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 – April 15, 2021
DOUGLAS COUNTY COVID-19 RESPONSE TEAM - DAILY UPDATE
(Douglas County, Ore.) DOUGLAS COUNTY COVID-19 TEST RESULTS: As of 12:00 pm Today, Thursday, April 15, 2021, there are NINE (9) 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 presumptives) in Douglas County is now at 3,029*. Currently, there are SEVEN (7) Douglas County COVID-19 patients that are being hospitalized, five locally and two out-of-the-area. Our Douglas County COVID-19 Response Team, under the direction of the Douglas County Board of Commissioners, continue to devote all resources available to our local COVID response.
|
Date |
Sunday April 11, 2021 |
Monday April 12, 2021 |
Tuesday April 13, 2021 |
Wednesday April 14, 2021 |
Today, Thursday, April 15, 2021 |
|
Total COVID-19 Cases |
2,996 |
3,003 |
3,014 |
3,020 |
3,029 |
|
People w/ Positive PCR or Antigen Test Results |
2,851 |
2,858 |
2,869 |
2,874 |
2,883 |
|
Presumptive |
145 |
145 |
145 |
146 |
146 |
|
Total Currently Hospitalized |
6 |
9 |
6 |
6 |
7 |
|
Total Currently in Isolation |
100 |
106 |
108 |
93 |
84 |
|
Total COVID-19 Related Deaths |
65 |
65 |
65 |
65 |
65 |
*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. 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.
LOCAL CONTACTS AND CASES BEING SUPPORTED IN ISOLATION AND QUARANTINE
Currently, DPHN is supporting 84 cases in isolation, as well as another 221 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 305 total contacts and cases 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.
CONTINUED CONCERN ABOUT LOCAL OUTBREAKS AND THE SPREAD OF COVID-19 IN DOUGLAS COUNTY
We have shared with our residents and readers on numerous occasions our concerns about specific sectors where we have seen surges in positive cases, as well as outbreaks in order to help them make better informed personal health and safety decisions. We are not trying to pick-on specific sectors, we are just following and sharing the actual case data we have. While we have seen a decline in cases in our county in the last few weeks, we are still not at a level of daily cases that we need to see in order to move closer to expanded freedoms from the State Risk-Level mandates. Today, once again, we want to talk about the continued increase and reoccurrence of cases with some of our local faith-based communities, and how they can best practice their beliefs, while also keeping their staff and congregations safe from the spread of COVID.
We know that hundreds of Douglas County citizens embrace worship as an essential part of their lives. And in times of peril and uncertainty like we are facing now, faith can be the foundation that grounds and guides our existence. For many of faith, the time they spend gathering together for worship is at the heart of what it means to be a community of faith. But, the very thing that faith offers is also at the heart of how this terrible and indiscriminate virus is spread. Due to the close-knit congregational nature of religious worship, as well as the duration of the service, and the inclination to express ourselves through singing; reciting psalms, prayers and verses; standing close to others, hugging or holding hands; and receiving communion, Eucharist or sacrament while gathering for in-person and often unprotected church services presents an added risk for increasing the spread of COVID-19. We are not alone with outbreaks related to faith-based organizations, throughout the world, we are seeing that several large outbreaks have been tied to organizations and congregations related to religious gatherings.
We recently passed the one-year mark for the COVID pandemic and during that year, our local team of epidemiologists at DPHN have recorded 10 church related outbreaks associated with 176 cases, 23 hospitalizations and sadly, 7 deaths. This also means that DPHN staff has helped to support hundreds of church patrons and their families in isolation and quarantine directly related to those cases. While household contacts and workplace outbreaks continue to be our leading cause of outbreaks locally, several outbreaks can also be tied to local churches.
As we mentioned before, worship services pose a special risk with a very high potential for the spread of the COVID virus, in that it brings numerous households and age groups together, inside, in close-proximity for an hour or more during a service. Plus, due to the multi-family and age range mix of church congregations, when COVID spreads at a church, the parishioners can bring the disease back to their homes, workplaces or schools, possibly exposing and infecting other family members, coworkers or classmates to the virus.
Now, we are happy to report that some of our large local churches have chosen to consult with public health, and have instituted spacing requirements for services, have limited capacity for each service, added additional service options, offered virtual service options, issued mask requirements, and have gotten creative with music and sermons or have curtailed singing or group verbal recitation of psalms, verses and prayers during their services. We applaud those churches for putting the health and safety of their congregation at the top of their priority list. It is important to note that the churches that chose to consult with us, have had no identified outbreaks. This is undeniable proof that you can still worship and participate in much needed faith gatherings, while working to prevent the spread of COVID.
