JOINT INFORMATION CENTER PRESS RELEASE - FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – May 7, 2021
DOUGLAS COUNTY COVID-19 RESPONSE TEAM - DAILY UPDATE
(Douglas County, Ore.) DOUGLAS COUNTY COVID-19 TEST RESULTS: As of 12:00 pm Today, Friday, May 7, 2021, there are NINE (9) people with new positive test results and THREE (3) new presumptives 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 3,223*. 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 |
Monday May 3, 2021 |
Tuesday May 4, 2021 |
Wednesday May 5, 2021 |
Thursday May 6, 2021 |
Today, Friday, May 7, 2021 |
|
Total COVID-19 Cases |
3,177 |
3,187 |
3,197 |
3,211 |
3,223 |
|
People w/ Positive PCR or Antigen Test Results |
3,022 |
3,032 |
3,042 |
3,056 |
3,065 |
|
Presumptive |
155 |
155 |
155 |
155 |
158 |
|
Total Currently Hospitalized |
13 |
14 |
12 |
11 |
11 |
|
Total Currently in Isolation |
102 |
105 |
105 |
101 |
102 |
|
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 102 cases in isolation, as well as another 472 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 574 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 THREE: WE DO NOT KNOW WHAT THE LONG TERM SIDE EFFECTS WILL BE
Over the past two days we have talked about reasons why residents that have not gotten the COVID-19 vaccine should seriously consider getting it. Now let’s take a look at the most common myths and popular arguments that people are using to not get vaccinated, and why medical professionals want to set the record straight.
COVID-19 Vaccine Myth #1: We don't know what the long-term side effects are?
Medical Professionals Response: While we may not know everything about long-term side effects from the COVID-19 vaccines, what we do know from historical data is that most adverse side effects from vaccines have almost always shown up within the first two weeks, and certainly by the first two months after a vaccine has been administered, according to Dr. Ashish Jha, Dean of the Brown University School of Public Health. That's why he and many other health professionals asked the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to wait at least two months after trial participants had been inoculated before considering whether to give emergency authorization to COVID-19 vaccines. As with most medicines and vaccines, some side effects are expected. It’s also important to note that if you do have a few minor side effects from the COVID-19 vaccine, that it probably means the vaccine is working and that is a good sign that your body is building up immunity to the COVID virus.
It’s also important to note that the most serious vaccine side effects in history have all been caught within six weeks, stated Dr. Paul Offit, Director of the Vaccine Education Center at the Children's Hospital in Philadelphia and a member of the FDA's Vaccines and Related Biological Products Advisory Committee. "I would say, please tell me what vaccine has ever been shown to cause a long-term side effect that was not picked up in the first two months," said Offit, a co-creator of the rotavirus vaccine who has studied vaccinology for more than four decades. "The smallpox vaccine could cause inflammation of the heart muscle. The oral polio vaccine was a rare cause of polio -- it occurred in roughly 1 in 2.4 million doses. ... The yellow fever vaccine is a rare cause of ... yellow fever. All those occurred within six weeks of getting a dose," he said. There may be very rare side effects that aren't immediately found in clinical trials. But that's due to the extreme rarity of those side effects -- "not because it's a long-term problem," Offit said. "Sometimes you're not going to pick it up initially because it's extremely rare, so you aren't going to pick up a one-in-a-million risk in a trial of 44,000 people," he said. Pfizer/BioNTech and Johnson & Johnson vaccines had about 44,000 participants in each of their trials. The Moderna vaccine trial had about 30,000 participants. In their professional opinion, Dr. Offit and Dr. Jha agree that because coronavirus is highly contagious -- killing more than half a million Americans and leaving many survivors with long-term complications -- you're much better off getting the vaccine.
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:
- Wednesday, May 12, 2021: Oakland area: Oakland City Hall parking lot located at 637 NE Locust Street in Oakland from 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm
- Thursday, May 13, 2021: Glide area: Glide Rural Fire Protection District – Glide Station located at 18910 North Umpqua Hwy in Glide 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 (541) 670-3110 or 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.
- Wednesday, May 12, 2021: Aviva Health’s COVID-19 Vaccine team will be at the Myrtle Creek Elks Lodge, located at 106 South Main Street in Myrtle Creek 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!
STATE ANNOUNCES UPDATES TO COVID MANDATED RISK LEVELS
Increase in Indoor Capacity Limits for Indoor Recreation and Indoor Entertainment
Shared from OHA. The State of Oregon announced this week that they updated their state mandated risk level guidance for indoor capacity limits for Oregon counties for their Moderate and High Risk COVID Levels. They have increased the capacity for indoor recreation, fitness and indoor entertainment venues. As of Wednesday, May 5, 2021 indoor entertainment establishments and indoor recreation and fitness establishments in ALL Oregon counties may allow the following:
- State Mandated Moderate Risk Level: Maximum 20% occupancy or 100 people total, whichever is larger
- State Mandated High Risk Level: Maximum 10% occupancy or 50 people total, whichever is larger
The State Mandated Lower Risk Level and the State Mandated Extreme Risk Level capacity limits for these sectors remain the same. To view the States updated capacity limits, please refer to the OHA State Mandated Sector Risk Level Guidance Chart.
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