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About The Observer. (La Grande, Or.) 1968-current | View Entire Issue (June 18, 2020)
6A — THE OBSERVER WALLOWA Continued from Page 1A accommodate up to 50 patients,” she said. “We have been planning for an event like this for months and will be ready for what- ever the situation in Union County brings. We have staffi ng plans in place to ensure our community con- tinues to get the care they need.” Wallowa Memorial has a cooperative agreement with Grande Ronde Hospital in La Grande that includes support with personal pro- tective equipment, supplies and other equipment needs, Pace said. THURSDAY, JUNE 18, 2020 SPECIAL REPORT Another source of help is the Oregon Health Authority, which serves as the public health depart- ment for the region. The OHA is responsible for con- tact tracing — tracking potential sources of infec- tion transmission — in the state. “The outbreak in Union County should be a wake-up call and reminder to practice precautions that are known to prevent out- breaks, including avoiding large gatherings, wearing masks while in public, washing your hands often, staying home if you are sick and practicing proper physical distancing,” Pace said. TRACING Continued from Page 1A immigration status or bank account information. After the interview, the contact tracer likely will ask the close contact to self-quarantine for 14 days. Those who are symptom- atic should undergo testing and seek medical care if necessary. The CDC also encourages contact tracers to direct those in self-quar- antine to social services for assistance during isolation. “Self-quarantine of close contacts exposed to COVID-19 prevents transmission to others to occur, health offi cials will urge the person to get tested. Step four closes out the contact’s case when the 14 days are up. People who remained asymptomatic are free to return to life as usual. Those who devel- oped symptoms but tested negative need to remain in self-quarantine for another test. and is critical to the suc- cess of case investiga- tion and contact tracing efforts,” the CDC’s web- site states. “Self-quaran- tine requires that a con- tact remain in a specifi c room separate from other non-exposed people and pets in the home, and ide- ally with access to a sepa- rate bathroom.” Once contacts self-quar- antine, daily monitoring will occur through com- munication with local health authorities. This means people in quarantine should email, call or text local health offi cials with daily updates regarding their health and symp- toms. If symptoms begin Scams to look out for The Oregon Department of Justice issued a notice to be wary of scams where people pretend to be con- tact tracers. According to the alert, people receive emails and text messages with links to fraudulent websites. Clicking on the link may download software onto a device, giving scam- mers access to an array of your personal and fi nancial information. The Center for Human Development, La Grande, said it is possible their calls will come through as an unknown number. However, the tracer will leave a message for a con- tact to call back. The Oregon Health Authority has issued reminders that a caller will not ask for Social Security numbers or bank account informa- tion during their tracing investigation. U.S. virus outbreaks stir clash over masks, personal freedom By Terry Tang, Ken Moritsugu and Lisa Marie Pane Associated Press PHOENIX — When the coronavirus fl ared in China this week, the country can- celed fl ights, suspended reopenings and described the situation as “extremely grave.” But with cases rising in some U.S. states, offi cials have balked at requiring people to wear masks. In the United States, which has the most con- fi rmed cases and deaths in the world, authorities wres- tled Wednesday with bal- ancing demands for consti- tutional rights and personal freedom with warnings from health offi cials that being lax will have deadly consequences. China responded to a new outbreak in Beijing by scrapping more than 60% of its fl ights to the cap- ital, canceling classes and strengthening requirements for social distancing. It was a sharp retreat for the nation that declared victory over COVID-19 in March. Photo by John Raoux/Associated Press A TSA worker, right, checks a passenger before entering a security screening Wednes- day at Orlando International Airport in Orlando, Florida, where Gov. Ron DeSantis stated Tuesday that 52% of airport employees tested positive for COVID-19. But Phil Brown, CEO of Orlando