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 – January 12, 2021
DOUGLAS COUNTY COVID-19 RESPONSE TEAM - DAILY UPDATE
(Douglas County, Ore.) Douglas County COVID-19 Test Results: Despite a recent surge in local cases, the good news today is that Douglas County will remain in our current State mandated risk level, which currently provides an opportunity for ALL of our local businesses to be OPEN. As of 12:00 pm Today, Tuesday, January 12, 2021, there are TWENTY-ONE (21) people with new positive test results to report since our noon case update yesterday. The total number of cases (people with positive test results and presumptive) in Douglas County is now at 1,596*. Currently, there are NINE (9) Douglas County COVID-19 patients that are being hospitalized, six locally and three out-of-the-area. Our Douglas County COVID-19 Response Team, under the direction of the Douglas County Board of Commissioners, who administer our local public health program and oversee the work by Dr. Bob Dannenhoffer, our Douglas County Public Health Officer and Douglas Public Health Network, continue to devote all resources available to our local COVID response.
|
Date |
Friday, January 8, 2021 |
Saturday, January 9, 2021 |
Sunday, January 10, 2021 |
Monday, January 11, 2021 |
Tuesday, January 12, 2021 |
|
Total COVID-19 Cases |
1,528 |
1,545 |
1,566 |
1,575 |
1596 |
|
People w/ Positive PCR or Antigen Test Results |
1,443 |
1,458 |
1,480 |
1,489 |
1510 |
|
Presumptive |
85 |
87 |
86 |
86 |
86 |
|
Total Currently Hospitalized |
5 |
6 |
8 |
8 |
9 |
|
Total Currently in Isolation |
158 |
176 |
190 |
172 |
158 |
|
Total COVID-19 Related Deaths |
42 |
42 |
42 |
42 |
42 |
*Our daily update includes the total number of cases in Douglas County, which combines people with positive test results and presumptives, as well as a breakout of those case numbers. 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.
The State of Oregon Notified Douglas County That We Will Stay Our Current Risk Level
The news for Douglas County residents and businesses is that will remain in our current State mandated risk level. The State of Oregon notified Douglas County last night, that we will not be moving out of the current level based on our COVID-19 case count over the last two weeks. So, Douglas County will remain in the High Risk Level for the next two-week period, beginning Friday, January 15, 2012, and continuing through Thursday, January 28, 2021. The high risk level allows ALL of our local business the opportunity to be OPEN, with some limitations on capacity. We want to continue to thank our residents and businesses for staying within the recommended guidelines, and for making good decisions in order for our communities to stay open. The new risk level does not affect the ability of faith based organizations and local school districts to offer in-person services and classes. They are able to make decisions for their own congregations and educational programs.
Douglas County Sees Increase in Local Case Numbers
For the past two weeks, we have sadly seen a steady increase in our local COVID case numbers. During recent case investigations, a large outbreak, which is now our single largest epilink** outbreak, has been linked to a local faith organization as the source, with nearly five dozen positive cases, dozens of residents asked to quarantine and several hospitalizations. This outbreak has dramatically impacted our community, our businesses and our residents. We want to recognize and applaud the majority of our local faith organizations for proving that you can provide a wide range of safe and COVID-free in-person and online options for their congregations. Additionally, we are also seeing cases arise as an unfortunate consequence of residents who attended holiday celebrations, traveled to COVID hot spot areas, invited people to visit from out of the area and attended in-person unprotected congregate social gatherings where COVID-19 safety measures were not being followed. Please, for the sake of our local businesses, services and residents, we encourage you to gauge your risk level, and make the best choice in order protect yourself and those around you. We have provided education on the widely proven COVID-19 safety measures, and encourage you to limit your contact with others not from your household, stay home if you are sick and wear face coverings where recommended. We know how important family and faith are to you, so we ask that you consider all options available in order to eliminate and minimize the spread of the COVID-19 virus in our communities in order to help protect the ones you love, the businesses you love and the places you love to go.
