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About The Observer. (La Grande, Or.) 1968-current | View Entire Issue (Oct. 9, 2021)
INSIDE SCOTS TRADITION CARRIED OUT IN THE IMNAHA UNIT | October 9, 2021 OUTDOORS & REC, B1 WEEKEND EDITION $1.50 HEALTH CARE IN OREGON SURVEY Oregonians split on whether state is on ‘right track’ By ZACK DEMARS The Bulletin SALEM — While half of Ore- gonians say the state is headed in the wrong direction, views on the state’s economy have improved in recent months. Those are two of the key take- aways from the Oregon Values and Beliefs Center, which sur- veyed more than 1,100 residents across the state’s regions and demographic groups over INSIDE the course of a Graphs and week late last more informa- month. tion, Page A5. The fi rst fi gure — with 49% saying the state is headed on the wrong track, compared to 45% who say its on the right track — is closer to the pessimistic lows of last winter than highs of this summer. In December, 52% held “wrong track” views, while only 42% said the same in May. Chad Kernutt, a 31-year-old state employee in Albany, said COVID-19 restrictions passed down by state authorities while the public was restricted from most of the year’s legislative ses- sion was a sign of a state off track. “The constant masking, the constant overregulation of busi- nesses, telling them what they can and can’t do, and now the man- dates on vaccines,” Kernutt said in a phone interview. “I believe it should be handled at the local level.” Feelings about the state’s direction vary on demographic lines. The youngest and oldest groups were more likely to say the state’s on the right track, and those in rural areas tend to be more pessimistic about the state’s overall direction, according to the survey, which had a margin of error between 1.8% and 2.9%. When it comes to the COVID-19 pandemic, most Ore- gonians (56%) believe it’s not yet safe to open businesses and fully restart the economy. Just 36% of Oregonians said it’s urgently important to fully reopen the economy. “No, I don’t think we’re quite there yet,” said Deb Runkle, a 62-year-old retiree in Bandon. “Personally, it scares the crap out of me because I’m compromised in the fi rst place. Coming from See, Survey/Page A5 Alex Wittwer/The Observer, File A thin plastic sheet separates the intensive care unit from the COVID-19 ward at Grande Ronde Hospital on Monday, Aug. 30, 2021. The rate of infection in Eastern Oregon remains steady, and individual hospitals are left with the task of implementing their own crisis care standards. A crisis of care Quiet change made in 2020 leaves Oregon hospitals without concrete guidelines for crisis management By ALEX WITTWER EO Media Group LA GRANDE — Oregon, which for many years held a standardized triage principle in its repertoire for a public health crisis — such as a major earth- quake or pandemic — quietly did away with its crisis care guidelines in Sep- tember 2020. For context, that was right before Oregonians began to experience the highest surge of COVID-19 cases, deaths and hospitalizations statewide, at least up until recently. The Oregon Health Authority has not yet given new guid- ance in the form of a “Standard Crisis of Care” document, such as those in Idaho or Alaska. Instead, the OHA asked hospi- tals to make their own plans for rationing care in the event they become overrun by critical-condition COVID-19 patients. While cases have been declining statewide in the past weeks, infections in Eastern Oregon Region 9 — from Morrow County to Malheur County — have remained steady. On Sept. 5, the weekly case rate per 100,000 residents in Eastern Oregon Region 9 was 524. On Sept. 25, three weeks later, that case rate fell slightly to 522 per 100,000, according to Oregon Health Authority numbers. Statewide, Alex Wittwer/The Observer, File Grande Ronde Hospital and other hospitals across the state had to write their own triage principles and crisis care standards after the Oregon Health Authority in September 2020 dismissed the state document that guided hospitals in making emergency decisions. that same weekly case rate number was just 244 cases per 100,000 residents using the same OHA data on Sept. 25. In comparison, the statewide infection rates for Idaho and Alaska — two states that have implemented emergency crisis standard of care protocols for hospitals — were 464 and 672 cases per 100,000 res- idents, respectively, for the same weekly period. Still, the Oregon Health Authority rescinded its 66-page, long-standing “Crisis Care Guidance” document and published in its place a set of priorities and ethical considerations, leaving the question of how to build a fair and just crisis standard of care to individual hos- pitals. Absent was any reference on how See, Care/Page A5 Maximum camp stays at MERA may be shortened Ordinance considered by Union County commissioners would limit stays to 5 nights Union County Parks Coordi- nator Sean Chambers on Satur- day, June 5, 2021, expands a new trail at the Mount Emily Recreation Area near La Grande as part of an organized work day on the motorized trails system. A proposal by the county commission would limit camping at MERA to fi ve nights in a 30-day period. By DICK MASON INSIDE The Observer LA GRANDE — The maximum length of camping stays at the Mount Emily Recreation Area may soon be trimmed signifi cantly. The Union County Board of Commissioners at its Wednesday, Oct. Commissioners want Union County excluded from Sen. Wyden’s proposed River Democracy Act, Page A2. 6, meeting approved the fi rst reading of a MERA camping ordinance that See, MERA/Page A5 INDEX Classified ...............B2 Comics ....................B5 Crossword .............B2 Dear Abby .............B6 Horoscope .............B2 Carlos Fuentes/The Observer, File WEATHER Local........................A2 Lottery ....................A2 Obituaries ..............A3 Opinion ..................A4 Outdoors & Rec ...B1 TUESDAY Records ..................A3 Sports .....................A7 State ........................A6 Sudoku ...................B5 Weather .................B6 Full forecast on the back of B section Tonight Sunday 37 LOW 55/31 Turning cloudy Cloudy, a shower FILMMAKER EMBRACES CHANCE TO VISIT LA GRANDE CONTACT US 541-963-3161 Issue 119 2 sections, 14 pages La Grande, Oregon Email story ideas to news@lagrande observer.com. More contact info on Page 4A. Online at lagrandeobserver.com
