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March 23, 2021
Dearf Friends and Neighbors,
I hope that you and your loved ones are doing well, staying healthy, and looking out for your neighbors and friends in these difficult times.
Please stay safe, and let me know if you have any questions about information in today’s newsletter.
TODAY’S CORONAVIRUS AND CORONAVIRUS RESPONSE UPDATE
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New COVID Cases: OHA reports 316 new COVID cases today. The cumulative number of cases in Oregon since the beginning of the pandemic is 162,016.
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Variant COVID Cases: OHA again reports no increases in the number of variant cases in Oregon. The reported number of the B.1.1.7 (UK) variant in Oregon remains at 17, and the P.1 (Brazilian) variant is still at 1. There are still 0 reported cases of the other variants.
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Positive Test Results: OHA reported 460 positive tests today. The cumulative total of positive test results since the beginning of the pandemic is now 234,832.
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Total Tests: OHA reported an additional 12,150 tests today. Our cumulative total of reported tests is now 4,073,496.
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Positivity Rate: The test positivity ratio for Oregon today is 3.0%.
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Hospitalization Information:
- Patients Currently with Confirmed COVID-19: 109 (7 fewer than yesterday)
- ICU Patients Confirmed w COVID-19: 16 (2 fewer than yesterday).
- Available ICU Beds: 172 (13 fewer than yesterday)
- Other Available Beds: 728 (1 fewer than yesterday).
- Confirmed COVID-19 Patients Currently on Ventilators: 7 (same as yesterday).
- Available Ventilators: 788 (same as yesterday).
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Deaths: I’m sorry to report 2 additional COVID deaths today. The total number of COVID deaths in Oregon is now at 2,367.
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Vaccinations:
- As of the end of yesterday, here are the latest numbers:
- New Immunizations Reported Today: 18,241
- 10,845 were conducted yesterday
- 7,396 were conducted earlier, but the reports were received yesterday (there can potentially be a three-day window for reporting)
- Total First and Second Doses Administered So Far: 1,549,056
- 768,925 Pfizer doses
- 746,352 Moderna doses
- 32,803 Johnson & Johnson doses
- Total Oregonians vaccinated so far: 997,595
- 577,299 now fully vaccinated with two doses
- To date, 2,010,185 doses of vaccine have been delivered to sites across Oregon (an additional 151,800 doses).
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Additional Quick Updates:
- A number of counties have changed their risk levels as a result of recent metrics reporting. Here are all the new County risk assignments.
- As I mentioned in yesterday’s newsletter, Oregon is following the CDC guidelines and allowing districts to choose to reduce their spacing requirements in schools. As the Salem Reporter reports, Salem-Keizer will be sticking to their current policy. Portland Public Schools will also be sticking with their recently-approved agreement reached while the CDC recommendations were still 6 feet. The Superintendent indicated to me that they did all their planning based on those recommendations, and at this point it makes sense to provide certainty and follow the agreed-upon plans for the remainder of the school year.
- CNBC reports on data showing that cases are rising in a number of states, 21 to be exact. Whether or not these increases are the result of newly-relaxed standards or the effect of COVID variants, or a combination of the two, is not yet clear.
- VOX has an interesting story about 10 ways in which COVID will likely change the workplace permanently.
- In a somewhat related story, AXIOS discusses ways in which the pandemic has made things easier for workers with disabilities.
- Portland will be receiving $217 million from the American Rescue Plan. You can read more about that, along with information about how the previously allocated $114 million from the CARES Act has been distributed in Portland.
PDX Drive-Through Site Taking New Reservations
OHSU has just announced that Wednesday morning at 9 a.m. 3,060 new appointments will be released for seniors over 65, caregivers and individuals with disabilities, and migrant and seasonal farmworkers at the PDX Airport drive-through site for appointments on April 2. Another 5,000 will be released on Thursday. For more information and details on how to schedule an appointment, click here. click here.
Seven More Counties Choose to Expand Vaccination Eligibility
Today, OHA announced that 20 Oregon counties have now submitted attestation letters signaling their intention to immediately offer COVID-19 vaccinations to expanded eligibility groups. This marks an increase of seven counties from yesterday.