International Airport, said in a statement Wednesday that last week’s rate of positive cases from the 500 workers tested last week was only 0.4%. “This has truly rung an alarm bell for us,” Party Secretary Cai Qi told a meeting of Beijing’s Com- munist Party Standing Committee. China’s actions follow about 137 new cases, a frac- tion of the number some U.S. states see each day. In Arizona, more than 1,100 people visited emergency rooms on Tuesday alone with positive or suspected cases. Alabama also is run- ning out of hospital space, stirring impassioned debate over a mask requirement. Other states that haven’t mandated face coverings, like Texas and Florida, are seeing infections soar. With masks becoming a political symbol, Demo- cratic presidential candidate Joe Biden has taken aim at President Donald Trump’s approach to the pandemic. “Donald Trump wants to style himself as a war- time president. Unlike any other wartime leader, he takes no responsibility, he exercises no leadership, now he has just fl at surren- dered the fi ght,” Biden said Wednesday. Biden has worn a mask at public events, while Trump hasn’t, even on occa- sions such as touring auto factory fl oors when they are required. Aides say Trump thinks they’re unfl attering and that wearing one proj- ects weakness. The mask debate is playing out nationwide, notably in hard-hit states where face coverings have become a political and cul- tural debate. Hundreds of medical professionals signed a letter urging Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey to require them. On Wednesday, the Republican said the state will allow local governments to make policies on masks. Ducey, who wore a mask to a news conference but took it off before speaking, said counties had vastly dif- ferent rates of infection. “For some things, a statewide directive or exec- utive order works very well,” he said. “If you have 12 or 13 counties that say ‘pound sand’ on an execu- tive order ... it’s a self-de- feating executive order.” Ducey has resisted new restrictions on businesses, saying it would be up to mayors to enforce use of masks and attributing Ari- zona’s surge in cases to increased testing. The state has been doing more tests, which can yield more cases, but health experts say a better way to see if more people are getting sick is to look at the percentage of positive tests. When that percentage rises, it means the outbreak is worsening — not just that more people are getting tested. Brown requires people in seven counties to wear masks indoors By Sara Cline Associated Press SALEM — Gov. Kate Brown announced Wednesday that residents in seven of Oregon’s coun- ties will be required to wear masks at indoor public spaces as COVID-19 social distancing restrictions are tentatively eased. Multnomah County, the state’s most populous, is among the counties where people will be required to wear masks indoors. Brown also gave the go-ahead to four counties to enter a new reopening phase, including Mult- nomah, home to Portland, which had been the only county that had not yet entered phase 1. These announcements come as the state continues to see a spike in cases. As of Wednesday’s case count, the total number of people who have tested positive for coronavirus in Oregon is 6,218. In addition, one more person died from the dis- ease, raising the state’s death toll to 183. Last week Brown issued a statewide pause on all county applications to move into a new reopening phase, in order to give health experts “time to assess what factors are driving the spread of the virus and make adjustments to our reopening strategy.” After an analysis of the growth of new cases, hos- pitalizations and results of contact tracing, Brown approved Marion, Polk, and Hood River counties to implement phase 2 of the state’s reopening plan and Multnomah County begin phase 1 Friday. “While Multnomah County has seen an increase in new cases recently, the county has not experienced an uptrend in new hospital admissions, and overall hospitalizations remain well within capacity,” Brown said about the county, which was the only Oregon county that had not yet reached phase one. However, residents in all four counties approved to move into the next phase, in addition to Clakamas, Lin- coln and Hood River coun- ties, will be required to wear face covering while in public indoor spaces begin- ning June 24. Up until now, the gov- ernor had determined what counties could enter a new phase on a county by county basis. However, that is changing. Some counties will now be grouped together