Tuesday, december 7, 2021
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THe ObserVer — A5
COVID-19
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the county reported more
than 500 cases in a week
— a number health officials
said at the time was surely
an undercount.
Similar trends have
been reported in Union
County, where 124 cases
were reported throughout
November, a significant
drop from August, when
the county tallied 568
cases as the delta variant
rocked Oregon’s health care
system. Weekly average
case counts have dropped
into single digits for most
of November. The weekly
average of three cases,
reported on Wednesday,
Dec. 1, marked the lowest
average in Union County
since July 18.
“Information about the
omicron variant is still
emerging, so it is difficult
to say how this will impact
disease trends locally,” said
Carrie Brogoitti, public
health administrator at the
Center for Human Devel-
opment, La Grande. “We
continue to recommend
the prevention strategies
we have been using all
along to slow the spread
of all COVID-19 variants
— vaccination, masking,
improving ventilation, dis-
tancing and hand washing.”
Lowered numbers have
been a cause for optimism
among county officials,
but Union County Com-
missioner Donna Beverage
STORMS
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their first runs when the
weather allows.
“We’re definitely
expecting pretty big num-
bers as soon as we’re able
to open,” she said. “We’re
all excited to ski.”
Judy pointed out that
attendance was up at ski
areas across the nation last
winter, a trend industry
officials attributed in part
to people looking for out-
door activities during the
pandemic.
On the viral front, Judy
said this winter should be
different from the last at
Anthony Lakes.
Barring any new
state-imposed restrictions,
the plan is to open the
lodge as usual this winter
and have a normal parking
DINING
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Connection of Northeast
Oregon.
Norma Ringer, a Union
County Senior Center vol-
unteer, is also delighted
about the move and
impressed with the pent-up
demand for the reopening.
“I can’t believe the
number of people who keep
asking me about when it is
going to open again,” she
said.
COVID-19 shut down
the senior center’s social
setting dining program
but not its kitchen, which
has been busier than ever
during the pandemic. The
kitchen’s staff continues
to prepare an average of at
least 100 lunches and din-
ners a day for its Meals on
Wheels program, which
delivers to the homebound.
The kitchen’s staff also
prepares as many as 70
meals each weekday for
its grab-and-go lunch pro-
gram that was started to
alex Wittwer/The Observer, File
Robert Fox, a graduate student at Eastern Oregon University, prepares to receive a COVID-19 vaccine at a
clinic in La Grande on Tuesday, May 4, 2021.
reminds residents to con-
tinue to be careful.
“We’re really happy the
numbers are down,” she
said. “No one really knows
what will happen in the
future, so we have to be
cautious.”
Omicron wild card
However, as long as vac-
cination rates across the
region remain among the
lowest in Oregon, health
officials voiced concern
that infection could sweep
through the region if the
system, she said.
Last winter, by contrast,
Anthony Lakes encouraged
visitors to use their vehi-
cles as a staging spot, and
although restrooms were
available, the lodge was
otherwise closed.
Although face masks
will be required indoors,
they will not be mandated
in lift lines, as was the case
last winter, Judy said.
One change from last
winter that will carry over
to 2021-22 is on the Nordic
side.
Judy said the mobile
Nordic “outpost” — a
converted trailer — will
again be parked in the
Elkhorn Crest trailhead lot
about a quarter-mile east
of the lodge, just off the
highway. The outpost will
have Nordic trail passes
and hot drinks, among
other services.
fill the void created when
in-person dining had to be
shut down.
The grab-and-go pro-
gram will continue on after
the traditional in-house
dining program starts back
up, Gleeson said. Begin-
ning Dec. 15, people will
be able to pick up takeout
meals at the kitchen door
at the back of the senior
center at a slightly later
time, from noon to 1 p.m.
The grab-and-go pro-
gram is less than two years
old, but the social setting
dining program has been
running for at least four
decades. Its past and future
will be celebrated on Dec.
15 when meals are again
served in the traditional
dining area for the first
time in months. Meals on
opening day will be offered
free to all. The celebration
will be conducted in con-
junction with the serving
of the meal, starting at
11:30 a.m.
COVID-19 safety rules
will be in place during
the serving of all meals,
omicron variant proves
more transmissible or
deadly.
“As long as there is a
reservoir for infection to
happen, it will happen,”
said Dr. Jon Hitzman,
Umatilla County’s public
health officer. He added:
“Despite our best efforts,
we remain one or two steps
behind this virus.”
