The Dalles chronicle., March 11, 2020, Page 5, Image 5

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EMERGENCY
statewide emergency,” the
governor said in her formal
Volunteer corps declaration issued Sunday.
As a result, major hospitals
activated
around Oregon are being
Continued from page A1 cleared to conduct their own
tests to detect COVID-19, a
volunteer corps of retired
medical professionals is be-
Gov. Kate Brown on
ing activated to help particu-
Saturday night declared a
larly in rural areas, and work
state of emergency.
“I find that the novel infec- groups are devising counsel
tious coronavirus has created for communities to deal with
vulnerable populations, in-
a threat to public health
and safety and constitutes a
cluding one for homeless and
one for elderly in congregate
care.
The extraordinary steps
followed new test results
Saturday that identified
seven new cases of people
presumed infected with the
disease.
That included five in
Washington County, and one
each in Douglas and Marion
counties. Statewide, health
officials said 14 people have
tested positive for the respira-
tory disease.
SCHOOLS
COVID-19 transmission and
maintain a normal learning
environment for students
Handwashing
and staff. Under existing OHA
increase suggested guidance, individuals who
have COVID-19, including
Continued from page A1 students and educators, will
be subject to self-isolation to
prevent others from becom-
strategies educational
administrators can use to
ing infected.
reduce the risk of COVID-19
Among the measures
within a school community
that educational institu-
and protect students from
tions should consider are
lost instructional time.
increasing the frequency of
The guidance recognizes
handwashing for children,
that the instruction schools
youth and adults; cleaning
and universities provide is
high-touch, high-traffic ar-
vital to student well-being.
eas within schools frequent-
In addition, schools provide ly and screening for illness
many students their only
among students, staff and
ready access to health care
visitors.
and food.
The policy also highlights
More than 22,000 students more aggressive measures
in Oregon experienced some involving social distanc-
form of homelessness in
ing strategies that school
2019.
leaders and educators could
The recommendation
employ to minimize the
gives schools tools to prevent spread of COVID-19 or other
infections.
This could include stagger-
ing recess and lunch periods
to reduce the number of
students coming into close
contact with each other.
The recommendations
are meant to guide deci-
sion-making for school dis-
tricts, colleges and universi-
ties, in consultation with state
and local health officials.
School districts and higher
education administrators
have the option of closing a
school or university if many
students and staff are affect-
ed by COVID-19, leaving the
school unable to operate
safely and effectively.
Other measures, such
as social distancing tech-
niques, should be deployed
by schools and universities
first, with extended closures
viewed as a measure of last
resort, according to the
OHA.
increased cases” as most
testing is done, said Dr.
Dean Sidelinger, state health
Some sources
officer.
The two cases out of
unknown
Jackson County involve peo-
Continued from page A1 ple in the same household
whose infection is related to
travel. They are in treatment
million to cover escalating
while in isolation at home,
costs at the Oregon Health
according to Dr. Jim Shames,
Authority, the state agency
leading Oregon’s response to Jackson County public
the coronavirus. The board is officer.
Health officials said the
scheduled to meet in Salem
person ill in Klamath County
on Monday.
was related to travel, while
On Saturday, the Health
the new Washington County
Authority announced four
case involved someone in
new presumptive positive
contact with a person already
virus cases, including two
under treatment for the
in Jackson County, one in
coronavirus.
Klamath County and a third
Sidelinger said health offi-
case in Washington County.
“We are going to see
cials still haven’t determined
the source of the coronavi-
rus that infected a school
employee from Washington
County and a casino worker
from Pendleton.
Health officials were
releasing little information
about the individuals and
about the number of people
put under monitoring after
it was determined they had
been in contact with those
presumed to be infected.
They said they were keep-
ing details confidential to
avoid stigmatizing potential
patients who might not come
forward.
“Stigma may put us all at
risk,” said Sidelinger.
They also are trying to
keep Oregonians from
overreacting.
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Wednesday, March 11, 2020   A5