DOUGLAS COUNTY COVID-19 RESPONSE TEAM - DAILY LOCAL UPDATE
JOINT INFORMATION CENTER PRESS RELEASE - FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – June 2, 2020
Our local COVID-19 updates represent the coordinated effort of the 14 agencies that make up the DCCRT
(Douglas County, Ore.) As our Douglas County Board of Commissioners await a response from the Governor on the status of our request letter (sent on Friday, May 29, 2020) to advance to Phase Two of her Reopening Plan, we encourage our citizens to keep the faith that, while it might be a slow reopening process, we are moving forward. While we do not know the extent of the Governor’s Phase Two guidelines, we are hopeful they will provide increased opportunities for businesses, recreation and possibly a few summer activities. We look forward to hearing the news and as soon as we receive notice we will let our citizens, businesses and communities know.
Douglas County COVID-19 Test Results:
It is Tuesday, June 2, 2020, and as of 12:00 pm today, there is one new case of COVID-19 in Douglas County. The total number of positive cases in Douglas County is 28. Testing continues, as DPHN has been holding 2-3 clinics a week and hospitals, urgent cares and clinics continue to test. Twenty-eight people have tested positive in the county and twenty-five of those twenty-eight have recovered. DPHN defines recovery as an end to all symptoms after a positive test for COVID-19.
DPHN continues their epidemiologic investigations, identifying individuals who may have had close contact with individuals that have tested positive for COVID-19, advising and supporting quarantine. The majority of the individuals who have tested positive earlier have now recovered. The first positive COVID-19 case in Douglas County was announced on March 8, 2020. Thanks to the great work that Douglas County has done social distancing and staying home, we’ve had 28 cases in 86 days.
Here are the current numbers for Douglas County:
|
New Cases as of 12:00 pm June 2, 2020 |
Total Confirmed Cases |
Total Recovered Cases (of those that tested positive) |
Total COVID-19 Deaths |
Total Currently Hospitalized (of those that tested positive) |
Total Negative Test Result |
Total Presumptive Cases |
|
1 |
28 |
25 |
0 |
1 |
2844 |
0 |
The Oregon Health Authority (OHA) has expanded their reporting for COVID-19 case management and will now include presumptive COVID-19 cases. DPHN will also be reporting presumptive cases and will use the OHA’s definition of presumptive as having had close contact with a known, confirmed COVID-19 case, showing symptoms and not yet having a positive nasal swab/PCR test for COVID-19.
Getting Tested & Testing Clinics
The next drive-through testing clinic will be today, Tuesday, June 2, 2020, in Roseburg. As a reminder, if you are having symptoms of COVID-19 including cough, fever, shortness of breath, muscle aches and pains, diarrhea, sore throat or decreased sense of smell and taste, talk to your health care provider about being tested for COVID-19. Patients without a Primary Care Provider, that are looking for a COVID-19 test should contact the Sutherlin Aviva Health Clinic at (541) 459-3788.
Special Thank You to all that have helped with the Drive-Through COVID Testing: Douglas County was one of the first in the state to stand up a drive-through COVID-19 testing clinic at the beginning of the pandemic. Significant partnership and collaboration was key to the success of the 29 clinics that have been held so far in the county. The first drive-through testing site was piloted in the county on March 17, 2020, there have been 564 people tested in the drive-through clinics. The drive-through clinics are led by DPHN, in conjunction with partner agencies including; Douglas County COVID-19 Response Team, Douglas County Board of Commissioners, Douglas County Sheriff’s Office, Douglas County Public Works, local volunteers and local health professionals. The clinics have been a model for many other counties around the state and plans are in place to continue the clinics for as long as they are needed.
“We want to express our deep gratitude for all the work and energy that has been devoted to the almost thirty clinics that we’ve done since early March. This type of effort is not something one single agency can do alone and the organizations and individuals who came together to increase accessibility to testing during a vital time are nothing short of amazing.” Teresa Mutschler, Executive Director DPHN
Oregon COVID-19 Case Update
Oregon Health Authority reports new cases once a day on its website at www.healthoregon.org/coronavirus. The Oregon Health Authority is also 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 within the state and the response across government agencies. Click Here to Read More About the Oregon Daily Situation Status Report.