The counties are: Baker, Benton, Deschutes, Douglas, Grant, Harney, Jefferson, Josephine, Klamath, Lake, Lincoln, Linn, Malheur, Marion, Morrow, Polk, Sherman, Umatilla, Union and Yamhill.
By attesting, these counties can now begin vaccinating all individuals listed in Phase 1B, Group 6, ahead of the previously designated statewide start date of March 29.
Expansion of Those Who Can Administer Vaccinations
The Oregon Health Authority has expanded who can administer FDA authorized COVID-19 vaccines, as permitted under the federal Public Readiness and Emergency Preparedness (PREP) Act.
The federal PREP Act amended declaration, issued by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and effective March 11, increases the pool of vaccinators who may not be currently authorized to vaccinate under state law, subject to certain training and supervision requirements. Under the PREP Act declaration and this most recent amendment, OHA can further expand the list of who may administer authorized COVID-19 vaccines, which it did, adding, for example, traditional health workers.
OHA Director Patrick Allen signed the authorization on March 22, making it immediately effective.
who are identified as vaccinators under the PREP Act declaration and its amendments, and Director Allen’s authorization, and who meet the requirements as listed, are provided immunity under the PREP Act, except for gross negligence.
The newly eligible groups who can now administer COVID-19 vaccines include the following health professionals and health allied professionals who are currently licensed, certified or registered or had an active license, certification or registration within the last five years:
- Certified nursing assistants (CNA)
- Dentists
- Direct entry midwives
- Emergency medical services providers (EMT, AEMT, EMT Intermediate or Paramedic)
- Naturopathic physicians (ND)
- Nurses
- Advanced practice registered nurses (APRN, includes nurse midwives)
- Registered nurses (RN)
- Licensed practical nurses (LPN)
- Optometrists
- Pharmacists, pharmacy interns and pharmacy technicians
- Phlebotomists
- Physicians (MDs and DOs)
- Physician assistants
- Podiatrists
- Respiratory therapists
- Traditional health workers
- Veterinarians
Healthcare students (in these fields of study)
- Dental
- Emergency medical services providers (EMT, AEMT, EMT Intermediate or Paramedic)
- Medical
- Midwifery
- Naturopathic medicine
- Nursing (including CNA programs)
- Optometry
- Pharmacy and pharmacy intern
- Physician assistant
- Podiatry
- Respiratory therapy
- Veterinary
Where Are Today’s New Cases?
If we put together the positive test results and new “presumptive cases reported today, the overall number of new cases reported is 316. Here is today’s breakdown by county:
Baker (3)
Benton (2)
Clackamas (30)
Columbia (2)
Coos (4)
Crook (2)
Curry (4)
Deschutes (24)
Douglas (7)
Grant (1)
Hood River (3)
Jackson (28)
Jefferson (1)
Josephine (17)
Klamath (11)
Lane (17)
Lincoln (5)
Linn (4)
Malheur (1)
Marion (21)
Multnomah (44)
Polk (6)
Tillamook (3)
Umatilla (10)
Union (3)
Wasco (1)
Washington (56)
Yamhill (6)
And the Deaths:
Oregon’s 2,366th COVID-19 death is an 85-year-old man in Coos County who tested positive on March 16 and died on March 21 at Bay Area Hospital.
Oregon’s 2,367th COVID-19 death is a 67-year-old woman in Coos County who tested positive on March 2 and died on March 13 at Mercy Medical Center.
Want to See Past Newsletters?
If there was COVID-related information in a past newsletter that you want to go back to, but find you’ve deleted it, you can always go to my legislative website (senatordembrow.com), click on “News and Information,” and you’ll find them all there. Also, if someone forwarded you this newsletter and you’d like to get it directly, you can sign up for it there.
AND FINALLY,
Here again are some resources that you will find useful:
If the above links are not providing you with answers to your questions or directing you to the help that you need, please consider me and my office to be a resource. We’ll do our best to assist you or steer you in the right direction.
Best,
 Senator Michael Dembrow
District 23
email: Sen.MichaelDembrow@oregonlegislature.gov
web: www.senatordembrow.com
phone: 503-281-0608
mail: 900 Court St NE, S-407, Salem, OR, 97301
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