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Dear friends,
This week, the Oregon Health Authority reported some of the highest single-day COVID-19 infection numbers and fatalities our state has yet experienced. With cases still on the rise, it's as important as ever to stay vigilant: wear a mask, maintain six feet of social distance, wash hands frequently and stay home if you feel sick.
Also, with recent hot temperatures and a dry forecast, we must use caution when using open flames outdoors. The last thing we need is a bad fire season fueled by human causes, especially since we know wildfire smoke and COVID-19 compound respiratory threats (please see OPB article at the end of this bulletin).
On Friday, Governor Brown announced that she is calling the Legislature into a second special session of 2020. While much is still being determined, the focus of this special session is expected to be the state budget, with additional policies around COVID-19 and police accountability also being considered. Unfortunately, Congress has so far failed to take action on the latest round of national relief legislation, so Oregon will yet again "Fly With Her Own Wings," as our state motto says.
Below you will find information on:
- Governor Announces Metrics for School Reopenings
- Critical Need for Blood Donations
- Primary Resource Links
I hope this information is helpful and informative for you or someone you know. While this will be my last weekly COVID-19 update for the time being, I will continue to send monthly, comprehensive e-newsletters with information about Oregon's response to the pandemic and legislative activity. As always, feel free to share your comments, questions or concerns with me by phone, mail or e-mail.
Governor Announces Metrics for School Reopenings
On Tuesday, Governor Brown announced new metrics to guide local districts in their reopening decisions for the fall. Generally speaking, in order to resume in-person instruction in any form, including hybrid instruction models (when students are in the classroom part-time), the following conditions must be met for the county in which a district is located (in addition to a statewide test positivity rate of 5 percent or lower) for the district to begin in-person instruction of a "hybrid" instruction model with part-time in-person instruction:
- 10 or fewer cases per 100,000 people over 7 days
- Test positivity of 5 percent or lower over 7 days
Based on the metrics, with increasing spread of COVID-19 in both rural and urban Oregon this summer, many, if not most, Oregon students live in school districts that will begin school in the fall by focusing on online distance learning or will have a hybrid model that combines remote online education and in-person classroom time. Districts across the state have been developing plans to provide high quality education to all students, including students of color, low-income students, students experiencing disabilities, and rural students –– all students who were disproportionately impacted by the institution of comprehensive distance education last spring.
The full guidance and metrics are available here.
Critical Need for Blood Donations
Bloodworks NW is appealing to Oregonians to donate blood due to a critical shortage. Requests for blood have far exceeded what they have collected.
- In June, Bloodworks NW collected 1100 units less that what was needed by patients in our local hospitals.
- In the past two weeks, they collected 750 units less that what was needed by patients in our local hospitals.
- In the past week, they collected 541 units less that what was needed by patients in our local hospitals.
- In July, only 36 percent of appointments have been booked and we have over 13,000 open appointment times.
- Our community's blood supply has dropped by over 25 percent since the beginning of June with some types dropping as much as 40 percent.
- Appointments have decreased by 8 percent since the beginning of June.
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There has been an 8 percent decline in donations in the past two weeks.
The COVID-19 pandemic has rocked our community and the stability of our blood supply. The need for more blood donors this summer is urgent. You can donate at Bloodwork NW's Eugene Donor Center or a pop-up donor center at the Springfield Holiday Inn. For more information, click here.
Primary Resource Links
Here's a list of government resources that you may find useful:
Reference Media
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