The omicron variant,
which was in Europe before
it was first reported in
South Africa, has caused
considerable panic world-
wide. Last week, several
countries immediately
banned foreign travelers
altogether as reports about
the variant spread. Even the
stock market took a brief
but notable tumble in the
wake of the news of the
variant.
Three cases of the
variant have so far been
reported in the United
States, and officials say
that more will likely be
reported in the coming
days and weeks, the New
York Times reported.
The Anthony Lake
Guard Station, which for-
merly served as the Nordic
center, is now available for
overnight rentals during
the winter, an option that
was popular last year, Judy
said.
The trailhead parking
lot has more space for
vehicles than the site near
the guard station, she said.
erence to Lewis Carroll’s
beloved fantasy tale).
Judy said visitors whose
skills surpass the chal-
lenge of Alice’s Wonder-
land can move on to the
Mad Hatter Handle Tow,
previously known as just
the handle tow. The Mad
Hatter also accesses the
Rabbit Hole terrain park
for beginning skiers and
riders.
Future characters, in
the same theme, are in the
works.
Alice’s Wonderland,
as distinct from “Alice
in Wonderland,” honors
Alice Trindle, a Baker
New options for
beginners
The gentle slope near
the lodge where fledgling
skiers and boarders hone
their technique has a new
look.
And a new name —
Alice’s Wonderland.
The ski area has
replaced the “carpet,”
which conveyed skiers up
the hill, with a covered
conveyor nicknamed the
Caterpillar (hence the ref-
meaning diners will be
checked to make sure they
are not sick, they will have
to wear masks when they
are not eating and they will
have to sit at least 3 feet
apart from one another.
Reopening the dining
area for lunch is important
because it will make it
easier for seniors to enjoy
nutritious meals, according
to Audrey Smith, Union
County manager of Com-
munity Connection of
Northeast Oregon. Smith
also said the opening will
provide an avenue to pro-
tect seniors from isola-
tion, an increasing con-
cern during the pandemic
because it has limited the
number of opportunities
seniors have to get out.
“A lot of them don’t
get to see their friends,”
she said. “They get pretty
discouraged.”
Smith said the social
setting meal program will
address this issue.
“We want this to be a
nutritional and a social
center,” she said.
With the upcoming influx
of travel around the holi-
days, President Joe Biden
announced on Thursday,
Dec. 2, that international
travelers are required to
take a COVID-19 test
within 24 hours of their
departure for the United
States. The mandate for
masks on public trans-
port was also extended to
March 18.
The variant’s arrival also
prompted the Centers for
Disease Control and Pre-
vention on Monday, Nov.
29, to change its messaging
on booster shots, saying
that people ages 18 and
older “should” get a booster
when they can.
Scientists expect to
know more about the
variant in the coming
weeks. There is no reason
to believe omicron is able
to completely evade the
vaccine’s protection, but it’s
possible that the vaccine
could be less protective.
Hitzman and Fiumara
said it is best that residents
practice patience as offi-
cials act quickly to learn
more.
“It’s way too early to
even begin to project how
dangerous this is,” Hitzman
said.
Holiday gatherings
Hitzman would not go
as far as to discourage
residents from gath-
ering during the holidays,
resigning to the fact that
people will do what they
want regardless of what
County native and life-
long Anthony Lakes
skier, longtime ski school
instructor and member of
the board of directors for
Anthony Lakes Outdoor
Recreation Association.
Trindle recently stepped
down from her board role
but she remains an integral
member of the ski school,
where she started teaching
in 1978.
Supporting locally
owned businesses
In place of Anthony
Lakes’ previous half-
price Thursday lift ticket
promotion, the resort is
he says. He said he will be
gathering with his family
— who are vaccinated —
for the holidays, but added
that they will not be having
their annual Christmas
party.
“Individual freedoms
don’t remove our responsi-
bility for taking care of our
neighbors,” Hitzman said.
Beverage reflected a
similar sentiment, noting
that holiday travel cau-
tion should be a decision
every individual considers
carefully.
“We want to be cau-
tious, but I would say that’s
an individual decision,”
she said. “If someone feels
at risk meeting at a large
family gathering, they
should be cautious and
make their own decision.”
Brogoitti emphasized
that prevention strategies
can go a long way during
holiday travel — hand-
washing, wearing masks
and distancing.