But, as you can surmise, other local churches have not been as careful with preventing the spread of COVID, and we have seen cases, hospitalizations and deaths related to those church outbreaks. Workplace, school and health care outbreaks are regularly reported, but following the OHA guidelines, we do not publish the name of those churches with outbreaks, so the visibility of our church outbreaks is limited. This is especially worrisome and difficult when the DPHN staff conducts their case calls to those that test positive or were possibly exposed to COVID at their church, and discover that the parishioners were not told by their pastor or church staff that there had been positive cases of COVID identified within their congregation. DPHN and Dr. Bob Dannenhoffer, our Douglas County Public Officer are available and happy to visit with church staff, and help them create a plan for safer church services during COVID. The process and implementation of COVID precautions are not that difficult to manage, and the added protection that you will be offering your congregation is priceless.
DPHN is currently following several church outbreaks. In one outbreak, over 15 people at one church have been infected, and secondary cases have then been noted at several local businesses, health care facilities and schools. One of the people tied to that outbreak was identified to have the B 1.429 variant. That variant was first noted in Southern California, and is 20% more contagious and has the ability to be more resistant to previous infection or vaccinations.
So, during this time of COVID, when faith is so very important, we want people to continue to worship, but we ask that you do so safely, and with kindness and consideration for the health and safety of others in your congregation. We ask that local church leaders please look and learn from fellow religious leaders in our community who have managed to continue their worship services, and done so safely, by establishing a few simple safety protocols for distancing, masks and music. Our future for a post-pandemic State guideline-free life depends on it.
PLEASE CONTINUE TO KEEP YOU AND YOUR FAMILY SAFE
We continue encourage everyone, for the sake of our local businesses, services and residents, to gauge your risk level, and to make the best choice in order protect yourself and those around you from contracting or spreading coronavirus. 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. Click here, for a graphic on how to protect you and your family from the spread of COVID-19. We know how important family, businesses 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 to help protect the ones you love, the businesses you love and the places you love to go.
DOUGLAS COUNTY COVID-19 DRIVE-THRU TESTING CLINICS TAKING A PAUSE
Due to the widely available COVID-19 testing opportunities in Douglas County, your local public health authority and DPHN decided to step-back our drive-through testing clinics for the time being. If needs increase, we are prepared to bring back testing on a weekly basis again. 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 can contact the Sutherlin Aviva Health Clinic at (541) 459-3788.
COVID-19 FACEBOOK LIVE WITH DR. BOB
Tune in on Friday, April 16, 2021 at 4:00 pm for the next Facebook Live with Dr. Bob Dannenhoffer, the Douglas County Public Health Officer. For future Facebook Events with Dr. Bob, please submit your 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 Facebook event. The Facebook Events are hosted by DPHN on the DPHN Facebook page.
STATE AND FEDERAL COVID-19 INFORMATION
It is important to understand that Federal and State Government and their Agencies are the ones setting policy and issuing the guidelines for the pandemic. Locally, we are following the recommended guidance issued by the U.S. Center for Disease Control (CDC) and the Oregon Health Authority (OHA). If you have questions about the current guidelines or the recommendations, contact the CDC or OHA directly for more information. OHA posts their daily updates at www.healthoregon.org/coronavirus.
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 the current State COVID guidelines. If you have concerns, questions or wish to report compliance, issues contact these state agencies directly: OSHA: (800) 922-2689 or OSHA website or OLCC (503) 872-5000 or OLCC website.
ACCESS TO LOCAL COVID-19 RESOURCES
Your Douglas County Board of Commissioners, Douglas County Public Health Officer, Dr. Robert Dannenhoffer, DPHN and the DCCRT team have been working hard to cooperatively provide accurate and timely information to Douglas County residents since March 8, 2020.
Local Online Access to Updates
Stay up to date with accurate and local COVID-19 information in Douglas County by visiting the Douglas County Government website or DCGOV Facebook page or the DPHN website or DPHN Facebook page.
Free Local e-Newsletter Subscription
You can also sign up for the Douglas County e-Newsletter that publishes and sends out the daily update to our subscription base free. You can sign up for the Douglas County e-Newsletter at www.co.douglas.or.us. 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.
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. Our local hotline number is (541) 464-6550 and is staffed from 8:00 am to 5: pm, 7 days a week.
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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