**An epidemiological link is commonly called an epilink. An epilink is what a place or person or a group, who’ve tested positive for COVID-19, have in common, such as a business, co-worker, friend, school, daycare, fellow parishioner, relative or family member.
Local Cases Being Supported in Isolation and Quarantine
Currently, DPHN is supporting 158 cases in isolation, as well as another 215 contacts in quarantine in Douglas County. Isolation is recommended for confirmed and presumptive cases, quarantine is recommended for contacts of confirmed or presumptive cases. Currently, staff is supporting an astounding 373 total contacts in isolation or quarantine. This number represents a snapshot of the significant amount of work being done locally to help control the spread of COVID-19.
COVID-19 Vaccine In Oregon
We understand that our residents have many questions, so do we. Like you, we are patiently awaiting more information. If you have questions or need more information about the COVID-19 vaccine in Oregon, check out these resources:
- OHA COVID-19 Vaccine website: https://covidvaccine.oregon.gov/
- General Questions: COVID19.vaccine@dhsoha.state.or.us or call 221 or (971) 673-2411
- COVID-19 FAQ: Frequently Asked Questions About the COVID Vaccine in Oregon
As soon as more information is made available about the next phases and vaccine availability, we will pass the information along. In the meantime, we ask that you be patient and continue to follow the well documented recommendations for COVID health and safety.
Oregon COVID-19 Case Information
OHA reports new cases daily on their website at www.healthoregon.org/coronavirus. OHA reports include presumptive COVID-19 cases in their total case numbers. The DCCRT separates the number of people with new positive test results and new presumptives, and uses OHA’s definition of presumptive as those 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. DPHN performs their epidemiologic investigations, identifying individuals who test positive, as well as those that may have had close contact with individuals that have tested positive while advising and supporting quarantine and isolation. OHA has chosen to no longer report negative test results or recovered cases, so we will no longer be reporting this data in our daily update. Please contact the OHA directly for more information.
Facebook Live with Dr. Bob
Join us Tonight, Tuesday, January 12, 2021 at 6:00 pm for the next Facebook Live with Dr. Bob Dannenhoffer, the Douglas County Public Health Officer. The show is hosted by DPHN on the DPHN Facebook page. Residents are encouraged to submit their questions during the live show or can email questions to: Facebookquestions@douglaspublichealthnetwork.org. Dr. Bob and the DPHN team will do their best to respond to as many questions as they can during the live shows.
Douglas County COVID-19 Hotline (541) 464-6550
Your Douglas County Board of Commissioners and DPHN continue to offer a local resource hotline for Douglas County residents for COVID-19. The hotline provides answer to frequently asked questions, basic information and referrals to resources and services. The Hotline is staffed from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm, 7 days a week.
ACCESS ACCURATE, LOCAL COVID-19 INFORMATION
Stay up to date with accurate and local COVID-19 information in Douglas County on the Douglas County Government website or Douglas County Facebook page and the DPHN website or DPHN Facebook page. Your Douglas County Board of Commissioners, Douglas County Public Health Officer, Dr. Robert Dannenhoffer, DPHN and the DCCRT have been working hard to cooperatively provide accurate and timely information to Douglas County residents since March 8, 2020.
ACCESS STATE COVID-19 INFORMATION
To access information on the State of Oregon and Federal COVID-19 response go to Oregon Health Authority, U.S. Centers for Disease Control and 211Info. If you have questions or need more information on statewide guidelines or risk levels, go to the State’s Building a Safe and Strong Oregon website or the Governor’s COVID-19 website or call the Business Oregon's Navigator Hotline at (833) 604-0880. Please do not call 911, Douglas County Sheriff’s Office or Douglas County Offices to report compliance issues with the State of Oregon, OHA or Governor’s orders. The Governor has directed the State 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 guidelines. To report compliance issues contact them directly 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