“We would also recom-
mend that people who have
not gotten their booster yet
consider doing so now so
they have this extra protec-
tion,” Brogoitti said.
Hitzman and other
Eastern Oregon health offi-
cials are pushing for the
same precautions they have
for months: mask up while
indoors, stay home when
ill, and get vaccinated.
“This is a beatable
virus, but it’s going to take
everyone,” Hitzman said,
adding, “Right now, it’s all
hope.”
offering $25 lift tickets on
Thursdays — the usual
price is $45 — for visi-
tors who bring a receipt
showing they had spent
at least $40 in the pre-
vious week at a locally
owned restaurant or shop
in Baker, Union, Grant or
Wallowa counties.
“We’re encouraging
people to get out and shop
locally,” Judy said.
She encourages snow
enthusiasts to check the
resort’s website, www.
anthonylakes.com, for
the latest snow condi-
tions, schedules and other
updates.
COVID-19
Vaccine
Drive Through Event Information:
www.chdinc.org
541-962-8800
Event date: 12/5-12/10
Event times: 10:00 am to 5:00 pm
Event Location: 3604 N 2nd Street at the La Grande Fair Grounds
Mt. Emily/4-H Building
Vaccines offered: 1st dose, 2nd dose, 3rd doses and booster vaccines. All
Covid vaccine configurations will be available including pediatric vaccination.
Registration: Will be completed at vaccine site
North Powder Vaccine Event:
Event date: 12/8
Event time: 10:00 am to 5:00 pm
Event location: 333 G Street, North Powder Charter School, North Powder,
Oregon 97867
Vaccines offered: 1st dose, 2nd dose, 3rd doses and booster vaccines. All
Covid vaccine configurations will be available including pediatric vaccination.
Registration: Will be completed at vaccine site
Other vaccine events offered in December:
Location: Center for Human Development
Time: 10:00 am to 2:00 pm every Friday with the exception of New Year’s Eve
in addition to Christmas Eve.
Additional options: Scheduled appointments available throughout the week.
Vaccines offered: 1st dose, 2nd dose, 3rd doses and booster vaccines. All
Covid vaccine configurations will be available including pediatric vaccination.
Other pediatric and adult immunizations also available at CHD.
CDC General Vaccine Info:
COVID-19 vaccines are effective
COVID 19-vaccines are effective and can reduce the risk of getting and spreading the virus that causes COVID-19. Learn
more about the different COVID-19 vaccines.
COVID-19 vaccines also help children and adults from getting seriously ill even if they do get COVID-19.
While COVID-19 tends to be milder in children than adults, it can make children very sick, require hospitalization, and some
children have even died. Children with underlying medical conditions are more at risk for severe illness compared to children
without underlying medical conditions.
Getting children ages 5 years and older vaccinated can help protect them from serious short- and long-term complications.
Getting everyone ages 5 years and older vaccinated can protect families and communities, including friends and family who
are not eligible for vaccination and people at increased risk for severe illness from COVID-19.
Booster Information from CDC:
Fast Facts Everyone age 18 and older is eligible for a COVID-19 vaccine booster beginning Nov. 20, 2021. Some people
are strongly advised get a booster dose to protect themselves and others. You can choose which vaccine to get. The
COVID-19 vaccines are extraordinarily effective at preventing serious illness, hospitalization and death. That said, we are
seeing immunity drop over time, especially in people over age 50 and those with compromised immune systems who are
more likely to experience severe disease, hospitalization and death. For these people, another dose boosts their immunity,
sometimes greater than what was achieved after the primary, two-dose series. Health experts strongly recommend people
over age 50, people over 18 who live in long-term care facilities, and anyone who received one dose of the Johnson &
Johnson vaccine get a booster dose. Younger, healthy people may also get a booster dose to protect themselves and
others. A booster will re-build neutralizing antibodies that strengthen the body’s ability to fight getting a breakthrough
case. Even if you’re not at high risk, you could be infected and then pass it on to others, such as children too young to be
vaccinated, the elderly, or people who are immunocompromised. Booster doses help people maintain strong immunity to
disease longer. The first vaccine series built up the immune system to make the antibodies needed to fight the disease.
Over time, the immune response weakens. A booster dose stimulates the initial response and tends to result in higher
antibody levels that help people maintain their immunity longer. Boosters take about two weeks to bring up the immune
response. This continues to be studied, but we can reliably say it takes two weeks to bring the immune response up to or
better than that after the primary series.