|
August 12, 2021
Dear Neighbors and Friends,
I hope that you and your loved ones are doing well, staying healthy, and looking out for your neighbors and friends during this past week.
It’s been another busy and frightening week in the ongoing saga of the pandemic here in Oregon. Nearly every day brings a new record for our state—and not the kind of record we want to achieve. Unlike our experience during most of the pandemic—when Oregon was one of the national leaders in taking COVID seriously, keeping ourselves and our neighbors safe, seeing our infection rates and COVID deaths remain far below the national average—the combination of Delta and relief at seeing restrictions lifted has sent us down a very dangerous path. A record number of new COVID cases was reported today, along with the greatest number of Oregonians in the hospital and ICU with COVID, and sadly news of the death of a 19-year-old young woman in Union County.
A new forecast from OHSU shows us running out of hospital beds and the professionals to staff them in the very near future if the current trends persist. As a result, the Governor has taken some dramatic steps to once again get us back on track. Needless to say, she (and we legislators) are already receiving a great deal of pushback against those necessary steps (much of it genuinely felt, but much of it political opportunism).
You’ll see the new reality again reflected throughout tonight’s newsletter: in the updates, the graphs, the reports, the links to news articles, and the reporting on the Governor’s actions.
The one silver lining here is that those who have been vaccinated are remaining safe from serious consequences in nearly all cases. With the relentless spread of the Delta variant, we’re certainly seeing more infection among both the vaccinated and the unvaccinated, but it’s the unvaccinated who are filling up our ICUs and causing us to run out of beds. That will be even more true now that the FDA has just approved the use of a third dose for those who are immune-compromised (see more on that below). Hundreds if not thousands of Oregonians will at last get the full benefit of vaccination and be able to form the antibodies that they need to keep them safe. As a person who is close to someone in this situation, I know I can’t wait for them to get that booster shot.
Finally, though nearly all of tonight’s newsletter is COVID-focused, we are of course in the middle of yet another challenge: unbearable heat (and now poor air quality). I hope you’re doing OK, looking out for others, and staying safe yourself. If you know of anyone who needs access to a cooling center, here’s a master list from 211 Info, which is coordinating the statewide effort: https://www.211info.org/ Having this new heat event come right after the release of the new report from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), showing us the most recent models for climate change, is sobering indeed. I hope that the two in combination will provoke more of us to recommit to serious climate action. We must.
Until next week, please stay healthy and safe, and let me know if you have any questions about information in tonight’s newsletter.
TODAY’S CORONAVIRUS AND CORONAVIRUS RESPONSE UPDATE
-
New COVID Cases: OHA reports 2,387 new COVID cases today (vs. 1,026 last Thursday), the largest single-day count we’ve had so far during the pandemic. That’s an average of 1,558 per day for the 7 days since the last newsletter (vs. 638 per day the previous week). The cumulative number of cases in Oregon since the beginning of the pandemic is 236,698.
-
Variant COVID Cases:
- OHA is now showing us not only this week’s variant cases but the growth of the different variants in Oregon over time. Here it is. You can see just how the Delta variant has come to dominate cases here in Oregon. It is updated every Wednesday.
- OHA’s Variant Dashboard provides current and new variant case numbers for the state as a whole but also for different parts of the state. It too is updated each Wednesday.
-
Positive Test Results: OHA reported 2,351 positive tests today (vs. 1,969 a week ago). That’s an average of 1,971 per day for the seven days since the last newsletter (vs. 1,317 per day the previous week). The cumulative total of positive test results since the beginning of the pandemic is now 336,870.
-
Total Tests: OHA reported an additional 21,770 tests today (vs. 18,999 a week ago). That’s an average of 19,635 per day for the seven days since the last newsletter (vs. 14,362 for the previous week). Our cumulative total of reported tests is 5,900,074.
-
Positivity Rate: The test positivity ratio for Oregon today is 10.8% (vs. 10.4% a week ago). That’s an average of 10.1% per day for the seven days since the last newsletter (vs. 9.2% per day for the previous week).
-
Hospitalization Information:
- Patients Currently with Confirmed COVID-19: 670 (213 more than last newsletter, 306 more than the week before)
- ICU Patients Confirmed w COVID-19: 177 (43 more than last newsletter.
- Confirmed COVID-19 Patients Currently on Ventilators: 81 (42 more than last newsletter)
- Available Ventilators: 831 (64 more than last newsletter).
-
Hospital Capacity:
-
Deaths: I’m sorry to report 9 additional COVID deaths today, which is 1 more than last Thursday. That’s an average of 6.3 per day for the week since the last newsletter (vs. 4.3 per day the previous week). The total number of COVID deaths in Oregon is 2,928.
