Coronavirus Update: Are You Wearing A Face Covering Properly?

ViewOnline
House Speaker Tina Kotek

Coronavirus Update: Are You Wearing A Face Covering Properly?

Dear Friends and Neighbors,

I hope you’ve been able to stay cool despite the record-setting heat.

Today, the Oregon Health Authority published its weekly testing summary (found here), which provided some positive news after weeks of spiking case counts and the state’s deadliest seven-day stretch since the start of the pandemic.

Last week’s test positivity rate dropped to 4.8%, marking the first time in 10 weeks that the week-to-week rate decreased. Oregon’s overall test positivity rate to-date now stands at 4.2%, only a slight increase from where we stood last week (4.1%) and still well below the national average of 10%.


OHA Weekly Testing Summary 7-27-2020

However, the weekly report once again discusses “supply chain issues” that are making testing capacity a challenge. There have also been delays in testing results. The report notes that in some cases, “results are being reported up to two weeks following specimen collection,” which presents obvious challenges for adequate contact tracing. In Multnomah County, 62% of cases have not been traced to a known source, as KGW reports here.

My colleagues, Rep. Nancy Nathanson (Eugene) and Rep. Paul Evans (Monmouth), wrote a helpful op-ed that ran over the weekend in the Statesman Journal. They sound the alarm on impending shortages of personal protective equipment (PPE) and COVID-19 testing in the state. Oregon will need its own strategies to stay ahead of this problem because we can’t depend on essential supplies being available when there are new outbreak hotspots around the country.

Here are the numbers from the weekend (July 25-27):

● Saturday: 408 cases, 4 deaths
● Sunday: 277 cases, 3 deaths
● Monday: 340 cases, 0 deaths

This weekend we learned about the death of a 40-year-old woman, the youngest person in Oregon to die from coronavirus. So while there have been hopeful signs to report today, we remain in a precarious position. Let’s continue to do all we can to keep each other safe.


Are You Covering Your Face Properly?

As Governor Brown has expanded the requirements about face coverings in order to prevent the transmission of coronavirus, our office has heard from folks wanting more education on how to properly wear face coverings.

The following graphics from the Oregon Health Authority provide more information. More details from OHA on face coverings are available here and from the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention here.


Correctly Wearing Face Covering 7-27-2020

Removing Your Face Covering 7-27-2020

Help Child Face Covering 7-27-2020

As a reminder, masks, face shields or face coverings are currently required statewide for indoor public spaces (for example, grocery stores, pharmacies, public transit, personal services providers, restaurants, bars, retail stores, and more). In addition, face coverings are required in outdoor public spaces when physical distancing is not possible.

Children who are 5 years old and up are also required to wear a mask, face shield or face covering. Face coverings are now required when exercising indoors, plus outdoors when you can’t physically distance. People with a disability or medical condition may request accommodation from the business if they cannot wear a mask, face shield or face covering.


Policing Reform Discussions Continue This Week

The Joint Committee on Transparent Policing and Use of Force Reform continues its public discussions this week about how to address systemic problems in policing. The committee will meet virtually at 10 am on Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday to hear public testimony on the legislative concepts that have come out of the last few weeks of work.

Here is a brief look at the committee’s plan for the week:

Wednesday
LC 742: Relating to the use of tools by law enforcement agencies
LC 743: Relating to police officer uniforms and identification

Thursday
LC 744: Relating to police officer misconduct
LC 745: Relating to the use of force by police officers

Friday
LC 746: Relating to arbitration awards
LC 748: Relating to records of discipline of police officers

You can access all of these concepts through the committee page. Willamette Week covered some of these concepts here.


The Latest News

  • Because of limited supply, public health officials continue to be concerned about Oregon’s ability to test everyone who needs to be tested. Here’s a bright spot - the University of Oregon has started trials on a new COVID-19 test that uses saliva spit into a tube, instead of a nasal swab. Oregon Public Broadcasting has more information here.
  • Being connected online is more important than ever, whether for school, work, or accessing help. That’s why the Legislature prioritized funding for expanded broadband service in remote parts of the state during last month’s special session. The Oregonian covers the issue here. The article highlights a recent blog post about broadband access by the Office of Economic Analysis, which can be found in full here.
  • The Portland Tribune has details here about $75 million for affordable housing projects recently awarded by Oregon Housing and Community Services.
  • The Bend Bulletin has details here on how emergency funding allocated by the Legislature is going to help live event venues in need of support in Central Oregon.
  • The Oregon Health Authority reported 328 new confirmed cases of coronavirus, bringing the statewide total of new and presumptive cases to 17,088. No deaths have been recorded today, meaning there have still been 289 Oregonians to die of the coronavirus. Please note the first image below combines the numbers from Saturday, Sunday and Monday. You can click the images below for links to interactive data tables about coronavirus in Oregon.

OHA COVID-19 Update 7-27-2020

OHA Epi Curve 7-27-2020

OHA County Map 7-27-2020

To read past newsletters, you can go to this link. For up to date information, please check this link to the Oregon Health Authority where regular updates are posted: https://www.oregon.gov/oha/ERD/Pages/News-Releases.aspx

Please email me at Rep.TinaKotek@oregonlegislature.gov if you have specific concerns that have not been addressed by the OHA. Our office will do all we can to help and protect all Oregonians.

Thank you for reading! We will get through this together.

Best,

Tina

Tina Kotek

State Representative
House District 44
Speaker of the House

email: Rep.TinaKotek@oregonlegislature.gov I phone: 503-986-1200
address: 900 Court St NE, H-269, Salem, OR 97301
website: http://www.oregonlegislature.gov/kotek