Douglas County COVID-19 Response Team - Daily Update - September 5, 2020 (Photo) - 09/05/20

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 – September 5, 2020

DOUGLAS COUNTY COVID-19 RESPONSE TEAM - DAILY UPDATE

(Douglas County, Ore.) Douglas County COVID-19 Test Results: It’s another good day in Douglas County.  As of 12:00 pm today, Saturday, September 5, 2020, there are NO new positive test result since our noon case update yesterday.  The total number of cases (people with positive test results and presumptive) in Douglas County remains at 180*.

You did it again Douglas County!  For the fourth week in a row, thanks to the leadership of our Douglas County Commissioners, Dr. Bob Dannenhoffer, our Douglas County Public Health Officer, DPHN staff and the DCCRT Team, our County has successfully met the county metric requirement for our schools to reopen according to Oregon Health Authority and Oregon Department of Education’s, Ready Schools, Safe Learners initiative.  The guidelines require a County to be under the 1% test positivity rate for a minimum of three-weeks.  This is also the first week since June 21, 2020 were we have had 3 or less cases.  We just need to get the rest of the State to get their numbers down for the school reopening process to begin.   OHA and ODE officials are working directly with local schools and school boards to adopt and implement their school reopening and/or student learning plans. As a reminder, schools and this process are not a function of county government. We encourage you to contact your local school district for information about their 2020-21 academic school year education plans and discover what options are available for your child(ren). If you have questions about the criteria or metrics or need more information about the State’s Ready Schools, Safe Learners initiative, log onto their website, or contact OHA directly at (503) 947-2340 or ODE directly at (503) 947-5600.  Keep up the good work! 

*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 8 cases in isolation.

Getting Tested & Testing Clinics

The next drive-through testing clinic will be Tuesday, September 8, 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 1455 people tested in 68 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.

Red Cross: Urgent Need for Blood Donations Continues

As we begin the new school year, the American Red Cross still has an urgent need for blood donations to prevent another blood shortage. Donors are needed to make and keep scheduled appointments to help meet the current need. If you are healthy, feeling well and eligible to give blood or platelets, you are urged to make an appointment to donate as soon as possible. Donate your blood and save a life.  Remember, appointments are required, visit www.redcrossblood.org  or call (800) 733-2767 to schedule today.

Get Signed Up Today for a Local Upcoming Blood Drive:

Tuesday, Sept 8            10:30 am - 3:30 pm      South River Community Health, 671 S Main St, Winston

Wednesday, Sept 9       12:30 pm – 6:00 pm      Sutherlin Community Center, 150 S Willamette St., Sutherlin

Thursday, Sept 10         10:00 am – 3:30 pm      Roseburg Blood Donation Ctr., 1176 NW Garden Valley Blvd

Friday, Sept 11             9:00 am – 3:00 pm        Roseburg Blood Donation Ctr., 1176 NW Garden Valley Blvd

Monday, Sept 14          1:00 pm – 6:30 pm       Roseburg Blood Donation Ctr., 1176 NW Garden Valley Blvd

Tuesday, Sept 15          12:00 pm - 5:00 pm      Seven Feathers Casino Resort, 146 Chief Miwaleta Ln, Canyonville              

Please, Celebrate Safely this Labor Day Weekend

Labor Day weekend is here and your Douglas County Board of Commissioners, in conjunction with Dr. Bob Dannenhoffer, your Douglas County Public Health Officer, wanted to remind our residents that the safest way to celebrate during the pandemic is to limit groups and gatherings, limit travel, stay six feet apart and to wear face coverings were recommended.  Past holiday weekends have led to outbreaks in our state with people celebrating in an unsafe manner that resulted in an uptick in cases. With case numbers finally declining, it’s more important than ever for our citizens to rethink and limit holiday weekend gatherings, and find safe ways to celebrate so we can continue to make progress against COVID-19.  The bottom line is please use common sense, follow the current guidelines and don't let COVID-19 be an unwanted party crasher this year.  We hope you have a safe and happy Labor Day holiday weekend.  Click here to check out our Tips to Help Keep Your Labor Day Celebrations COVID-19 Safe. 

Facebook Live with Dr. Bob Dannenhoffer

Join us Tuesday, September 8, 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