-
Vaccinations:
- The 7-day running average is now 5,492 doses per day (up from 5,129 last week and 4,635 the week before).
- Total First and Second Doses Administered So Far: 4,701,680
- 2,708,131 Pfizer doses
- 1,803,388 Moderna doses
- 187,629 Johnson & Johnson doses
- Total Oregonians vaccinated so far: 2,536,877
- 2,342,257 now fully vaccinated with two doses
- 59.4% of all Oregonians have received at least one dose (70% of those 18 and older).
- 54.9% of all Oregonians are now fully vaccinated (65% of those 18 and older).
- For more details, including the demographics of those receiving the vaccine and the number of vaccinations by county, go to the OHA vaccinations dashboard.
-
Bloomberg News provides a wealth of easy-to-read information on the trajectory of vaccinations—by state, nationally, and internationally.
-
Here's information about Oregon’s progress in getting to the next goal: 80% of those 18 and over.
- And here is a link to information showing progress towards the 80% goal specifically among various communities of color. Today’s number (233,668) means that an additional 5,054 people of color were vaccinated in the last week (down from 6,080 the previous week).
 Additional Brief Updates
- If you’re interested in keeping up with COVID’s proliferation on a daily basis, here's a link to the CDC’s data tracker. You can search for information on each state, and even each county.
- The Oregonian’s Ted Sickinger has an article about the latest COVID modeling from OHSU. (More on that below.)
- A new study from researchers at Harvard Medical School and other universities shows just how pervasive COVID misinformation remains among Americans of all education levels.
- Here’s the latest roundup from OPB on where things stand with COVID in Oregon.
- In a piece of good news for transplant recipients and others who have weak immune responses, the FDA has just approved the use of a third dose of the two-dose vaccines for Americans in these situations. And here is reporting on a recent study showing promising effects of a booster shot for former transplant recipients.
- The National Education Association, the nation’s largest K-12 teachers union, is now calling for all educators to be vaccinated or tested regularly. Here's more.. The American Federation of Teachers has been discussing a similar requirement.
- Supreme Court Justice Amy Coney Barrett has put an end to the appeal of the lower-court decision that allowed Indiana University to proceed with its vaccine mandate. You can read more about it here.
- Virginia has just joined Oregon and has become the eleventh state to require that students wear masks in public schools this fall. In addition to Oregon, those nine other states are Washington, California, Illinois, Louisiana, Kentucky, Connecticut, New Jersey, Delaware, and Hawaii. Washington, D.C., and Puerto Rico also have mandates. Seven states (Utah, Arizona, Texas, Oklahoma, Iowa, South Carolina, and Florida) have prohibited school districts from requiring masks. Here's the latest.
- One of the challenges in the effort to get the necessary number of people vaccinated is the low vaccination rate among African Americans. Here's reporting on why only 28% of young Black New Yorkers are vaccinated.
- The pandemic has become more dangerous for children. The Washington Post has an opinion piece by Dr. Leana Wen with thoughts on how to keep them safe(r).
- Here’s a look at why more children are being hospitalized with COVID.
- And here's an article in The Atlantic on the timeline for approving COVID vaccines for younger children.
- Again, speaking of children, here's reporting from the Associated Press on four small Georgia school districts that have recently started the school year—and have already had to stop in-person classes because of COVID outbreaks.
- Here’s a piece from two pediatrics researchers at Duke University about why masking of schoolchildren can make a real difference..
- Here’s national reporting on the Governor’s decision to return to masking in all public indoor spaces. (See more on this below.)
- One of the questions out there is the effect of the Delta variant on air travel. Here's more on that
- An article in MedPage Today looks at one of the big differences between the current Delta surge and earlier surges: .fewer people are dying.
- In case you missed it, the Pentagon will require all U.S. troops to be vaccinated within the next month..
- And finally, a physician at Seattle’s Swedish Hospital argues that criticizing those who are influenced by vaccine misinformation will do no good. He suggests that we think of misinformation as a "co-morbidity" of the disease.
Governor Reinstates Masking Requirement
On Tuesday the Governor announced the reinstatement of a masking mandate for indoor spaces. It begins tomorrow. This decision followed her announcement last week that Oregon’s children would need to wear masks while at school in the fall.
