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About The nugget. (Sisters, Or.) 1994-current | View Entire Issue (Nov. 18, 2020)
16 Wednesday, November 18, 2020 The Nugget Newspaper, Sisters, Oregon CANCELED: COVID is surging across Oregon and locally Two-week ‘freeze’ calls for restrictions Continued from page 1 as Governor Kate Brown on Friday, November 13, announced a <two-week freeze= enacting renewed restrictions focused on limit- ing the spread of the corona- virus (see sidebar for list of restrictions). Freeze measures will be in place from November 18 through December 2 through the entire state. Some <hot spot= counties, such as Multnomah County, will be under the freeze for longer periods. <Maybe we thought the fight was over, but it9s not,= said Dr. Dean Sidelinger, the state epidemiologist, at Friday9s press conference. <This is likely the most dan- gerous time in Oregon.= According to the Associated Press, 8The per- cent of people testing posi- tive was nearly 12 percent statewide, more than double what it was in the summer, according to Oregon Health Authority data.= The most recent data shows that Sisters has seen 51 confirmed cases (cumulative), after holding at 35 for many weeks. Deschutes County is facing the sharpest increase in cases since the beginning of the pandemic, according to Deschutes County Health Services Director Dr. George Conway, who addressed the Bend City Council last Thursday. <I think we all regard this as alarming,= Conway said. As of last Friday, St. Charles Health System reported 14 COVID-19 Governor Kate Brown laid out a list of tightened restrictions aimed at blunt- ing a surge in COVID-19 cases in a press confer- ence on Friday, November 13. Restrictions set to run from November 18 through December 2 include: " Limiting restaurants and bars to take-out service only. " Closing gyms and other indoor recreational facilities, museums, and indoor enter- tainment (like theaters). " Closing outdoor rec- reational facilities, zoos, gardens and entertainment venues. City parks and patients, three of them in the ICU with two on a ventilator. Last week, St. Charles CEO Joe Sluka stated that, <It appears we have officially hit a third wave. But unlike the last two, we never reset back to zero hospitalized patients. Our number of inpatients has held steady in recent weeks until last Friday (November 6) when it essentially doubled overnight.= Sluka expressed concern that a potential spike associ- ated with holiday gatherings could push the limits of the hospital9s capacity. Dr. Joe Bachtold of St. Charles Health System told The Nugget that, <We9re see- ing that the lion9s share of new cases are from people getting together in small groups 4 10 or less.= He said that, like other areas in the country, folks in Sisters are experiencing <COVID-fatigue.= ENTER TO WIN OUR Turkey Giveaway! Four Turkeys Awarded Friday, November 20! Enter at our off ice, 257 S. Pine St., #101 You do not have to be a Farmers Insurance customer. Jason Rybka | 541-588-6245 playgrounds remain open. " Requiring all businesses to mandate that employees work from home when pos- sible, and to close offices to the public. " Limiting grocery and retail stores to 75 percent capacity and encouraging curbside pick-up service. " Prohibiting visits at nursing homes and other long-term care facilities. " Limiting social get- togethers, whether indoors or out, to no more than six people from two households. " Limiting worship ser- vices to 25 people indoors or 50 people when outdoors. <People are letting their guard down,= he said. <We9re learning to live with COVID, but it doesn9t mean we can change our behavior. That9s going to be really important. We9re all tired of it. I get it.= Dr. Bachtold noted that concerns over COVID-19 have led to an increase in doc- tor visits from people exhibit- ing symptoms that turn out to be regular seasonal illness. <We9re mostly seeing people with early cold symp- toms 4 the seasonal cold,= he said. <The lion9s share of those people are negative (when tested for COVID-19). They are calling to be evalu- ated when otherwise they wouldn9t have. If it was last year, they would not have darkened our door.= But it is 2020 and Sisters continues to live in the shadow of a global pandemic that does not appear to be poised to ease any time soon. PELLET PATIO HEATERS For Sale or Rent! Li’l Timber $649 www.farmersagent.com/jrybka Big Timber $849 We have something for ALL ages! and Fun Fitness Due to the executive order issued, these programs will be placed on hold until further notice. Big Timber Elite Patio Heater ideal for commercial use! $1,349 Or rent them for only $63! SHOP Sisters. Give LOCAL. Build Com munity. The Nugget Newspaper is on a mission to deliver the news and opinions of the greater Sisters area to its residents. We also take pleasure in sharing the heartwarming stories that put a smile on your face as you read; tales of overcoming hardships, neighbors stepping up to help, a community that never quits putting its best foot forward. Readers of The Nugget Newspaper can support our mission by supporting our advertisers, as we will continue to do in any way possible through and beyond the pandemic. We encourage you to do business locally. Those who would like to make a fi nancial contribution to support SISTERS-AREA SMALL BUSINESSES and NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS can contribute advertising dollars that will allow them to get the word out about their goods and services to the entire Sisters community through the printed and digital Nugget. 100% of donated funds go to the chosen business or organization’s advertising account. Visit NuggetNews.com and click on “Subscriptions & Support,” choose “Sponsor Small Business Advertising in The Nugget” then indicate which business you’d like to provide funds for on the form, or drop a check in the mail with a business noted on the memo line to: The Nugget, PO Box 698, Sisters, OR 97759. Contributions are not tax-deductible. Stay up to date on SPRD programs ms at... 331 W. Barclay Dr., Sisters SistersRecreation.com Mon-Fri: 7 a.m.-5:30 p.m. Sat: 8 a.m.-5 p.m. 541-549-2091 • 1750 W. McKinney Butte Rd., Sisters www.sistersrental.com The Nugget Newspaper NuggetNews.com • 541-549-9941 • 442 E. Main Ave., Sisters