Coronavirus Update: Stay Safe and Save Lives This Labor Day Weekend

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House Speaker Tina Kotek

Coronavirus Update: Stay Safe and Save Lives This Labor Day Weekend

Dear Friends and Neighbors,

As folks gear up for the Labor Day weekend, I’d like to reinforce a few remarks made by Governor Brown and others at a press conference this morning. The full press conference can be viewed here.

After the virus arrived in our state, Oregon was one of the best states in the country to flatten the infection-rate curve because of Stay Home, Save Lives. Once the state started opening back up in May, we expected to see a subsequent rise in cases. And we did, however the increase in cases ended up being greater than expected and led to the dramatic daily case totals we saw throughout the summer.

The good news is that we’ve made great progress since the peak in July.

During the final week of August, our 4.4% test positivity rate marked the first time since late June the weekly rate was under 5%.

Yesterday, Governor Brown removed Baker County from the County Watch List, less than a week after Hood River and Multnomah counties had also come off the list. You can read more about this decision here. The following five counties remain on the list: Jackson, Jefferson, Malheur, Morrow and Umatilla.


County Status 9-4-2020

While this news is positive, our success is fragile. Not all recent data has been good.

Even though August ended with good news about our test positivity rate, at least 126 Oregonians died from the virus last month. As The Oregonian reports here, that means it was the deadliest month of the pandemic in the state (and the number may grow as the state updates its data in the coming days). It typically takes an average of 12 days from when a person becomes infected until they develop severe symptoms.

We are on a good path. The goal now is to flatten the curve and keep it flat. These tragic deaths remind us just how much of a risk the virus continues to pose.

So why do we all have to be extra vigilant right now?

Oregon has seen spikes in cases in the weeks after holidays, namely Mother’s Day, Memorial Day weekend, and the 4th of July. While we should all try to find some joy and relaxation this Labor Day weekend and take care of our mental health, this must not be an excuse to lose focus on staying safe and protecting others.

If you’re planning to be part of any kind of small gathering to celebrate the holiday, I encourage you to stay as close to home as possible and to be outdoors as much as possible. Here is a rundown from Oregon’s state epidemiologist, Dr. Dean Sidelinger, on things to keep in mind (his full op-ed on Labor Day weekend safety in The Oregonian can be found here):

  • Stay small: Hang out with people in your household and use technology to catch up with your extended family and friends. Avoid gatherings of more than 10 people.
  • Stay apart: Six feet of physical distance makes it harder for COVID-19 to spread.
  • Stay safe by covering your face: Wear a mask. It’s one of the best ways to protect yourself and others from COVID-19.
  • Stay outside: There are plenty of outdoor places away from crowds to enjoy the last traditional summer weekend. Parks and yards are safer places to gather than indoors.
  • Stay local: If you want to get out of the house, explore somewhere close to home. Support businesses in your community.

Consider the Risk

Masks Warm Weather

More Data and Modeling

On Wednesday, the Oregon Health Authority released its COVID-19 Weekly Report, which can be read in full here. Here are some key takeaways from the report:

  • From Monday, August 24 through Sunday, August 30, OHA recorded 1,558 new cases of COVID-19 infection - down 8.6% from last week’s tally of 1,704 and Oregon’s lowest weekly total since the end of June.
  • 4.4% of tests completed were positive - the lowest percentage in two months.
  • 39 Oregonians were reported to have died, up from 32 last week.
  • The age group with the highest incidence of reported infection continues to be 20–29-year-olds, with rates decreasing in subsequent decades of life.
  • Through April 18, 51% of reported cases had been among persons 50 years old or older. Since then, 85% of cases have been among persons younger than 50.
  • COVID-19 hospitalization and death rates increase with age: 48% of 459 recorded deaths have been among people who were at least 80 years old and 74% in people at least 70 years old.
  • Of cases with known ethnicity, Hispanics accounted for 31% through April 18. Since then, 47% have been Hispanic.
  • A plurality of cases continue to be “sporadic,” meaning that no source for the case was identified.
  • 76% of reported cases have been attributed to individuals with signs and symptoms of COVID-19.

COVID By Age Group 9-2-2020

Additionally, OHA has updated its modeling reports in the latest COVID-19 Epidemic Trends And Projections In Oregon, which can be found here. The model estimates that as of August 27, a total of 107,100 cumulative infections have occurred in Oregon, but only 26,500 have been diagnosed.

As the report notes, “this virus remains very sensitive to changes in transmission, and our past reports have demonstrated that a relatively small increase in transmission can cause a return to exponential growth. Even with testing, treatment, and contract tracing, transmission levels are still dependent on adherence to the guidance regarding physical distancing, face coverings, hygiene, self-quarantining of contacts, and self-isolation of cases.”


Resources for Young People

For teens, summer usually means hanging out with friends, going to camp, family BBQs or a summer job. A lot of things have been different this year. As the new school year approaches, these resources for teens can help them stay well.

  • Sources of Strength offers resources to help teens stay strong, practice self-care and practice gratitude.
  • YouthLine is a teen-to-teen crisis, support and help line open daily from 4 pm to 10 pm via call, text and chat. Adults answer phone calls at all other times, so teens have support 24/7.
  • Youth ERA offers several ways for youth and young adults to meet online, get support and talk through life.

There’s help for parents and caregivers, too. The Reach Out Oregon warmline can help you talk through this unique time with other parents who “get it.”


The Latest News

  • The Oregon Health Authority reported 268 new confirmed cases of coronavirus, bringing the statewide total of new and presumptive cases to 27,601. Sadly, five more people have died, meaning there have been 475 Oregonians to die of the coronavirus. On Thursday, the OHA recorded 274 cases and three deaths. You can click the images below for links to interactive data tables about coronavirus in Oregon.

OHA COVID-19 Update 9-4-2020

OHA Epi Curve 9-4-2020

OHA County Map 9-4-2020

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