Weekend
$1.00
March 7-8, 2020
The Dalles, Oregon
www.thedalleschronicle.com
Vol. 229, Issue 20
B 1
National, state and local
agencies coordinate response
TD patient tests
negative for
COVID-19 virus
Gibson
■ By The Mark
Dalles Chronicle
On March 1, a patient
arrived at MCMC Emergency
Department with corona-
virus-like symptoms, but
has since been tested and
the results were negative,
according to a press release
from Mid-Columbia Medical
Center.
Mid-Columbia Medical
Center leadership has been
meeting weekly to prepare for
possible COVID-19 patients
presenting at the hospital,
said Stephanie Bowen in a
press release. “Our nurses
and physicians have been
kept up to date on screening
and identification, as well as
safety protocols.”
When the patient arrived
exhibiting symptoms, “out
of an abundance of caution,
the patient was promptly
placed in an isolation unit at
MCMC and the suspected
case was reported to North
Central Public Health and the
Oregon Health Authority,”
she said.
MCMC staff members
who came in contact with
the patient were asked to
selfquarantine under the
guidance of our local public
health department.
On March 2, the patient’s
lab results from the Oregon
State Lab confirmed that the
patient tested negative for the
coronavirus.
The patient and family
have been informed of this,
as has the staff with whom
the patient came in contact.
“We will continue working
closely with NCPHD and
the OHA, and following all
recommended screening
guidelines,” said Bowen.
“We have a dedicated team
of healthcare professionals
who are trained to handle
patients with infectious
diseases, and we have a plan
in place to respond quickly to
any eventuality. Our num-
ber one priority remains the
safety of our patients and our
community.”
Oregon will be awarded
$500,000 by the Centers for
Disease Control to sup-
port response efforts to the
virus, Rep. Greg Walden
announced March 4.
“I applaud the CDC for
selecting Oregon to re-
ceive initial funding to help
support our response to the
coronavirus outbreak,” said
Walden. “This will help fund
needs such as monitoring
travelers, supplying medical
equipment, staffing and
infection control.”
As of March 4, there were
no cases of the COVID-19
virus within the jurisdiction
of the North Central Public
Health District, which covers
Wasco, Sherman and Gilliam
counties, district director
Teri Thalhofer told the Wasco
County Commissioners
Wednesday morning.
The health district initiated
an emergency management
command structure Feb. 27
to address the developing
situation in the region, and
it is working with Oregon
Health Authority to address
concerns and are in contact
with emergency managers
throughout the district,
Thalhofer said. Through the
emergency managers, the
district is encouraging first
responders to be fit-tested for
masks used to stop airborne
contaminants. “Testing or
mass use for the general
public is not recommended
at this time,” she said.
Thalhofer said every-
one is encouraged to go to
the OHA website, where
updated information on the
virus and recommendations
can be found. Links to OHA
and the national Center
for Disease Control can be
found on the district web-
site, ncphd.org. She noted
that posted information is
changing very rapidly. “We
discourage people from
printing out these docu-
ments and using them as
references. We suggest they
go to the website, which is
refreshed when new infor-
mation is added.”
Automatic email updates
are available on the OHA and
CDC websites as well.
“If we have a case of
COVID-19 within the
jurisdiction, we will share
that information with the
public as soon as possible,”
Thalhofer said. “OHA and
other jurisdictions have been
notifying the public within
hours of receiving a positive
test result.”
As of Wednesday evening,
March 4, the OHA report-
ed three confirmed cases
in the state, 45 negatives
and 13 tests pending. 115
Oregonians are being mon-
itored, and 238 have either
completed monitoring or
were determinted not to be
at risk.
Thalhofer told the com-
missioners that should an
outbreak occur, and they
had specific questions,
they should contact her by
email—but warned that re-
sponse might be slow, as the
district’s capacity is limited
and they will be prioritizing
responses.
Asked about the value of
masks for the general public,
Thalhofer said such masks
can stop the disease from
spreading, but will not neces-
sarily protect the individual
from contracting the virus
unless they are specially
fitted to the individual.
There is no reason to
panic, she added. There are
a limited number of cases
in the United States, and the
majority of people who do
contract the virus have a mild
reaction, she explained.
According to a report by
Oregon Captital Bureau, The
state of Oregon has prepared
for a rapid increase in testing
for COVID-19 should federal
authorities, rattled by a rocky
start, expand the criteria of
who should be tested.
Last week, the Oregon
Health Authority received
1,500 kits to test for the novel
coronavirus, replacing kits
that the Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention dis-
covered produced erroneous
results.
SWITCH
SAMSUNG
GALAXY S20 5G
TURN-IN REQUIRED
Promotional pricing requires a new smartphone service plan, new line, port-in, credit approval, qualifying trade-in, qualifying smartphone purchase and Device
Protection+, and comes via monthly bill credit on a 30-month RIC. Taxes, fees and additional restrictions apply. 5G not available in all areas. 5G available
in parts of IA and WI in 2020. See associate for details.
Things we want you to know: New consumer or small business (25 lines or less) smartphone plan, new line, port-in, eligible device trade-in and Device Protection+ required. Tax due at sale.
A Regulatory Cost Recovery Fee applies; this is not a tax or government required charge. Additional fees, taxes, terms, conditions and coverage areas may apply and vary by plan, service and
phone. Credit approval and Auto Pay/Paperless Billing required. Devices eligible for trade-in are Apple iPhone 8 or newer and Samsung Galaxy S9 or newer. Trade-in device must power on and
cannot be pin locked. Trade-in device must be in fully functional working condition without any liquid damage or broken components, including, but not limited to, a cracked display or housing.
Device Protection+ starts at $9.99/month per smartphone. A service fee/deductible per approved claim applies. You may cancel anytime. Property insurance is underwritten by American Bankers
Insurance Company of Florida and provided under a Master Policy issued to U.S. Cellular. You will be the certificate holder on U.S. Cellular’s Master Policy for loss/theft benefits. Service Contract
Obligor is Federal Warranty Service Corporation in all states except CA (Sureway, Inc.) and OK (Assurant Service Protection, Inc.). Limitations and exclusions apply. Offer Details: Purchase a
qualifying device via 0% APR, $0 down, 30-month Retail Installment Contract (RIC) and receive a $1,000 bill credit. Qualifying Devices: Samsung Galaxy S20 5G, S20+ 5G, S20 Ultra 5G. $1,000
credit will be divided into 30 monthly credits and come via a monthly bill credit on a 30-month RIC. Bill credit applied within three bill cycles and ends when balance is paid. Line must remain
in good standing with required price plan for entire 30-month RIC. Customer may lose bill credit if price plan is changed. In the event of cancellation of service, customer will be responsible for
the entire RIC balance. Kansas Customers: In areas in which U.S. Cellular receives support from the Federal Universal Service Fund, all reasonable requests for service must be met. Unresolved
questions concerning services availability can be directed to the Kansas Corporation Commission Office of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection at 1-800-662-0027. Limited-time offer. While
supplies last. Trademarks and trade names are the property of their respective owners. Offers valid at participating locations only and cannot be combined. See store or uscellular.com for details. 5G
not available in all areas. 5G available in parts of IA and WI in 2020. U.S. Cellular does not guarantee coverage. Coverage may vary and be interrupted or limited due to weather, terrain, customer
equipment or network limitations. See uscellular.com/coverage-map for details. ©2020 U.S. Cellular