Douglas County COVID-19 Recovery Update - August 6, 2021 (Photo) - 08/06/21
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – FRIDAY, AUGUST 6, 2021
DOUGLAS COUNTY COVID-19 RECOVERY UPDATE
(Douglas County, Ore.) ENTIRE U.S. STRUGGLING WITH UNPRECEDENTED SURGES IN NEW COVID CASES AND HOSPITALIZATIONS
It’s not new news that COVID cases and subsequent hospitalizations in the United States are skyrocketing and putting a definite strain on our health care communities, health care workers and hospitals. The CDC reported 92,282 new COVID cases yesterday (Thursday, August 5, 2021), and 629,838 new COVID cases in the last week. One of the biggest concerns is the widespread level of community transmission across the nation. 93% of U.S. States and Territories (53 out of 57) are currently in High and Substantial community transmission levels, with 66% or 38 U.S. States and Territories in the High community transmission level. Which means that 66% of U.S. States and Territories have reported new case rates above 100 per 100,000 in the last seven days. Only 4 U.S. States and Territories are listed in the moderate and low-level community transmission levels. And, these numbers only represent the cases that have been reported, and may not reflect all the new COVID cases in the United States. Again, the CDC is attributing the surge in cases to the highly transmittable and potent Delta variant and the staggering numbers of citizens that have chosen not to get vaccinated.
In Oregon, OHA reported 1,382 new cases and a total of 457 hospitalizations in Oregon yesterday (Thursday, August 5, 2021). According to the OHA website, we are at 88% total capacity of ICU hospital beds with available staff in all regions in Oregon. This is definitely a huge concern, as hospital beds are getting scarce, breathing and respiratory equipment is getting scarcer and some patients are having to be transferred to other states for care not available here. Click here for more information about hospital capacity in Oregon.
“Sadly, there is a tremendous amount of new COVID disease and spread everywhere you look! Unfortunately, I do not think we have seen the full impact of this surge yet. The rampant surges are so unnecessary, and getting out of control. Especially, when we know that the COVID-19 vaccines are still showing to be the most effective prevention measure for slowing the spread of COVID-19, being hospitalized for COVID-19 or dying from a COVID-19 infection, even with the newer variants. Please, please, we encourage everyone that can, to get vaccinated, if not for your own protection, for the protection of those you love and care about!” commented Dr. Bob Dannenhoffer, our Douglas County Public Health Officer.
Locally, Douglas County is breaking records daily and not in a good way. We experienced our highest week of new COVID cases last week (July 25 – July 31) with 327 new cases. Prior to last week, our highest week was the week of February 7, 2021, when we reported 179 new COVID cases. So far this week, (with one day to go), we have already eclipsed that weekly record with an astonishing 378 new COVID cases. We also surpassed our highest single day case count record and our record for hospitalizations. Today, we reported 107 new COVID cases, which tops our previous record from Tuesday, August 3, 2021 with 91 new cases. This marks the first time we have every reported over 100 cases in a single day. And, we topped our record for the number of hospitalized patients from Monday, August 2, 2021 with 27 residents hospitalized to today, Friday, August 6, 2021, with 31 Douglas County residents that were hospitalized due to issues related to contracting the COVID-19 virus. Of those hospitalized locally, 27 of the 28 were individuals who are not vaccinated.
COVID IS NO LONGER JUST AN OLDER PERSONS DISEASE
Another important thing to note is the average age of those being hospitalized. We know that early in the pandemic, older people were more likely to experience a more severe reaction to the COVID disease, and were more likely to be hospitalized. This held true through the end of 2020. But, just after the start of 2021, the average age of those being hospitalized with COVID began to drop significantly. We are now seeing many people in their 20’s and 30’s being hospitalized with COVID. Since June, nearly 40% of our hospitalized COVID patients were under the age of 30, a remarkable shift from the same time last year when the average age of those hospitalized was 80 years of age. The average age of Douglas County hospitalized COVID patients in June 2020 was 86 years old. The average now is 47 years old.
“There are many possible explanations, but one that stands out to me is that most of the young hospitalized COVID patients are not vaccinated, and we know that vaccine uptake has been higher in older generations. This strongly suggests that the vaccine is offering protection to more severe disease and hospitalizations,” stated Dr. Bob Dannenhoffer, our Douglas County Public Health Officer.
