Joint Release from Douglas County Board of Commissioners and Douglas Public Health Network
(Douglas County, Ore.) In light of some of the new projections and data being passed down from the state level on the spread and life of COVID-19 in Oregon, your Douglas County Board of Commissioners, Douglas County Public Health Official, Dr. Robert Dannenhoffer, officials from Douglas Public Health Network (DPHN), Douglas County Emergency Management, Aviva Health, Mercy Medical Center, Evergreen Family Medicine and Umpqua Health Alliance want to stress how important it is to follow the “Stay Home, Save Lives” orders outlined by state officials on Monday, March 23, 2020 in the Executive Order 20-12. (Read the Executive Order Here.)
“The number one thing for residents to understand is how imperative it is that everyone practices the proper social distancing, hand washing and staying healthy mandates set forth for your protection and health. This is not a test, we are in a real crisis. Please take care of yourself, your family and neighbors. The sooner we all step up and do our part to actively execute the social distancing orders, the greater the impact will be in shortening the life of this virus, and saving the lives of our family and friends,” commented Dr. Dannenhoffer.
Local COVID-19 Test Results
As of this 12:00 pm, Thursday, March 26, 2020, County Public Health Officer, Dr. Bob Dannenhoffer announced one new positive case of COVID-19 in Douglas County to report, bringing the confirmed number of cases in Douglas County to four. Douglas Public Health Network has launched their epidemiology investigation related to the new case, identifying who this individual may have had contact with. Identifying information about the newest case is not being released at this time. Close contacts of the confirmed case will be notified by public health.
Currently, there are zero deaths and 139 negative tests for COVID-19 in Douglas County. DPHN has set up a new online tracking system on their website, www.douglaspublichealthnetwork.org, with test results for Douglas County residents. The goal is to have the chart updated at noon every day. Again, as a reminder for patient safety, they will not be releasing any identifying information of those that had testing done, or those that have tested positive. If a case comes back positive after that time, DPHN will announce it with a press release and updating their website, until further notice.
Local COVID-19 Drive-Through Testing Clinic
Douglas Public Health Network will host the next COVID-19 drive-through clinic tomorrow, Friday, March 27, at the Douglas County Fairgrounds. Residents that will be tested were identified by their health care provider, as a patient that is symptomatic, and needed to be tested. They will present their test order at the drive-thru clinic, where their specimen will be collected and then flown to a Quest Lab for processing. Results will be sent back in about a week to their physician or health care provider that ordered the test. Those tested are asked to please self-quarantine at home and continue to quarantine for 72 hours after symptoms subside.
At this time, you can only get a COVID-19 test through your healthcare provider. Information has been given to providers and clinics about how to get their patients signed up for the drive-through testing process. Tests are currently being processed at the Oregon State Public Health Lab and a growing number of commercial labs, like Quest and LabCorp. There are very few outpatient clinics in Douglas County offering testing at this time. Community health partners are working very hard to make testing available to a wider number of people. The first drive thru testing site was piloted in the county on March 17 and additional drive-through testing clinics were conducted on March 20, 23 and 24.
Oregon COVID-19 Case Update
Oregon Health Authority announced that as of 8:00 am today, March 26, 2020, that another life has been claimed by the COVID-19 virus, bringing the State’s total to 11 deaths. There are now 316 cases in Oregon, as they reported 50 new cases of COVID-19 today. The COVID-19 cases by county are as follows: The breakdown of cases: Washington County 104 cases; Marion County 57 cases; Multnomah County 45 cases; Linn County 26 cases; Clackamas County 21 cases; Deschutes County 15 cases; Lane and Yamhill County 7 cases; Benton and Polk County 6 cases each; Jackson and Josephine County 4 cases each; and Douglas County 3 cases; Clatsop and Umatilla County 4 cases each; Grant, Hood River, Klamath, Lincoln, Tillamook, Union and Wasco County 1 case each. 23 Oregon Counties have confirmed cases.
Oregon Health Authority reports new cases once a day on its website and today new demographic information was added www.healthoregon.org/coronavirus. Oregon’s eleventh death is a 69-year-old woman from Washington County, who tested positive on March 15, and died on March 25, at Providence St. Vincent Medical Center. She had underlying medical conditions. The Oregon Health Authority is now releasing the daily situation status report, which is produced jointly with Oregon Office of Emergency Management. It details the overall picture of the COVID-19 outbreak and the response across government agencies. Read more here about the daily situation status report.
A Message from the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office – Help Our 911 Center (See attached Facebook clip)
Donation Blood Today!
Yes, these are uncertain times, but leaving home to donate blood is considered a lifesaving and essential need. Those who are healthy, feeling well and eligible to give blood or platelets, are urged to make an appointment to donate as soon as possible by using the Red Cross Blood Donor App, visiting www.RedCrossBlood.org or calling (800) 733-2767.? Donate your blood and save a life. There are a few upcoming blood drives scheduled in Douglas County this week and next.
Red Cross Donor Center – 1176 NW Garden Valley Blvd in Roseburg
- Friday, March 27 from 9am to 3pm
- Monday, March 30 from 12:30pm to 6:30pm
Community Blood Drives
- Friday, March 27 between 1pm to 6pm, Grocery Outlet, 130 Petite Street, Myrtle Creek
- Tuesday, March 31 from 9am to 3pm, First Presbyterian Church, 823 SW Lane Ave, Roseburg
Stay Informed with the Accurate Information
Your Douglas County Board of Commissioners, Douglas County Public Health Official, Dr. Robert Dannenhoffer, officials from Douglas Public Health Network (DPHN), Douglas County Emergency Management, Aviva Health, Mercy Medical Center, Evergreen Family Medicine and Umpqua Health Alliance have been working hard to cooperatively provide accurate and timely COVID-19 information and response to Douglas County residents. If you have questions about resources available, call the COVID-19 hotline, staffed by local volunteers at (541) 464-6550. Stay up to date on COVID-19 in Douglas County on the DPHN website at www.douglaspublichealthnetwork.org. Find additional information on state, federal and international COVID-19 response from the following websites: Oregon Health Authority, Centers for Disease Control, World Health Organization and by calling or logging onto 211Info.