as regional units for reopening decisions. The tri-county area–– Multnomah, Washington, and Clackamas counties— will be treated as a single unit Marion and Polk Coun- ties, which each include parts of Salem, will also be treated as a unit going forward. “Both of these regions include a highly-connected urban area, making it diffi - cult to monitor the disease based solely on the contours of county jurisdictional lines,” Brown said. As a result of these deci- sions, the entire tri-county region will remain in phase 1 for at least 21 days, begin- ning June 19. After that, the regional unit will become eligible for phase 2 if they meet requirements. “I know this impacts communities and busi- nesses in Clackamas and Washington counties,” Brown said. “But, as we reopen our state, we must recognize how intercon- nected the metro area is.” Statewide, Oregon has seen a rise in confi rmed COVID-19 cases in recent days following the outbreak in Union County and an outbreak at a seafood pro- cessing plant in Newport, a city in Lincoln County. Brown said that over the next week the Oregon Health Authority will closely be monitoring case data across the state. “If hospitalizations spike too rapidly, if the capacity of our health care system is threatened, we will be forced to revert to stricter rules,” Brown said. Northeast Oregon Directory of Churches Services This Week First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) FIRST LANDMARK MISSIONARY BAPTIST CHURCH 1812 1st St. La Grande 901 Penn Avenue 963-2623 Pastor Dave Tierce • 541-605-0215 lgdisciples@gmail.com We use the King James Version Bible Worship 10:00 a.m. Sunday School - 10:00 am Worship 11:00 am Sunday Evening Bible Study - 3:00 pm (Effective June 10) Wednesday Evening - 6:30 pm “Where you can find TRUTH according to the scriptures” ~Join us at The Lord’s Table~ Zion Lutheran Church (an ELCA church) 902 Fourth Street, La Grande, OR (541) 963-5998 9:00 am - Worship 10:00 am - Fellowship & Refreshments 10:30 am - Classes Pastor: Roberta Smythe www.zionlagrande.org First Baptist Church SIXTH & SPRING, LA GRANDE 541-963-3911 All services have been temporarily cancelled. Live-streaming Sunday mornings at 10:00 am. People can watch at: lagrandefbc.org St. Katherine’s Catholic Church Fr. Thomas Puduppulliparamban 301 E Garfield Enterprise Mass Schedule Sundays: St Pius X, Wallowa – 8:00 am St Katherine of Siena, Enterprise – 10:30 am Saturdays St Katherine of Siena, Enterprise – 5:30 pm Weekdays St Katherine of Siena, Enterprise – 8:00 am (Monday – Thursday and First Friday) All are welcome 1531 S. Main Street, Union 541-562-5531 www.UnionBaptistOregon.org Sunday School 9:45 am Morning Worship 11:00 am Thursday AWANA 6:30 pm Birthing, Building and Being the Body of Christ GRACE COMMUNITY LUTHERAN CHURCH The Place 62848 Philynda Loop in Island City “We are called to Serve” 109 18th Street • 963-3402 Sunday School 9:15 a.m. Sunday Worship 10:30 a.m. Sunday School for all ages - 9:00 am Sunday Worship 10:00 am Phone: 541-568-4230 grace.lutherancove@gmail.com www.flmbclagrande.com LA GRANDE UNITED METHODIST CHURCH “OPEN HEARTS, OPEN MINDS, OPEN DOORS” 1612 4th Street – 963-2498 Pastor Taylor Gould lgumc@eoni.com www.lagrandeumc.org Office Hours: Mon-Thur 9am-Noon Worship 10:00 am Fellowship Coffee Hour 11:00 am Amazing Grace Fellowship 1316 T St., La Grande, OR 541-568-4567 Sunday 10:30 a.m. 2 Cor 12:9 My Grace is sufficient for you. IS 40:31 - Nursery provided - Imbler Christian Church 440 Ruckman, Imbler 534-2201 www.imblerchristianchurch.org Sunday Services 9:00 a.m. 10:00 a.m. Sunday School Worship Service Cove United Methodist Church 1708 Jasper St., Cove, OR North Powder United Methodist Church 390 E. St., North Powder, OR JOIN US... Catch the Spirit! Worship: 9:00 a.m. Cove Worship: 10:00 a.m. N. Powder La Grande Seventh-day SUMMERVILLE BAPTIST CHURCH Sunday Services: Sunday School & Adult Bible Classes 9:45AM Children’s Church & Worship Service 11:00AM Family Worship Service 6:00PM Wednesday: Prayer Mtg, Children’s Bible Club, Youth Group 7:00PM A church for your whole family Visit us at summervillebaptistchurch.org Adventist Church A Place where hope is found in Jesus Join us in Fellowship & Worship Every Saturday 9:30 a.m. - Bible Study/Fellowship 10:45 a.m. - Worship Service 2702 Adams Avenue, La Grande • 963-4018 Pastor: Mike Armayor www.lagrandeor.adventistchurch.org Learning for Today and Eternity Little Friends Christian Preschool/Childcare 963-6390 La Grande Adventist Christian School Christian Education K-8th Grade 963-6203