Joint Release from Douglas County Board of Commissioners and Douglas Public Health Network

(Douglas County, Ore.) The message today from State officials is one of continued emphasis to please, “Stay Home, Stay Safe.”  Click here for the latest guidance to the Governor’s COVID-19 Executive Order 20-12.  Which provides further information for programs that provide for the basic human needs of low- and extremely low-income households, as well as individuals experiencing homelessness and housing instability.   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 reassure residents that local efforts are operating at the highest level of cooperation to protect and care for our residents.

Local COVID-19 Test Results

As of 12:00 pm today, March 27th, 2020, Douglas County still has 4 confirmed positive cases of COVID-19, zero deaths and 170 negative tests for COVID-19.  Douglas Public Health Network will be updating their website with local numbers daily around noon on their website, www.douglaspublichealthnetwork.org.  If a case comes back positive after that time, DPHN will announce it with a press release and updating their website, until further notice.  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.

“This is the most critical time for us to continue to try to contain this with social distancing.  It may seem like this is dying down but it’s actually the calm before the storm.”  Dr. Bob Dannenhoffer, Douglas Public Health Officer

Local COVID-19 Drive-Through Testing Clinic

Douglas Public Health Network hosted another COVID-19 drive-through clinic today, Friday, March 27, at the Douglas County Fairgrounds.  They anticipate conducting another 45 tests today.  Residents that were tested were identified by their health care provider, as a patient that is symptomatic, and needed to be tested.  They presented their test order at the drive-thru clinic, their specimen was collected and will be 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.

Oregon COVID-19 Case Update

The Oregon Health Authority reported 98 new cases of COVID-19 in Oregon, that bring the state total to 414. Sadly, they also reported another death, bringing the total to 12 deaths in Oregon. 

The COVID-19 cases by county are as follows: The breakdown of cases: Washington County 122 cases; Marion County 83 cases; Multnomah County 67 cases; Clackamas County 31 cases; Linn County 38 cases; Deschutes County 18 cases; Yamhill County 11 cases; Polk County 10 cases; Lane County 9 cases; Jackson County 6 cases; Benton County 5 cases; Douglas and Josephine County 4 cases each; Umatilla County 3 cases; Clatsop, Klamath and Wasco County 2 cases each; Columbia, Grant, Hood River, Lincoln, Morrow, Tillamook and Union County 1 case each.  24 Oregon Counties have confirmed cases.

Oregon’s latest COVID-19 death was an 82-year-old woman in Marion County. She tested positive on March 20, and died March 25 at Salem Hospital. She had underlying medical conditions.

Facebook Live with Dr. Bob Dannenhoffer

Join Douglas Public Health Network for another virtual town hall Q&A with Dr. Bob Dannenhoffer tonight at 6:00 pm, on the Douglas Public Health Network Facebook page at: https://www.facebook.com/DouglasPublicHealthNetwork/

Bottle Return Information

Many grocery stores have chosen to temporarily stop accepting bottle returns during the COVID-19 crisis to help protect the health and safety of their staff and customers. The Oregon Liquor Control Commission has granted grocery stores and supermarkets permission to decline returns until April 30. If there are no stores near you currently accepting bottle returns, local officials recommend keeping your beverage containers until stores resume accepting them. Eligible beverage containers will still be worth 10 cents each when bottle drops reopen. The Roseburg BottleDrop Redemption Center at 740 NE Garden Valley Blvd. currently remains open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily. For other BottleDrop locations in the state, log onto: https://www.bottledropcenters.com/

President Signs Coronavirus Relief Bill

Today, President Donald Trump signed the CARES Act (Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act), a $2 trillion coronavirus aid bill, after it passed the House this afternoon and flew through the Senate yesterday.  The bill represents the largest emergency relief package in U.S. history. Click here to read the full text of the stimulus bill.  This legislation will result in sweeping actions including the following:

• Direct payments of $1,200 to individual U.S. residents with a Social Security number who earn up to $75,000 annually, plus $500 per child. Married couples with joint incomes of up to $150,000 will receive payments of $2,400.
• $350 billion in SBA loans will be available to small businesses through local banks and credit unions. Businesses applying for a loan will be eligible for an emergency grant of up to $10,000.
• $100 billion in emergency assistance will go toward hospitals on the front lines of the pandemic
• Unemployment benefits are expanded: Eligible workers will receive an extra $600 per week on top of their state benefit. Self-employed individuals including freelancers, gig workers and independent contractors will be newly eligible for unemployment benefits. Part-time workers will also be eligible for benefits. Benefits will be extended by 13 weeks.
• Payments on student loans held by the federal government will be suspended until Sept. 30. Student loan interest will be waived during that time period.

Circulate the Love and Give Blood:

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

• Monday, March 30 from 12:30pm to 6:30pm

Community Blood Drives

• Tuesday, March 31 from 9am to 3pm, First Presbyterian Church, 823 SW Lane Ave, Roseburg

Greater Douglas United Way – Local COVID-19 Emergency Response Fund

The Greater Douglas United Way (GDUW) has set up a local COVID-19 Emergency Response Fund.  100% of your donation will go to help local people in need as a direct result of the COVID-19 pandemic.  GDUW has also pledged that they will not be charging any administrative fees on the fund.  GDUW will focus the funding on basic needs through local nonprofits, childcare needs, and other basic needs for people affected by the pandemic. Deposits can be made at any Banner Bank location using the GDUW COVID-19 Emergency Response Fund. More information available at: GDUW website.

Join the Umpqua Sewing Warriors and Make Masks:

Umpqua Sewing Warriors formed by Oregon Serigraphics set up a grassroots mask making program specifically for DPHN distribution. Volunteer sewing warriors are needed to help with the cause. Mask sewing kits can be picked on Saturdays from 12:00 pm – 3:00 pm at the entrance to Serigraphics, located at 333 SE Jackson Street in Roseburg. Kits contain: 25 or so double layer fabric panels, elastic cord and instructions. Volunteers sew the masks and return them to Serigraphics the following Friday for sterilization and pick up by DPHN. Last Saturday they sent out 1,500 mask sewing kits to be sewn by local volunteers. Although the CDC and OHA guidance states that they do not recommend that people who are NOT sick to be wearing masks, the masks will be helpful for people who are sick or are being treated for COVID-19. They are hoping to donate 1,000 masks per week. They would also appreciate local business support to help with supplies. For more information, call (541) 672-6296 or the Umpqua Sewing Warriors Facebook page.

Helpful Information for Small Businesses from the Roseburg Chamber of Commerce:

Debbie Fromdahl, President and CEO of the Roseburg Area Chamber of Commerce shared this message with us, “As most of you know, Congress has approved $350 billion in emergency loans for small businesses to help them keep workers employed. In fact, if small businesses maintain or later restore their payrolls, they may not have to repay some — or possibly any — of the loan. Here’s a guide and checklist from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce to help our small businesses through the process.”  Please see the loan guide attached below.

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.