Douglas County COVID-19 Response Team - Noon & Daily Update - August 27, 2020 (Photo) - 08/27/20

Our local COVID-19 updates represent the coordinated effort of the agencies that make up the DCCRT

JOINT INFORMATION CENTER PRESS RELEASE - FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – August 27, 2020

DOUGLAS COUNTY COVID-19 RESPONSE TEAM - NOON AND DAILY UPDATE

(Douglas County, Ore.) Douglas County COVID-19 Test Results: It is Thursday, August 27, 2020, and as of 12:00 pm today, there are FOUR people with new positive test results since our noon case update yesterday.  The total number of cases (people with positive test results and presumptive) in Douglas County is now at 177*.  Three Douglas County COVID patients are being hospitalized out-of-the-area at this time.  We also wanted to note that we have now received over 10,000 negative test results from those tested in Douglas County.

We wanted to take a moment and send out a special thank you to the hundreds of staff and volunteers that have dedicated their time to operate our local Douglas County COVID-19 hotline for the past 168 days.  The hotline began operations on Friday, March 13, 2020, less than a week after our first COVID-19 case was announced in Douglas County.  Douglas County, under the direction of DPHN and the support of the Douglas County Board of Commissioners, was one of the first counties in Oregon to set up a COVID-19 Hotline. To date we have received over 2600 calls and had over 130 local volunteers who stepped up to staff the call center, including more than 45 licensed health care providers. The Douglas County COVID-19 Response Team express their deepest thanks to the volunteers, staff and the organizations that have devoted so many hours to the hotline over the last five months. Those organizations include: Douglas County Commissioners, DPHN, Douglas County IT Department, Aviva Health, Evergreen Family Medicine, UCAN, VA Medical Center, Douglas ESD, Mercy Medical Center, NOVA Urgent Care, Mercy Foundation, Umpqua Health, Red Cross, YMCA and the Boys and Girls Club.  So, if you have questions about anything COVID for need information on available local resources, please do not hesitate to reach out to the hotline for assistance.  The Douglas County COVID-19 Hotline number is (541) 464-6550 and is staffed from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm, 7 days a week.  

*Our daily update includes the total number of cases in Douglas County, which combines people with positive test results and presumptives. We provide a breakout of the people with positive test results and presumptives in the chart above. Please note there will be times when a presumptive will move to a positive test result, and our total case number will not change because the case has already been counted, instead you will see an adjustment to our breakout numbers for positive test results and presumptives.

Previously, we used the OHA definition for recovered that considered people recovered if they were 10 days from onset and symptoms were improving.  As more is learned about COVID, the clinical definition of recovery is evolving.  Due to the evolving nature of this definition, we have removed the column in our chart listing our recovered cases.  We added the number of those in isolation that roughly correlates with the number of active cases.  The DCCRT noon case and daily update will report the Total Number of COVID-19 Cases, the number of positive test results (as of 12:00 pm that day), the number of presumptive, total currently hospitalized, total currently in isolation, total COVID-19 deaths and total negative test results in Douglas County.  Currently, DPHN is supporting 10 cases in isolation.

Getting Tested & Testing Clinics

The next drive-through testing clinic will be Friday, August 28, 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. The first drive-through testing site was piloted in the county on March 17, 2020, there have been 1417 people tested in 65 drive-through clinics, while additional testing continues in hospitals, urgent cares and 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.

Oregon COVID-19 Case Update

Oregon Health Authority (OHA) reports new cases once a day on their website at www.healthoregon.org/coronavirus. OHA also releases a daily situation status report and a weekly report that details the overall picture of the COVID-19 outbreak within our state.  The daily report details positive and presumptive cases, as well as deaths by county and statewide, while the weekly report is more in depth and includes statistical data related the severity of cases by age, gender, zip codes, ethnicity, as well as information on workplace and senior care facility outbreaks in Oregon. Find additional information on the state or Federal COVID-19 response go to Oregon Health Authority, Centers for Disease Control, and 211Info.

OHA expanded their reporting for COVID-19 case management to now include presumptive COVID-19 cases in their total case number.  DPHN is reporting the number of people with new positive test results and any new presumptives and uses 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 or antigen test for COVID-19.  Testing continues, as DPHN has been holding 2-3 clinics a week and hospitals, urgent cares and clinics continue to test.  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 and isolation.

Reminder: Limit Travel, Social Gatherings and Visitors

It is important it is to keep your family and loved ones safe during this pandemic.  The COVID-19 virus is still here, still infectious and will be around for quite some time. The bottom line is that everyone needs to take personal responsibility for their actions and adopt the proper precautionary measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19. We will continue to encourage residents to be cautious about traveling or inviting people from outside our county, and instead encourage our residents to delay travel, consider stay-cations and reschedule visits from out-of-the-area friends and family to a later date.  We continue to identify people with positive test results that have chosen to travel out of Oregon to visit relatives or to take vacations.  While traveling those individuals and families have come in contact with someone with COVID-19 and brought it back to Douglas County.  A few other cases were the result of a family member coming to Douglas County to visit, brought the virus with them and infected their host family.  In addition to limiting travel, we are asking that you also limit attending social gatherings, stay home if you are sick, wash your hands, stay six feet apart and wear a mask where recommended.  Reversing the increase of COVID-19 cases in our county is really up to YOU, our residents.

