DC BOC C19 Recovery

DOUGLAS COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – FRIDAY, JULY 30, 2021

DOUGLAS COUNTY COVID-19 RECOVERY UPDATE

(Douglas County, Ore.)  DOUGLAS COUNTY COVID-19 DATA OVERVIEW

We have been asked a lot of questions about our local COVID-19 statistics and data, so Dr. Bob Dannenhoffer, our Douglas County Public Health Officer and the Epidemiology Team at DPHN dove into our local data, and provided us with an overview of their findings. The main areas of interest were around vaccination rates, breakthrough cases, hospitalizations and deaths. So, as promised, here is an overview of our local data to date.

Douglas County Vaccination Rate

As of Tuesday, July 27, 2021, 56% or 53,176 Douglas County residents age 16 and above had received at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. We continue to make vaccines available to all areas of Douglas County, and we continue to add residents to our vaccine database every week.  In fact, last week we added 382 residents to the vaccine list in Douglas County.  The number of residents that chose to get the COVID-19 vaccine last week is up 63% from the previous week.  As we have stated before, there are a number of vaccine doses given to Douglas County residents that are still not being attributed to our numbers on the State and Federal level.  So, the rate provided above also includes our best estimate of vaccine doses (based on information shared with us) given at the Roseburg VA and Cow Creek Tribal events, as well as doses received in other states, that have not been added to the OHA or the CDC’s counts.  The overall vaccination rate is still low and not where we want to be in order to be effective in combating the future spread and continued mutations of the virus.

The CDC website reports that 50% of residents in Douglas County are fully vaccinated.  We understand that the variance in reporting is confusing, but the good news is that our numbers and the CDC numbers for vaccines administered are starting to converge, so we are confident that our accurate numbers will be reflected very soon at all levels.   Also, we would like to note that our vaccine series completion rate of 97.7%, is among one of the highest in the nation. 

Douglas County Breakthrough and Unvaccinated Case Rates

Since January 1, 2021, Douglas County has reported 2,997 new cases of residents with positive test results of COVID-19. Of those cases since January 1, 2021, 2,909 were individuals who were not vaccinated, which represents 97% of our new cases.  Thus, 88 or 3% of our new COVID-19 cases were identified as breakthrough cases. We are classifying a breakthrough case as a case were a fully vaccinated person tests positive for COVID-19.  The main cause of new cases still remains exposure and contraction to the virus while traveling to and from other states, especially while traveling to those areas that are considered ‘hot spots’ for COVID-19 variants like the Alpha and Delta mutations. Another issue that our epi teams are seeing is the prevalence of individuals who are choosing to go to work, visit friends and family or visit businesses when they are sick.  Again, we encourage you to please stay home if you are sick or asked to isolate or quarantine from others. 

Local Hospitalizations, Variants and Deaths 

Since January 1, 2021, 248 of the 2,997 total new positive local COVID-19 cases were hospitalized with complications related to contracting the COVID-19 virus.  238 or 96% of the hospitalized cases were unvaccinated. Which means that 10 or 4% of the hospitalized cases were breakthrough COVID-19 cases. 

Our local breakthrough cases ranged in age from 18 years to 91 years of age with an average age of 56 years old. Of those cases, 9 were positive for variants of concern: 6 were positive for B.1.1.7 (Alpha), one was the P.1 (Gamma) variant, one was the B.1.429 (Epsilon) variant, and one the B.1.526 (Lota). Unfortunately, DPHN is currently not able to sequence all cases, so this data represents the confirmed variant cases that we have verified in our county.  It is important to note that in the United States, laboratories currently do not have the resources or capacity to sequence every COVID-19 positive specimen, so our data represents a sampling of what we have seen in Douglas County. We only send test samples to sequence when we see specific indicators that someone might have been exposed to a variant. 

With the introduction and apparent increased spread efficiency of the COVID-19 Delta variant mutation in the United States, the Epidemiology Team at DPHN is expecting to see higher numbers of breakthrough cases, as they have seen happening worldwide.  However, the good news is that the COVID-19 vaccines are still showing to be the most effective prevention measure for slowing the spread and contracting COVID-19, being hospitalized for COVID-19 or dying from COVID-19 infection, even with the newer variants.

Sadly, since our very first case was announced in March 2020, 88 Douglas County residents have passed away with complications related to the COVID-19 virus.  Since, January 1, 2021, we have reported 48 deaths related to COVID-19. Of those deaths only one was a breakthrough case.  Each death related to COVID-19 is painful for all Douglas County residents, and a sad reminder of the terrible impact COVID-19 has had in our local communities. 

We hope that you have found our data overview helpful in understanding the latest impact of the COVID-19 virus in Douglas County.  Our plan is to periodically provide our readers with an overview of our data and statistics in our future updates. 