The controversial decision came as a result of the huge spike in hospitalizations that we’ve been experiencing as a result of the Delta variant. The Governor had been hoping that some of the hardest-hit counties would look at these trends and institute such a requirement within their local jurisdiction, but so far only Multnomah County has done so, even following the release of an extremely dire forecast from OHSU (showing that without state action we will be short 400-500 staffed beds by Labor Day). Governor Brown decided that it would be left to her to take this difficult step in order to tamp down the spread of the virus.
While vaccinations are the real solution for keeping people from becoming very sick and for halting the pandemic in the long run, masks have been proven to be very effective at controlling the spread from person to person.
The Governor followed Tuesday’s announcement with a press conference yesterday that provided additional information about the mandate that has been reported in the media over the last two days.
A copy of the slide from the press conference can be found here with talking points for Director Allen and Dr. Sidelinger here and here. A video link to yesterday’s media briefing is here.
Legislative leadership clarified today that the masking requirement does apply to the Capitol.
In addition to the masking mandate, the Governor used her authority as an employer to join other employers in requiring that all state employees be vaccinated by October 18 or within six weeks of the FDA giving full approval (not just an emergency authorization) of the vaccine. The requirement does provide exceptions for legitimate medical and religious reasons.
Again, the purpose of this directive is to reduce the pressure on our hospitals. Very few of those who have been fully vaccinated have had to be hospitalized for COVID or any of its variants.
As reported in the Salem Reporter, the unions that represent these workers (AFSCME and SEIU 503) have issued demands to bargain over implementation of the directive.
The Judicial and Legislative branches are currently considering a similar requirement for their employees.
OHA Releases Latest County Metrics
Though it’s no longer assigning risk levels to counties, OHA is still reporting weekly increases/decreases in COVID spread for each county and for the state as a whole. Not surprisingly, we are again seeing increases in COVID infection rates and positivity rates in nearly every county and in the state as a whole. The state now has an infection rate over 200 per 100,000 residents, the highest it’s been since the end of May. Many of the more rural counties have rates far above the state average, with Umatilla County nearly 5 times above the 200 per 100K.
Message from OHA: OHA Aligns County Community Spread Metrics with CDC
Starting this week, OHA will update the tracking and reporting of community spread of COVID-19 in Oregon counties to align with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) levels of community transmission by:
- Switching from tracking the previous two full weeks to the previous full week from Sunday through Saturday,
- Applying case rate per 100,000 and test positivity to all counties, and
- Adjusting terminology and case rate thresholds for the levels of community transmission (low, moderate, substantial or high).
OHA will continue to report data on cases, case rates per 100,000 residents and test positivity by county in the County Community Transmission report on Mondays and in the Public Health Indicators dashboard on Tuesdays.
The data will be presented by week and will show data from the previous four full weeks. Current county community transmission will be based on the previous week’s data.
This will enable community partners to make informed decisions regarding screening testing in K–12 schools and in health care infection control practices.
Weekly COVID Data and Outbreaks Report Released: More Big Increases
The Oregon Health Authority’s COVID-19 Weekly Report, released yesterday, showed continued steep increases in daily cases and hospitalizations.
- OHA reported 8,304 new daily cases of COVID-19 during the week of Monday, Aug. 2, through Sunday, Aug. 8. That represents a 40% increase over the previous week.
- There were 322 new COVID-19 hospitalizations, up from 256 last week. That marked the fifth consecutive week of increases.
- There were 40 reported COVID-19 related deaths, up from 25 reported the previous week.
- There were 119,416 tests for COVID-19 for the week of Aug. 1 through Aug. 7, another increase from the previous week (82,701), another function of the increased spread of the disease, requiring more testing.
- The percentage of positive tests increased to 9.5%, up from 8.2% the previous week.
Today’s COVID-19 Weekly Outbreak Report shows 53 active COVID-19 outbreaks in senior living communities and congregate living settings, the highest number since February.
1/13/21 202 facilities
2/10/21 116 facilities
3/10/21 44 facilities
4/14/21 24 facilities
5/12/21 42 facilities
6/09/21 19 facilities
7/8/21 22 facilities
7/14/21 21 facilities
7/21/21 21 facilities
7/28/21 28 facilities
8/04/21 33 facilities
8/11/21 53 facilities
The Outbreak Report also includes the latest data on COVID in workplaces, childcare centers, and public and private K-12 schools.
Redistricting: The Data Arrives at Last!
I’m happy to report that the census data needed for redistricting arrived at last earlier today. It comes much later than usual (thanks largely to COVID and decisions made by the previous federal administration), but earlier than had originally been thought (we were told earlier it would come on the 16th.
The data is now being uploaded into the computer programs used to analyze the data and create potential new maps for legislative and congressional districts here in Oregon. This kicks off an intense six weeks of analyzing, public hearings, and ultimately a recommendation from the House and Senate Redistricting Committees. The goal is to have a plan that the Legislature can approve on September 20.
