The latest news stories and stories of interest in Eugene-Springfield area and around the state of Oregon from the online digital home of the valley, WillametteValleyMagazine.com
Friday, December 11, 2020
Willamette Valley Weather
Today- Rain, mainly after 3pm. Snow level 2600 feet. High near 43. South wind around 7 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New precipitation amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch possible.
Saturday- A 30 percent chance of rain after 5pm. Snow level 1800 feet rising to 2600 feet in the afternoon. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 44. Light east wind.
Sunday- Rain. High near 49. South wind around 8 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New precipitation amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.
Monday- A chance of showers before 11am, then a chance of rain, mainly between 11am and 5pm. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 48. Chance of precipitation is 50%.
Tuesday- Rain likely. Cloudy, with a high near 49.
HEADLINES
The Oregon Health Authority reported 1,586 new COVID-19 cases statewide.
The new confirmed and presumptive cases bring Oregon’s total during the pandemic to 89,838. There have been more than 2 million negative coronavirus tests in Oregon. There were 13 additional deaths reported Thursday in connection with COVID-19 in Oregon, bringing the state’s death toll to 1,123.
The number of hospitalized COVID-19 patients across Oregon is 576, which is four fewer than Wednesday. There are 127 COVID-19 patients in ICU beds, which is five fewer than Wednesday, according to OHA.
OHA also reported Thursday it was adopting new guidance for quarantining to follow CDC guidance. A person who has been exposed to the virus will need to quarantine if they have spent more than 15 minutes over a 24-hour period in close proximity (less than 6 feet away) with an infected person.
If a person has been near someone with COVID-19, they should stay home and at least 6 feet away from everyone, including the people they live with, for 14 days.
If there are no symptoms, ending the quarantine early can be considered after 10 days without testing, or after seven days if there is a negative result from an antigen or polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test that was administered less than 48 hours before they end quarantine.
If someone chooses to shorten their quarantine period, there is a small chance they may spread the disease to others post-quarantine, according to OHA, so it is critical they continue monitoring their symptoms for 14 days.
If the person does develop symptoms, they should continue to avoid contact with others and call their healthcare provider to discuss testing.
For more, go to https://govstatus.egov.com/OR-OHA-COVID-19.
Oregon introducing new framework for counties
Starting Dec. 3, Oregon is introducing a new framework of safety measures based on each county’s COVID-19 risk level.
The new framework has four risk levels. At each risk level — Extreme Risk, High Risk, Moderate Risk, and Lower Risk — health and safety measures and guidance for businesses and individuals apply.
Oregon counties that reduce their COVID-19 risk level in coming weeks and months will be able to incrementally move to lower levels.
It’s important to note that there is no zero risk category. Until COVID-19 vaccines are widely available, health and safety precautions will remain in place so that schools, businesses and communities can reopen, and stay open.
At every risk level, to prevent COVID-19 outbreaks, Oregonians must continue to wear face coverings, watch their physical distance, wash hands, stay home when sick, and keep social get-togethers and gatherings small.
Visit Coronavirus.oregon.gov for details.
44% Of Active Outbreaks In Lane County Come From Long-Term Care Facilities –Long-term care facilities make up 44 percent of all the active outbreaks in our area, and four out of the five deaths reported on Thursday are connected to known outbreaks.
Health officials said most of the last 15 or 20 deaths are connected to outbreaks in long-term care facilities. Outbreaks are defined as three or more cases, or one or more deaths.
Avamere Riverpark of Eugene has recorded the most cases in Lane County with 114 to date. That facility also reported the most COVID-19 related deaths with five.
Many long-term care facility workers said this isn’t surprising given the virus is so easily brought into these communities. “A large part of it is that you have people living and working in close proximity, and the idea and purpose behind long-term care is the people residing there need assistance and care, and there’s no way to provide that care from six feet away,” Amira Fahoum, an employee at Compass Senior Living, said.