Navigating COVID-19 Resources for Small Businesses
Oregon has developed a Small Business Navigator website to help the state’s small-business owners connect to COVID-19-related resources.
The site contains links to information on the following topics:
- Financial assistance (federal, state and other loans)
- Workforce assistance (unemployment benefits and insurance coverage)
- Reopening guidance, including advice on securing or manufacturing PPE
- Other business guidance (connections, planning, counseling and more)
The website is a joint effort by Business Oregon, the Oregon Employment Department, the Oregon Secretary of State and the state Department of Consumer and Business Services. The Small Business Navigator Hotline is (833) 604-0880.
Resources for Those Struggling to Pay Rent or Mortgage
If you feel like you’re struggling to stay afloat in terms of paying your rent or mortgage, you’re not alone. Resources are available to assist you - here are a few:
- A good first step is to talk to your landlord or mortgage lender to see if there is any relief available in terms of rent reduction or deferred payments.
- Oregon Housing and Community Services has a COVID-19 Rent Relief Program for people who have experienced a loss of income and are at risk of homelessness due to COVID-19. To inquire about this assistance, contact United Community Action Network (UCAN) at (541) 672-5392
- Gov. Kate Brown in March issued a statewide moratorium on residential evictions related to nonpayment of rent due to wage loss resulting from COVID-19. In April, she issued an executive order preventing landlords from giving eviction notices or filing eviction lawsuits related to non-payment of rent or no-cause evictions.
- Here’s a tenant-rights fact sheet from Oregon Law Center and Legal Aid Services of Oregon.
- The Consumer Finance Protection Bureau created a guide to mortgage relief options related to COVID-19. The Department of Consumer and Business Services has provided guidance to Oregon lenders.
- Here is a video to help you determine whether suspending mortgage payments due to COVID-19 makes sense for you.
- If you need assistance in finding shelter or other resources, call 2-1-1 or visit 211info.org
State Parks Releases List of Open Campgrounds
Oregon State Parks has released a list of campgrounds that have reopened or are set to reopen soon. The list can be found on the State Parks website.
Some campsites opened with limited services on Friday on a first-come, first-served basis. Another group of sites is set to reopen June 9 – including William M. Tugman south of Reedsport, Sunset Bay near Coos Bay, and Bullards Beach north of Bandon. Reservations are necessary at these sites, and can be made online. All cabins and yurts remain closed, and group camping is not allowed.
Additionally, on Friday, the Oregon Department of Forestry (ODF) opened some dispersed camping sites with limited services in the Tillamook, Clatsop, Santiam, Sun Pass and Gilchrist state forests and elsewhere. More information is available on the ODF website. Visitors are asked to pack out what they pack in and leave no trace.
Stay Informed with the Accurate Information
Your Douglas County Board of Commissioners, Douglas County Public Health Officer, Dr. Robert Dannenhoffer and the Douglas County COVID-19 Response Team have been working hard to cooperatively provide accurate and timely information to Douglas County residents since March 8, 2020.
Local COVID-19 Hotline: If you have questions about resources available, call the COVID-19 hotline, staffed by local volunteers at (541) 464-6550 from 8:00 am-5:00 pm, 7 days a week.
Stay up to date on COVID-19 in Douglas County on the DPHN website. Find additional information on state or federal COVID-19 response from the following websites: Douglas County Government, Oregon Health Authority, Centers for Disease Control, and by calling or logging onto 211Info.
Got Questions about the Governor’s Phased Reopening Plans?
If you have questions about the Governor’s Phased Reopening Plans, you will need to call, email or contact the Governor’s Office, the Oregon Health Authority (OHA) or the Oregon State Office responsible for regulating your business or the business that you wish to visit, if you have questions about her Phased Reopening Plans or Sector Specific Guidelines.
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Contact Tamara Howell, Public Information Officer, Douglas County COVID-19 Response Team, (541) 670-2804 cell/(541) 957-4896 tjhowell@co.douglas.or.us
Contact Vanessa Becker, Public Information Officer, Douglas Public Health Network, (541) 817-6552 cell /(541 440-3571 vanessa@douglaspublichealthnetwork.org