THE SURGE OF NEW COVID CASES CONTINUES TO PLAGUE OREGON

States and counties across the United States and in Oregon continue to reel from the influx of new cases and increased hospitalizations from the latest COVID-19 surge.  A few Oregon counties are still reporting triple digit single day new case counts.  Click here to read more from OHA about the 1,026 new cases and 285 hospitalizations reported by OHA yesterday in Oregon.  For the second time this week, Douglas County surpassed our previous single day COVID case record (from July 27, 2021, with 58 new positive test and presumptive cases), with 66 new positive test and presumptive cases reported on Thursday, July 29, 2021.  And again, we sadly, also surpassed our highest single day record for hospitalizations, from July 28, 2021 with 24 residents hospitalized, to yesterday, July 29, 2021, with 25 Douglas County residents being hospitalized with issues related to contracting the COVID-19 virus.  We also wanted to note that 24 of the 25 hospitalized patients are not vaccinated. 

The surge of new cases comes at a time when we have more access and availability to COVID-19 vaccines in Douglas County than ever before.  The Douglas County Commissioners set a goal for vaccination accessibility in Douglas County in early January this year to have COVID vaccines available to every resident within 5 miles of their home.  We are happy to report that we have achieved that goal.  COVID-19 vaccines are here and available for those that are eligible and want to get them.  Again, as we have said since the beginning, the Douglas County Board of Commissioners, Dr. Bob Dannenhoffer our Douglas County Public Health Officer and our partners at DPHN and within our local medical communities continue to encourage our residents to be safe, protect your families, take the necessary precautions to prevent the spread of the virus, stay home if you are sick and make the choice to get vaccinated.

COVID-19 RECOVERY RECAP FOR THURSDAY, JULY 29, 2021: 

On Thursday, July 29, 2021, at 2:00 pm we had SIXTY-ONE (61) people with new positive test results and FIVE (5) new presumptives to report, bringing our total number of cases of people with positive test results and presumptives in Douglas County to 4,489*.  We had TWENTY-FIVE (25) Douglas County COVID-19 patients hospitalized, twenty-one locally and four out-of-the-area.  Also, DPHN was supporting 340 cases in isolation, 339 cases in quarantine for a total of 679 in isolation and quarantine.  

COVID-19 RECOVERY UPDATE FOR FRIDAY, JULY 30, 2021: 

As of 12:00 pm today, Friday, July 30, 2021, there are THIRTY-EIGHT (38) people with new positive test results and FOUR (4) new presumptives to report following our Thursday recap listed above.  The total number of cases of people with positive test results and presumptives in Douglas County is now at 4,531*. Currently, there are TWENTY-FOUR (24) Douglas County COVID-19 patients that are being hospitalized, twenty locally and four out-of-the-area.

COVID-19 RELATED DEATH OF A DOUGLAS COUNTY RESIDENT

Our Douglas County Public Health Officer, Dr. Robert Dannenhoffer, has confirmed the death of a Douglas County resident related to the COVID-19 virus. Our eighty-eighth COVID-19 related death is a 63-year-old woman who was diagnosed with COVID-19 on Thursday, July 15, 2021 and passed away on Tuesday, July 27, 2021. In the interest of privacy for the loved ones of this resident, no additional information will be released. Each death related to COVID-19 is painful for all Douglas County residents, and a sad reminder of the terrible impact COVID-19 has had in our local communities. The Douglas County Board of Commissioners, Dr. Dannenhoffer, DPHN and the DCCRT team extend our heartfelt condolences and sympathies to all family members, friends, relatives, co-workers and community members of those who have passed after contracting this deadly virus.

*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 371 cases in isolation, as well as another 365 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 736 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.

DOUGLAS COUNTY COVID-19 RECOVERY UPDATE

Reminder, we are publishing our Douglas County COVID-19 Recovery Updates on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.  We will continue to report and recap daily numbers in each of our updates for the days that we do not publish a local COVID-19 Recovery Update. Our next COVID-19 Update will be on Monday, August 2, 2021.

AVIVA WILL BE OFFERING COVID VACCINES AT THE DOUGLAS COUNTY FAIR 

Shared from Aviva Health.  Aviva Health is pleased to announce that one of two Mobile Medical Units (MMU’s) assigned to Aviva Health by the Douglas County Board of Commissioners during the COVID-19 pandemic will be at Douglas County Fair, Wednesday, August 4 to Saturday, August 7, 2021, from open to close. Aviva Health staff will be on hand to help fairgoers sign up for the Oregon Health Plan (OHP), assist existing OHP members to establish with a local provider, and provide FREE COVID-19 Vaccinations. Additionally, Aviva Health will hand out a variety of giveaways and informational literature on programs and services offered by the Douglas County based Federally Qualified Health Center. Be sure to stop by the MMU, located just passed the entrance at the front of the Swine (Pig) Building during your visit to the fair to learn more about Aviva Health and health resources it offers the community. 

DOUGLAS COUNTY TIGER TEAM HOSTING FREE POP-UP COVID-19 VACCINATION CLINICS 

The Douglas County Tiger Team continues to bring free COVID-19 vaccines directly to all areas of Douglas County in our mobile medical vans (MMV) via their pop-up vaccine clinics.  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 clinics are currently open to anyone 18 years of age and older, and preregistration is not necessary.  For the latest list of upcoming Tiger Team clinics, log onto the DPHN website at https://douglaspublichealthnetwork.org/ and select the link for the Tiger Team schedules.  Look for the Douglas County Tiger Team at local events and festivals and around our communities offering information and access to vaccinations.  Our Tiger Team coordinates with Umpqua Valley Ambulance to bring a certified vaccinator and a medical assistant to each clinic.  If you are interested in having the Douglas County Tiger Team come to your area or event to provide a free pop-up vaccine clinic or if you have any questions about our Douglas County Tiger Teams, please call (541) 670-3110 or our local COVID-19 Hotline at (541) 464-6550. 