However, she is hopeful a vaccine will protect the elderly and those who care for them and ultimately prevent outbreaks. They are encouraging everyone at their facility to get the vaccine when it’s available but they’re waiting to see if DHS will make it a requirement.
Once Pfizer gets the green light for its vaccine, vaccination would start soon after. Officials say it will be given to frontline health care workers and support staff first, along with residents of long-term care facilities. The next groups to get vaccinated could be more health care workers, other essential workers and those with underlying health conditions.
Jason Davis, a spokesman for Lane County Public Health, says the county is moving forward with plans to make sure that when the COVID-19 vaccine is available locally, that we are ready. This includes looking at storage options and making sure we have adequate deep freeze places to keep them, given it takes a colder temperature than most.
“Thankfully our community has gone through mass vaccination efforts and we have terrific partners to carry out those efforts and our hospital groups have been very active in our planning and logistical concerns,” Davis said. “And the University of Oregon having been through the meningitis effort its very familiar with what it takes to do mass vaccination efforts.”
Just like the COVID-19 vaccine, the Meningococcal B shot required more than one dose to be effective. In 2015, ten thousand University of Oregon students got the first dose after six cases were reported on campus, including one death. The UO held mass vaccination clinics to provide all three rounds of the Meningococcal B shot to make it convenient for students to get the shot. However, this time around, the county’s ability to act and distribute the vaccine are dependent on factors outside of our control from the federal and international level.
Davis said this will be a slower process than most of us would like. During the first phase, health officials are taking into consideration where they work and where they are during different parts of the day, so they can easily access that specific group like they did with UO students.
On Thursday, a panel of outside scientists and doctors endorsed Pfizer’s vaccine, recommending that it be approved by the FDA. The advisory board said the vaccine appears to be safe and effective for people over 16. A final decision by the FDA is expected within days.
Springfield police search for person involved in overnight shooting
Springfield police detectives are searching for the person believed to be involved in an overnight shooting in Springfield, Springfield Police Department said Friday morning.
The incident happened in the area of 28th and Marcola. SPD said the call came in around 3:10 a.m. Friday. A white male was transported to the hospital with non-life threatening injuries.
AROUND the STATE of OREGON
Gov. Brown to hold coronavirus pandemic press conference Friday –
Oregon Governor Kate Brown is expected to hold an update on the ongoing fight against the coronavirus pandemic at 11 a.m. on Friday morning. The governor is expected to reveal more about how the state will distribute a coronavirus vaccine. The Oregon Health Authority is already preparing for the first shipment of the Pfizer vaccine, which cleared a major hurdle Thursday. Once the Food and Drug Administration authorizes the vaccine for use, experts from Oregon, Washington, California and Nevada will independently review the vaccine.
Oregon to get 100K vaccine doses in first distribution wave –
There is hope as the nation gets closer to a coronavirus vaccine. Vaccine experts at OHA said 100,000 doses will be given to the State of Oregon from Pfizer.
Officials with OHA say both vaccines are 95 percent effective. Like other vaccines, it’s common to have side effects after they’re given, the severity of which can vary depending on the person.
As for the country, OHA officials said 100 million doses will be sent out and we won’t expect more until summer of 2021. Regardless of where they are sent, the Pfizer vaccine will require ultra-cold storage.
“The Pfizer order is a minimum order size of 975 doses, so those are being targeted to those larger hospitals,” said Rex Larson, Planning Unit Manager with Oregon Health Authority, “and the Moderna allocations, they are coming a week later, but they’re going to go some of those smaller, rural hospitals that wouldn’t be able to use the entire Pfizer allocation and won’t be able to store it.”
Nine different hospitals throughout Oregon will have ultra-cold storage. Specific hospitals will be announced later.
Pfizer vaccines are expected to be released on Dec. 15 and the Moderna vaccine on Dec. 22
The former UPS driver accused of shooting at drivers along I-5 in southern Oregon has
been indicted on 34 counts in Jackson County Circuit Court, the county District
Attorney’s Office announced on Thursday.