Here’s the tentative timeline for the process here in Oregon. I’ll provide ongoing updates in future newsletters.
Here’s reporting from the Oregonian. And here’s more from the Associated Press.
Wildfire Update: Concerning Weather Ahead
Legislators received a wildfire briefing on Tuesday. There was good news and bad news for us. All the big fires are now contained, but those leading our firefighting efforts remain worried.
For now, things seem stable, but the extremely hot temperatures are extremely dangerous. Lightning strikes have started a number of new fires in various parts of the state in the last few days. Firefighters are working hard to contain them.
Unfortunately, there are now air quality advisories issued all over the state. They are in the 200+ “Stay Indoors” range in Medford, Roseburg, Grants Pass, Shady Cove, Springfield, and Oakridge (by perhaps by the time you receive this, in Eugene).
Here's this week's full wildfire report.
You can follow the situation on a daily basis via the ODF blog. https://odffire.com/
And the Deaths:
Here is information about the 43 deaths (up from 30) that OHA has reported since the last newsletter on August 5. Except for one, they all occurred within the last two weeks.
Oregon’s 2,886th COVID-19 death is a 25-year-old man from Jackson County who tested positive on July 30 and died on Aug. 4 at Providence Medford Medical Center.
Oregon’s 2,887th COVID-19 death is a 48-year-old man from Jackson County who tested positive on Aug. 1 and died on Aug. 4 at Asante Rogue Valley Medical Center.
Oregon’s 2,888th COVID-19 death is a 67-year-old woman from Multnomah County who tested positive on Aug. 2 and died on Aug. 4 at Legacy Emanuel Medical Center.
Oregon’s 2,889th COVID-19 death is a 67-year-old man from Lane County who tested positive on July 23 and died on Aug. 3 at PeaceHealth Sacred Heart Medical Center at RiverBend.
Oregon’s 2,890th COVID-19 associated death is a 79-year-old woman from Jackson County who tested positive on Aug. 5 and died on Aug. 6 at Providence Medford Medical Center.
Oregon’s 2,891st COVID-19 associated death is a 61-year-old man from Jackson County who tested positive on July 26 and died on Aug. 5 at Providence Medford Medical Center.
Oregon’s 2,892nd COVID-19 associated death is a 69-year-old woman from Douglas County who tested positive on July 24 and died on Aug. 6 at Mercy Medical Center.
Oregon’s 2,893rd COVID-19 associated death is a 59-year-old woman from Lane County who tested positive on July 29 and died on Aug. 7 at Peacehealth Sacred Heart Medical Center at Riverbend.
Oregon’s 2,894th COVID-19 associated death is an 83-year-old man from Lane County who tested positive on May 5 and died on Aug. 6 at Peacehealth Sacred Heart Medical Center at Riverbend.
Oregon’s 2,895th COVID-19 associated death is a 75-year-old woman from Josephine County who tested positive on Aug. 4 and died on Aug. 5 at Asante Rogue Regional Medical Center.
Oregon’s 2,896th COVID-19 associated death is a 77-year-old man from Josephine County who tested positive on July 31 and died on Aug. 7 at Asante Three Rivers Medical Center.
Oregon’s 2,897th COVID-19 associated death is a 52-year-old man from Josephine County who tested positive on July 22 and died on Aug. 6 at Asante Three Rivers Medical Center.
Oregon’s 2,898th COVID-19 associated death is a 64-year-old man from Gilliam County who tested positive on Aug. 2 and died on Aug. 7 at Mid-Columbia Medical Center.
Oregon’s 2,899th COVID-19 associated death is a 72-year-old woman from Yamhill County who tested positive on July 27 and died on Aug. 3 at Legacy Meridian Park Medical Center.
Oregon’s 2,900th COVID-19 associated death is a 64-year-old woman from Yamhill County who tested positive on July 21 and died on Aug. 4 at Mercy Medical Center.
Oregon’s 2,901st COVID-19 death is a 90-year-old woman from Wasco County who tested positive on Aug. 2 and died on Aug. 4 at her residence.
Oregon’s 2,902nd COVID-19 associated death is a 69-year-old man from Umatilla County who tested positive on March 3 and died on March 23 at Kadlec Regional Medical Center.
Oregon’s 2,903rd COVID-19 associated death is a 76-year-old woman from Polk County who tested positive on Aug. 2 and died on Aug. 5 at Salem Hospital.
