregon Health Authority Data
Many of you have asked when OHA will provide more specific COVID-19 case data. As of this week, OHA has started to categorize COVID-19 case data by ZIP code and county. OHA is still taking steps to protect patients' privacy by combining data. So, if a ZIP code’s population is less than 1,000 people, OHA combines the ZIP codes and reports the aggregate case count. Also, if there are fewer than 10 cases in a ZIP code, OHA reports that as "1-9." The goal of releasing the data is to help people better understand the extent of community-based spread of the virus.
You can find this data on OHA’s website in their weekly report.
Safe + Strong
OHA created a new website, Safe + Strong, which focuses on community-centered, culturally-relevant COVID-19 information in 12 languages. We know that not everyone is able to work from home during this time, and this site was designed with those individuals in mind. The website includes information, tools, and resources to help people who are at-risk of experiencing health disparities. Visit the Safe + Strong campaign here.
You can find more resources from OHA on all their various platforms:
Non-Emergency Medical Procedures
Last week, Governor Brown announced the guidelines under which hospitals, surgical centers, medical offices, and dental offices can return to operation. Medical providers will need to demonstrate they can:
- Minimize the risk of coronavirus transmission to patients and health care workers;
- Maintain adequate hospital capacity in the event of a surge in COVID-19 cases; and
- Support the health care workforce to safely resume activities.
OHA created a FAQ regarding this new guidance, which you can read here. Additional information can be found on OHA’s COVID-19 website.
Limited Opening of State Recreational Areas
In what I imagine will be welcome news to many of you, Governor Brown announced the limited opening of some state parks, outdoor recreation facilities, and areas across Oregon for day use. Camping opportunities will become available as federal, state, local, and private providers are able to prepare their facilities for visitors. Ski resorts will be able to resume activities under a forthcoming executive order.
Reopening outdoor recreation areas will also follow a phased approach, and not all parks are open. However, in good news for my district, Tryon Creek State Park is one of the state parks that reopened on Wednesday. Before you go hike, please read the Governor’s guidelines for responsible outdoor recreation during this time. The Oregon State Parks Department also created a useful FAQ sheet, which you can read here.
Emergency Order for Health Insurance Companies
The Oregon Department of Consumer and Business Services (DCBS) issued a new emergency order, which requires health insurance companies to:
- Provide at least a 60-day grace period to pay any past due premiums
- Pay claims for any covered services during the first 30 days of the grace period
- Extend all deadlines for reporting claims and other communications, and provide members with communication options that meet physical distancing standards
The order enables Oregonians to continue receiving health insurance coverage and have their claims paid. It is important to note that this order does not apply to self-insured plans. The state encourages self-insured plans to follow these same guidelines. Oregonians who have a self-insured plan should check with their employer about their coverage options.
If you have questions about your insurance coverage, contact your insurance provider. If you have questions about a health insurance company or agent or need to file a complaint, call the Division of Financial Regulation’s advocacy team at 888-877-4894 (toll-free) or visit dfr.oregon.gov.
Additional Updates
Payment Protection Program (PPP)
Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) funding is still available! Small businesses can use the funds to pay their employees for up to eight weeks. These loans are forgivable if the guidelines are followed.
More information about PPP is available on the Small Business Administration (SBA) website, and Senator Merkley’s COVID-19 Mainstreet page. Additionally, the Senator’s website includes a list of lenders currently accepting PPP applications in Oregon. For application assistance, please contact your local Small Business Development Center (SBDC).
Unemployment Insurance
As a reminder, my last newsletter included new information about Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA), which expanded eligibility for unemployment benefits under the federal CARES Act. Oregonians who are eligible for this program include individuals who do not qualify for or cannot collect benefits on a regular unemployment insurance claim. This includes:
- Self-employed, 1099 contract workers, and gig workers
- Employees whose wages are not reported for unemployment insurance
- Employees who have not earned enough wages or worked enough hours for regular unemployment benefits, and
- People who were going to start work but could not.
For more information on this program, you can read my previous newsletter here, or you can visit the Oregon Employment Department’s (OED) CARES Act webpage for helpful FAQs and application guidance. Finally, OED’s COVID-19 website has information about COVID-19 business layoffs, closures, and unemployment insurance benefits.
Corporate Activities Tax (CAT) Update
The Oregon Department of Revenue filed a new rule to provide additional flexibility for small businesses subject to the corporate activity tax (CAT). Under the new rule, businesses subject to the CAT but owing less than $10,000 will not have to make quarterly estimated payments and will not have their CAT payment due until April 15, 2021. The previous threshold was $5,000. Learn more here.
Mental Health Supports
In previous newsletters, I talked about how our mental health is just as important as our physical health. It’s worth repeating, because people living with mental illness and their loved ones face additional challenges dealing with COVID-19. For some, this also might be their first time seeking out mental health supports. So, I will continue to remind you that resources and assistance are out there, including this COVID-19 Guide created by the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI).
To remind community members that there is an entire community ready to support them, NAMI has started the “You are Not Alone” campaign. Throughout this month, they will feature personal stories from people affected by mental illness to fight stigma, inspire others, and educate the broader public. You can submit your story about how COVID-19 has impacted you or a loved one's mental illness at nami.org/yourstory.
Clackamas County recently launched “Go Teams” to help county residents struggling with COVID-19 driven anxiety, stress, and other social or emotional difficulties. Staff members wearing PPE will come to you and provide psychological first aid. They will offer emotional support, empathy, and connections to local resources. Their services are available Monday through Friday, and you can access the Go Team service by calling (503) 655-8585.
You can read my previous newsletters that included mental and behavioral health resources here.
Local COVID-19 Websites
As always, if you have any questions or if you need any assistance, please do not hesitate to contact my office.
Warmly,
Andrea Salinas, State Representative
email: Rep.AndreaSalinas@oregonlegislature.gov I phone: 503-986-1438 address: 900 Court St NE, H-485, Salem, OR, 97301 website: http://www.oregonlegislature.gov/salinas
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