State troopers arrested 49-year-old Kenneth Ayers in August following a string of shootings between Douglas, Josephine, and Jackson counties — one of which injured a woman near Central Point.
A Jackson County grand jury indicted Ayers on three counts of Attempted Murder in the
Second Degree, one count of Assault in the Second Degree, eight counts of Unlawful
Use of a Weapon, 14 counts of Recklessly Endangering Another Person, two counts of
Criminal Mischief in the First Degree, and six counts of Criminal Mischief in the Second
Degree. Ayers’ next court date is scheduled for Thursday, where he is expected to be arraigned on the indictment. The case against him is being prosecuted by Deputy District Attorney Virginia Greer.
Rain and snow returns to Oregon this weekend!
Rain in the valley and snow in the mountains will be possible just about every day for the coming 10 days, bringing a much-needed shot of moisture during what’s supposed to be the state’s wettest month.
Snow is also expected at pass levels, with 6 to 12 inches expected Thursday to Saturday. Driving could be a moderate challenge, with snow on the road, but no whiteout conditions are expected.
“We had a big high-pressure system sitting off the coast that just acted like a giant boulder that blocked all the storm systems trying to come in from the ocean,” National Weather Service meteorologist Clinton Rockey said. “It’s finally moving out of the way, and as a result, we should see a series of systems and not too many blue skies.”
Largest active COVID-19 workplace outbreaks in Oregon are at prisons
There are 124 active COVID-19 workplace outbreaks in Oregon as of this week reported by the Oregon Health Authority (OHA). The three largest active workplace outbreaks in Oregon are at prisons.
In this week’s workplace outbreaks data from the OHA, six of Oregon’s correctional institutions showed up in the report. The largest active outbreak remains at the Snake River Correctional Institution in Ontario, with a total of 554 cases reported.
The three largest active workplace outbreaks in Oregon are at prisons and account for 1,349 total cases :
- Snake River Correctional Institution, Ontario: 554 cases (The first reported case was June 24, 2020 and the most recent onset was reported Dec. 4, 2020).
- Eastern Oregon Correctional Institution, Pendleton: 522 cases (The first reported case was July 8, 2020 and the most recent onset was reported Dec. 7, 2020).
- Oregon State Correctional Institution, Salem: 202 cases (The first reported case was Sept. 28, 2020 and the most recent onset was reported Dec. 3, 2020).
- Deer Ridge Correctional Institution, Madras: 57 cases (The first reported case was Nov. 13, 2020 and the most recent onset was reported Dec. 3, 2020).
- Coffee Creek Intake Center, Wilsonville: 8 cases (The first reported case was Nov. 4, 2020 and the most recent onset was reported Nov. 23, 2020) .
- Sheridan Correctional Institution, Sheridan: 6 cases (The first reported case was Oct. 19, 2020 and the most recent onset was reported Nov. 25, 2020).
Commercial crabbing to open on Southern Oregon Coast
The commercial Dungeness crab fishery will open along the southern Oregon Coast in time to put crab on the table for Christmas.
Fishery managers announced crab vessels will be allowed to set gear beginning Sunday from Cape Falcon near Manzanita south to the California border. The first pull of ocean crab pots starts Wednesday.
Commercial crabbing is delayed on the North Coast until levels of the marine toxin domoic acid drop in crab caught in Washington state. More testing is needed in Washington to determine crab is safe. The two fisheries will start together.
Crab tested in Oregon’s harvest areas have remained well below alert levels.
The West Coast commercial Dungeness fishery is coordinated under a tri-state agreement between Washington, Oregon and California. It is Oregon’s most lucrative fishery, with an average ex-vessel value of $39.5 million. Last season, Oregon crabbers landed more than 20 million pounds of crab.
The recreational crab fishery is already open along the entire Oregon Coast.