Oregon’s 2,904th COVID-19 associated death is an 88-year-old man from Douglas County who tested positive on Aug. 4 and died on Aug. 8 at Mercy Medical Center.
Oregon’s 2,905th COVID-19 associated death is a 99-year-old woman from Deschutes County who tested positive on Aug. 5 and died on Aug. 9 at her residence.
Oregon’s 2,906th COVID-19 associated death is a 90-year-old woman from Clackamas County who tested positive on Aug. 2 and died on Aug. 7 at Providence Willamette Falls Medical Center.
Oregon’s 2,907th COVID-19 associated death is a 73-year-old man from Josephine County who first became symptomatic on July 30 after contact with a confirmed case and died on Aug. 6 at his residence.
Oregon’s 2,908th COVID-19 associated death is a 76-year-old man from Marion County who tested positive on Aug. 5 and died on Aug. 5 at his residence.
Oregon’s 2,909th COVID-19 associated death is a 74-year-old man from Marion County who tested positive on Aug. 1 and died on Aug. 3 at his residence.
Oregon’s 2,910th COVID-19 associated death is a 67-year-old woman from Marion County who tested positive on July 25 and died on Aug. 7 at Salem Hospital.
Oregon’s 2,911th COVID-19 associated death is a 65-year-old man from Marion County who tested positive on July 11 and died on Aug. 4 at Salem Hospital.
Oregon’s 2,912th COVID-19 associated death is a 72-year-old man from Wasco County who tested positive on Aug. 4 and died on Aug. 7 at his residence.
Oregon’s 2,913rd COVID-19 death is a 65-year-old woman from Crook County who tested positive on August 5 and died on August 10 at St Charles Bend Hospital.
Oregon’s 2,914th COVID-19 death is an 82-year-old man from Crook County who tested positive on August 4 and died on August 8 at St. Charles Bend Hospital.
Oregon’s 2,915th COVID-19 death is a 78-year-old woman from Clackamas County who tested positive on July 27 and died on August 1 at Kaiser Sunnyside Medical Center.
Oregon’s 2,916th COVID-19 death is a 59-year-old woman from Douglas County who tested positive on August 3 and died on August 9 at Mercy Medical Center.
Oregon’s 2,917th COVID-19 death is an 82-year-old man from Douglas County who tested positive on August 3 and died on August 10 at his residence.
Oregon’s 2,918th COVID-19 death is a 71-year-old woman from Douglas County who tested positive on July 20 and died on August 9 at Mercy Medical Center.
Oregon’s 2,919th COVID-19 death is an 84-year-old man from Josephine County who tested positive on August 5 and died on August 10 at Providence Medford Medical Center.
Oregon’s 2,920th COVID-19 death is a 39-year-old man from Umatilla County who tested positive on July 20 and died on August 8 at Providence St. Mary Medical Center.
Note from OHA today: Oregon’s 1,640th and 2,078th COVID-19 associated deaths, reported on Jan. 12 and Feb. 12 respectively, are the same person. Because of this error, we are renumbering our reported deaths starting with 2,920 today.
Oregon’s 2,920th COVID-19 associated death is a 47-year-old woman from Josephine County who tested positive on Aug. 9 and died on Aug. 10 at Asante Three River Medical Center.
Oregon’s 2,921st COVID-19 associated death is a 66-year-old man from Columbia County who tested positive on Aug. 9 and died on Aug. 10 at Legacy Emanuel Medical Center.
Oregon’s 2,922nd COVID-19 associated death is a 70-year-old man from Columbia County who tested positive on July 13 and died on Aug. 2 at Providence St. Vincent Medical Center.
Oregon’s 2,923rd COVID-19 associated death is a 35-year-old woman from Morrow County who tested positive on Aug. 10 and died on Aug. 9 at her residence.
Oregon’s 2,924th COVID-19 associated death is a 101-year-old woman from Wasco County who tested positive on Aug. 2 and died on Aug. 9 at her residence.
Oregon’s 2,925th COVID-19 associated death is an 83-year-old woman from Wasco County who tested positive on July 29 and died on Aug. 11 at her residence.
Oregon’s 2,926th COVID-19 associated death is a 19-year-old woman from Union County who tested positive on July 27 and died on Aug. 10 at Providence Portland Medical Center.
Oregon’s 2,927th COVID-19 associated death is a 75-year-old man from Polk County who tested positive on Aug. 5 and died on Aug. 10 at Salem Hospital.
Oregon’s 2,928th COVID-19 associated death is a 90-year-old man from Polk County who tested positive on Aug. 1 and died on Aug. 10 at Salem Hospital.
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
| 