DFPA: Bow Hunters…Know Before You Go!

Shared from the Douglas Forest Protective Association.  As hunters gear up for the opening weekend of bow season, fire officials with the Douglas Forest Protective Association are asking hunters and other forest users to know the current fire restrictions before heading to the woods.  DFPA’s Public Use Restrictions, which went into effect June 15, either restrict or prohibit high risk fire activities which could easily start a new wildfire.  Under DFPA’s Public Use Restrictions, smoking is prohibited in wildland areas, except inside vehicles. Open fires are prohibited, including campfires, cooking fires, and warming fires, except in designated campgrounds.  Portable cooking stoves using liquefied or bottled fuels are allowed elsewhere.  DFPA’s Public Use Restrictions also restrict vehicle use in wildland areas.  All vehicles, including dirt bikes and all-terrain vehicles that are traveling in wildland areas must have a good working exhaust system and stay on improved roads that are free of flammable vegetation.  Off road driving and trail riding, is prohibited.  In addition, each vehicle must be equipped with an axe, a shovel, and a gallon of water or a 2.5 pound or larger fire extinguisher.  Other activities that are currently restricted or prohibited include the use of power saws for non-industrial purposes and the use of fireworks, tracer ammunition, exploding targets and sky lanterns.  In addition to DFPA’s Public Use Restrictions, industrial landowners and public land management agencies may have additional fire restrictions or closures in place on the lands they own or manage.  Hunters and other forest users are advised to check with the proper landowners or public land management agencies for the places they wish to hunt or recreate on, before heading to the woods.  A list of private industrial landowner closures can be found online at http://www.ofic.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/2020-OFIC-Closure-Form.pdf.  A list of BLM specific fire restrictions can be found online at www.blm.gov/programs/public-safety-and-fire/fire-and-aviation/regional-info/oregon-washington/fire-restrictions.  For a complete list of DFPA’s Public Use Restrictions, visit www.dfpa.net/public-fire-restrictions or call DFPA’s information line at (541) 672-0379. 

ODVA: Notice to Oregon Veterans About Medical Copays and Expenses

Shared from the Oregon Department of Veterans’ Affairs (ODVA).  ODVA wants to remind Oregon veterans who are enrolled in the VA Health Care System that they may still be accruing copays and other regular expenses even though they are not receiving bills.  The U.S. Department of Veterans’ Affairs suspended billing to veterans as of April 1, in accordance with the federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act. However, veterans should be aware that any copays or other expenses they normally pay are continuing to accrue. No interest or late fees are being charged. When billing resumes, which is anticipated in January 2021, the full amount will come due unless the veteran has opted to pay in advance. By calling the VA toll-free at 1-888-827-4817, veterans may receive information about any current balance due and pay their VA medical bills.  When billing resumes, veterans will have the option of requesting financial hardship assistance to establish a repayment plan if needed.  The VA will not withhold treatment or medication from any veteran because of inability to pay their bills, but it can impose late fees or take other action that may affect your other veterans’ benefits or your credit score once billing resumes.  For personalized services in your area, you can contact the Douglas County Veterans Service Office by calling (541) 440-4219 or emailing veterans@co.douglas.or.us.  For additional veteran services check out ODVA’s online directory here. 

Facebook Live with Dr. Bob Dannenhoffer

Join us Friday, August 28, 2020 for the next virtual town hall Q&A with Dr. Bob Dannenhoffer, your Douglas County Public Health Officer at 6:00 pm, hosted by DPHN and found on the DPHN Facebook page.

Stay Informed with Accurate Local Information

Stay up to date on COVID-19 in Douglas County on the Douglas County Government website or the DPHN website.  Your Douglas County Board of Commissioners, Douglas County Public Health Officer, Dr. Robert Dannenhoffer and the Douglas County COVID-19 Response Team (DCCRT) have been working hard to cooperatively provide accurate and timely information to Douglas County residents since March 8, 2020.  Our local COVID-19 updates represent the coordinated effort of the agencies that make up the DCCRT.

Local COVID-19 Hotline If you have questions about COVID-19 or need access to available local resources, call the Douglas County COVID-19 Hotline at (541) 464-6550.  It is staffed from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm, 7 days a week.

Questions about Governor’s Reopening or Statewide Rules?  If you have questions or need more information about the Governor’s Phased Reopening Plans, Sector Specific Guidelines or her latest Statewide Orders go to the Governor’s COVID-19 website at https://govstatus.egov.com/or-covid-19/ or call Business Oregon's Navigator Hotline at (833) 604-0880.  

Who Do You Contact to Report Compliance Issues with the Governor’s Statewide Rules?

Please do not call 911, Douglas County Sheriff’s Office or Douglas County Offices to report compliance issues with the Governor’s orders.  The Governor has directed the State of Oregon offices for Oregon Occupational Safety and Health (OSHA) and the Oregon Liquor Control Commission (OLCC) to be the enforcement agencies responsible for ensuring restaurants, bars, and other businesses comply with COVID-related rules. 

Click here to read the Governor’s official press release on COVID-19 rules compliance. 

Click here for the Governor’s latest statewide rules, effective Friday, July 24, 2020.

For more information or to report compliance issues concerning the Governor’s COVID-19 orders contact:

OSHA: (800) 922-2689 or OSHA website or OLCC (503) 872-5000 or OLCC website

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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