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 – May 6, 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, May 6, 2021, there are FOURTEEN (14) people with new positive test results to report since our noon case update yesterday. The total number of cases of people with positive test results and presumptives in Douglas County is now at 3,211*. Currently, there are ELEVEN (11) Douglas County COVID-19 patients that are being hospitalized, four locally and seven 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 May 2, 2021 |
Monday May 3, 2021 |
Tuesday May 4, 2021 |
Wednesday May 5, 2021 |
Today, Thursday, May 6, 2021 |
|
Total COVID-19 Cases |
3,174 |
3,177 |
3,187 |
3,197 |
3,211 |
|
People w/ Positive PCR or Antigen Test Results |
3,019 |
3,022 |
3,032 |
3,042 |
3,056 |
|
Presumptive |
155 |
155 |
155 |
155 |
155 |
|
Total Currently Hospitalized |
8 |
13 |
14 |
12 |
11 |
|
Total Currently in Isolation |
104 |
102 |
105 |
105 |
101 |
|
Total COVID-19 Related Deaths |
70 |
70 |
70 |
70 |
70 |
*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 101 cases in isolation, as well as another 428 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 a total of 529 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.
NEW SERIES: COVID-19 VACCINE FACTS VS MYTHS
PART TWO: REASONS FOR GETTING THE SHOT
We know that some people are fearful, opposed or are not interested in getting vaccinated. But, we are asking that you seriously consider getting vaccinated. Just like the development of vaccines in the past for polio, plague, measles, the COVID-19 vaccines are an effective solution to resolving this pandemic sooner, rather than later. Everyday there is a never-ending barrage of information being distributed about COVID and the vaccines. Many of the stories are mixed with misunderstandings, myths and conspiracy theories about the COVID-19 vaccine. We know it is a lot to take in, but as the myths spread widely, so do the virus mutations. There are a number of popular arguments out there of why you should not get vaccinated, and we wanted to discuss those in our series and allow medical professionals to set the record straight.
Not seriously considering getting the vaccine is a big problem for several reasons:
- Health experts say we need at least 70-85% of the US population immunized to reach herd immunity.
- Herd immunity from this virus would allow us to move forward from all the state and federal mandates.
- The longer it takes to get to herd immunity, the longer we will be living with the state and federal mandates.
- The longer people stay unvaccinated, the more chances a virus has to mutate. And if the mutations are significant, they could lead to more troubling strains that might evade vaccines.
- This virus is continuing to mutate. The thing scientists and health officials are the most worried about is that this virus will mutate to the point that immunity induced by natural infection or vaccination doesn't work at all. That is the single most important reason to get the vaccine.
- Virus mutations are inevitable and not a good thing. Mutations could make even a healthy person very sick and cause more undue stress on our already burdened hospital systems.
- It's possible to reach herd immunity, then lose it. Repeatedly, over and over. Do you really want to keep running in and out of the perpetual pandemic cycle? I know we do not.
- 'Long haulers' are a real thing. This virus is not like any we have seen before and even young healthy people have suffered brain fog, chest pains and shortness of breath months and months after contracting the COVID-19 infection.
- Young people or health people who consider their risk of getting severely sick from COVID to be low, should know that the long-term consequences can be quite serious.
As with any issue, it is important to make sure you are getting your information from a reputable and qualified source on the topic. Check your sources and their qualifications. Just like you would not have open heart surgery performed by a high school baseball coach, you shouldn’t always believe everything you read on the internet…especially when it’s written by a non-medical professional. We encourage you to talk to a medical professional or call our COVID-19 Hotline if you have questions or concerns. Providing answers in response to all the misinformation and myths is important. But, getting everyone that can be vaccinated, vaccinated is the most absolutely critical thing we need to do to end this pandemic before the virus mutates into variants that we can't control with our current vaccines. #itsyourturn (Information shared in part from Health Journals)
DPHN – IT’S YOUR TURN TO GET THE VACCINE!
Douglas Public Health Network launched their “it’s your turn” vaccine campaign, encouraging everyone to step up and take their turn to get their COVID-19 vaccine.
“Everyone over the age of 16 is now eligible to get a COVID-19 vaccine, and we want people to know they are eligible and that we have vaccine available. Having the majority of our residents vaccinated is the surest road to getting back the sense of normalcy and freedom that we all miss and want. It’s your turn to help us get there!” stated Dr. Bob Dannenhoffer, Douglas County Public Health Officer. #itsyourturn
DOUGLAS COUNTY TIGER TEAM’S POP-UP VACCINATION CLINICS
The Douglas County Tiger Team is out and about in the county bringing the COVID-19 vaccines directly to rural areas via our mobile medical vans (MMV) at businesses, farms, fire stations and locations in our smaller remote communities in Douglas County. The Douglas County Board of Commissioners, who have led the charge for our Douglas County COVID-19 Response Team efforts since the beginning, have coordinated with DPHN to organize our local Tiger Team to manage our vaccine outreach efforts through ‘pop-up’ vaccine clinics.
The Douglas County Tiger Team will be hosting FREE POP UP COVID VACCINE CLINICS at the locations listed below. The clinics are open to anyone 18 years of age and older and preregistration is not necessary:
- Thursday, May 6, 2021: Sutherlin Area: Clinic will be at Timber Valley SKP Park at 800 S State Street in Sutherlin from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm.