COVID-19 RECAP FOR THURSDAY, AUGUST 5, 2021:
On Thursday, August 5, 2021, at 12:00 pm we had SEVENTY-ONE (71) people with new positive test results and THREE (3) new presumptives to report, bringing our total number of cases of people with positive test results and presumptives in Douglas County to 4,874*. We had TWENTY-EIGHT (28) Douglas County COVID-19 patients hospitalized, twenty-four locally and four out-of-the-area. As of Thursday, DPHN was supporting 619 cases in isolation, 418 cases in quarantine for a total of 1037 in isolation and quarantine.
COVID-19 UPDATE FOR FRIDAY, AUGUST 6, 2021:
As of 12:00 pm today, Friday, August 6, 2021, there are ONE HUNDRED AND SEVEN (107) people with new positive test results, ONE (1) presumptive that was moved to positive with positive test result and ONE (1) case that was removed from our tally, because they were not a resident of Douglas County 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 4,980*. Currently, there are THIRTY-ONE (31) Douglas County COVID-19 patients that are being hospitalized, twenty-seven locally and four out-of-the-area, including one that had to be transferred out of the state for specialized care not available here.
Douglas County, OR - COVID-19 - Case Update Chart* | |||||
| Date | Monday, August 2, 2021 | Tuesday, August 3, 2021 | Wednesday, August 4, 2021 | Thursday, August 5, 2021 | Today, Friday, August 6, 2021 |
| Total COVID-19 Cases | 4,664 | 4,755 | 4,800 | 4,874 | 4,980 |
| People w/ Positive PCR or Antigen Test Results | 4,445 | 4,532 | 4,576 | 4,647 | 4,754† |
| Presumptive | 219 | 223 | 224 | 227 | 226 |
| Total Currently Hospitalized | 27 | 25 | 25 | 28 | 31 |
| Total Currently in Isolation | 421 | 557 | 596 | 619 | 640 |
| Total COVID-19 Related Deaths | 91 | 94 | 94 | 94 | 94 |
*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. †Please note that we have retracted ONE (1) positive case number from our totals today, Friday, August 6, 2021. After investigation, we determined that one person with a positive test result is not a Douglas County resident and therefor, the case has been moved to their respective County.
LOCAL CONTACTS AND CASES BEING SUPPORTED IN ISOLATION AND QUARANTINE
Currently, DPHN is supporting 640 cases in isolation, as well as another 410 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 1050 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 9, 2021.
AVIVA TEAMING UP WITH THE DOUGLAS COUNTY TIGER TEAM TO OFFER 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 teaming up with our Douglas County Tiger Team to 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
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. This week, the Douglas County Tiger Team will be joining Aviva at the Douglas County Fair. 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. 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.
COW CREEK BAND OF UMPQUA TRIBE OF INDIANS OPENS HEALTH AND WELLNESS CLINICS TO ALL COMMUNITY MEMBERS FOR COVID VACCINATIONS AND TESTING
Shared from Cow Creek Band of Umpqua Tribe of Indians. The Cow Creek Health and Wellness Clinics has opened up their COVID vaccination and testing clinics to all community members, not just Cow Creek or Tribal individuals. Any community member can get vaccinated for FREE at their drive-through vaccine site located at 2360 NE Stephens Street in Roseburg, on the following schedule throughout the month of August:
- Moderna Vaccine Offered: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday from 9:00 am to 3:30 pm
- Johnson and Johnson Vaccine Offered: Thursdays from 10:00 am to 6:00 pm
Also, any community member, tribal or non-tribal, can get tested at either of the Cow Creek Health and Wellness Clinic (north and south) locations (see below for locations). The cost is $35, and they will bill insurance if you are insured. Community members do not have to be a clinic patient to get tested. Call (541) 672-8533 for more information and to schedule testing.
Cow Creek Health & Wellness Cow Creek Health & Wellness
2371 NE Stephens, Suite 200 480 Wartahoo Lane
Roseburg, OR 97470 Canyonville, OR 97417
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.”
- 🔍 Log onto: http://DougCoVaccine.com.
- 📞 Call our Douglas County COVID-19 Hotline at (541) 464-6550
- 📞 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.
- Go to one of our vaccination clinics offered in Douglas County with our Tiger Team or through Aviva Health.
- 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/. Now open to everyone.
- 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.
- Cow Creek Band of the Umpqua Tribe of Indians can call (541) 672-9405. Now open to everyone.
- 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 10, 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