AVIVA HAS A DEDICATED FREE COVID-19 VACCINATION CLINIC SITE IN ROSEBURG 

Shared from Aviva Health.  Aviva Health has a dedicated COVID-19 vaccination clinic site at 4221 NE Stephens Street, Suite 101 in Roseburg, just across the street from its main Roseburg Clinic location near Costco and offers free COVID-19 vaccines by appointment.   The COVID-19 vaccination clinic is e open Monday through Friday, from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm and is open for residents ages 12 and older**.  To schedule an appointment please call (541) 672-9596. 

COVID-19 VACCINE ELIGIBILITY OPEN FOR EVERYONE 12 YEARS OLD AND OLDER**

According to the CDC, State of Oregon and OHA, ALL residents ages 12 years old and older** are eligible to get the COVID-19 Vaccine. According to Dr. Bob Dannenhoffer, our Douglas County Public Health Officer, “We have plenty of vaccines available, they are safe, they are effective and they are available to anyone 12 and above who wants one.” 

1. 🔍 Log onto: http://DougCoVaccine.com.
2. 📞 Call our Douglas County COVID-19 Hotline at (541) 464-6550
3. 📞 Call and set up an appointment with your primary health care provider, ask for a referral to another health care provider or Call and set up an appointment with a local pharmacy.
4. Go to one of our vaccination clinics offered in Douglas County with our Tiger Team or through Aviva Health.
5. 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/.
6. 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/.

IF YOU ARE HAVING DIFFICULTIES SCHEDULING A VACCINE APPOINTMENT, 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

Please know that as a part of vaccine efficacy, 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 your second dose of the vaccine to complete the vaccination.  By getting both shots, it will provide better 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.

• 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.
• You will be notified by the provider that gave you your first dose, about where/when to get 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.

COVID-19 FACEBOOK LIVE WITH DR. BOB 

As a part of our COVID-19 Recovery Phase, DPHN will continue to host our COVID-19 Facebook Live events once a week, on Tuesday evenings at 6:00 pm. The next Facebook Live event featuring Dr. Bob Dannenhoffer, our Douglas County Public Health Officer will be Tuesday, August 3, at 6:00 pm.  You can submit your questions during our live show or in advance at: 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 that set policy and issue the guidelines for a state of emergency like 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, please 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 issues with the State of Oregon, OHA or the Governor’s orders.  

DOUGLAS COUNTY COVID-19 RESPONSE TEAM

The Douglas County COVID-19 Response Team (DCCRT) was established on March 12, 2020 and redirected on Wednesday, July 7, 2021.  It was created by the Douglas County Board of Commissioners, as an emergency response body to bring together community partners in order to cooperatively focus efforts, address issues, mobilize resources, develop programs and strategic plans, and effectively communicate our efforts to residents in response to the world-wide coronavirus pandemic on a local level.  For 470 days, the DCCRT worked as a unified team, and now we have shifted our focus to local COVID-19 Recovery efforts.  The shift to the recovery phase is a natural progression in the emergency response process and also means we are not ending our COVID-19 efforts.  As the established Public Health Authority for Douglas County, the Douglas County Board of Commissioners will continue to oversee, contract with, fund and support Douglas Public Health Network (DPHN) for as long as necessary for our COVID-19 Recovery Response.  If needs or circumstances arise that necessitate us to reestablish the DCCRT, we are prepared to do so immediately.

ACCESS TO LOCAL COVID-19 RESOURCES

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 update to our subscription base free. You can sign up for the Douglas County e-Newsletter at www.co.douglas.or.us. 

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 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 has a COVID-19 Vaccine Call Center for COVID-19 vaccine information in the Reedsport, Douglas County Coastal area. Call (541) 271-2175, Monday through Friday from 9 am to 4 pm.

**Please note that for residents that are ages 12 to 14, this will require a parent or guardian to accompany them and give written consent for the vaccine. Written consent can also be obtained in advance. Under Oregon law, minors 15 years of age and older may consent to medical treatment, including vaccinations, when provided by a physician, physician assistant, naturopath, nurse practitioner, dentist or optometrist, or other professionals operating under the license of these providers; however, families are encouraged to make decisions about vaccinations together.

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Contact Tamara Howell, Douglas County Public Information Officer & Emergency Communications & Community Engagement Specialist – Phone: (541) 670-2804 – Cell: (541) 957-4896 – Email: tjhowell@co.douglas.or.us 

Contact Vanessa Becker, Public Information Officer, Douglas Public Health Network – Phone: (541) 817-6552 – Cell - (541) 440-3571 – Email: vanessa@douglaspublichealthnetwork.org