If you are interested in having the Douglas County Tiger Team come to your business, fire department, farm or town to provide a pop-up vaccine clinic or if you have any questions about our Douglas County Tiger Teams and want a schedule of their upcoming pop-up vaccination clinics, please call our local COVID-19 Hotline at (541) 464-6550.
UPCOMING AVIVA HEALTH COVID-19 VACCINATION CLINIC
Shared from Aviva Health. Aviva Health, with the help of local partners (DPHN & Douglas County Commissioners) will be hosting vaccination events at various locations in rural Douglas County. For more information, or to schedule an appointment or for a list of upcoming clinics, please call Aviva Health at (541) 672-9596. Next week they will be back in Sutherlin for another COVID-19 Vaccine Clinic.
- Thursday, May 6, 2021: Aviva Health’s COVID-19 Vaccine team will be at the Sutherlin Community Center, located at 105 Willamette Street in Sutherlin from 8:00 am to 11:30 am and 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm offering COVID-19 vaccinations to residents aged 16 years of age and older. Walk-ins also welcomed!
COVID-19 VACCINE ELIGIBILITY OPEN FOR EVERYONE 16 YEARS OLD AND OLDER
According to the State of Oregon and OHA, ALL residents 16 years old and older are eligible to get the COVID-19 Vaccine, NOW! Remember, “it’s your turn!” So, get signed up or show up to get your COVID-19 vaccine today!
- Call and set up an appointment with your primary health care provider or ask them for a referral to another health care provider.
- Call and set up an appointment with a local pharmacy.
- Sign up for or attend one of the vaccination clinics offered in Douglas County through DPHN, Douglas County, Aviva Health or our Douglas County Tiger Team.
- If you are a member of the Cow Creek Band of the Umpqua Tribe of Indians, please contact to set up an appointment at (541) 672-9405 or log onto https://www.cowcreek-nsn.gov/public-health/.
- The Roseburg VA Health Care System is setting up appointments for veterans to receive the COVID-19 vaccine. For more information, call the Roseburg VAMC at (541) 440-1000 or log onto https://www.va.gov/health-care/covid-19-vaccine/.
NO ACCESS TO THE INTERNET TO SCHEDULE YOUR VACCINE APPOINTMENT? LOCAL HELP IS AVAILABLE
Not everyone is able to use the internet, a tablet, a computer or a smart phone to schedule a COVID vaccine appointment. If you or someone you know needs to schedule an appointment for the COVID vaccine, and do not have access to the internet, you can call one of the numbers below to get help scheduling an appointment.
- Call our Douglas County COVID-19 Hotline at (541) 464-6550.
- Coastal Residents can call the Lower Umpqua Hospital District COVID-19 Vaccine Call Center at (541) 271-2175.
- U.S. Veterans can call the Roseburg VA Health Care Center at (541) 440-1000.
- Members of the Cow Creek Band of the Umpqua Tribe of Indians can call (541) 672-9405.
- Seniors can call Douglas County Senior Services at (541) 440-3677.
GETTING YOUR SECOND DOSE OF THE COVID-19 VACCINE IS IMPORTANT
While we have heard a lot about second dose hesitancy, it is vitally important to for those residents who have received their first dose of the Pfizer or Moderna COVID-19 vaccine, to make sure that you get and not forgo getting your second dose of the vaccine and complete their vaccination. It will better ensure your immunity and help to protect yourself and those around you that you love.
If you have already received your first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine, here are a few answers to questions about your second dose.
- The latest information shows that you can expect to get your second dose about 4-6 weeks after the first dose.
- You should have received a vaccination card when you received your first dose that details the brand of vaccine, its lot number, and the date the vaccine was administered. This card is for your records only, and is not official proof that you have received the vaccine. Proof of your vaccination rests with the State Alert System, which is accessible by medical facilities.
- You should get your second dose from the same provider or organization from which you received your first. However, the physical address where you receive the second dose may change.
- You will be notified by the provider or organization that gave you your first dose about where and when you will receive your second dose.
- I got a first vaccine out of the area; can I get my second vaccine in Douglas County? The second vaccine dose is “paired” to the first dose, and your second dose will be sent to wherever you got your first dose. Therefore, except in rare circumstances, you will need to return to where you got your first dose.
- If you have questions, please contact the provider or organization where you received your first dose.
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.
COVID-19 FACEBOOK LIVE WITH DR. BOB
Tune in on Friday, May 7, 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.
Aviva Health Offers Vaccine Frequently Asked Questions Webpage
Aviva Health has created an online FAQ page to answer questions related to COVID-19 regarding availability and scheduling. Log onto https://aviva.health/covid-19-vaccine-faqs/
COVID Vaccine Call Center at Lower Umpqua Hospital District in Reedsport
Lower Umpqua Hospital District now has a COVID-19 Vaccine Call Center for COVID-19 vaccine information in the Reedsport, Douglas County Coastal area. The LUHD COVID-19 Vaccine Call Center number is (541) 271-2175, and is available Monday through Friday from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm.
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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