PAGE A2, KEIZERTIMES, MARCH 6, 2020
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Coronavirus:
What to
know and
what to do
By ERIC A. HOWALD
Of the Keizertimes
Oregon health offi cials
had identifi ed three presump-
tive cases of Coronavirus
(COVID-19) at press time.
The fi rst case of the virus in
an Oregon resident was identi-
fi ed on Feb. 28 and two more
followed. The most recent is
an adult from Umatilla Coun-
ty and has not been linked to
other cases that involved trav-
el to other parts of the world.
Preliminary reports indicate the
person attended a youth bas-
ketball game at a gymnasium at
Weston Middle School, 205 E.
Wallace St. in Weston, Ore., on
Saturday, Feb. 29.
Health offi cials had tested 50
Oregon patients for COVID-19
and 18 results were still pending
at press time March 4.
With fears about the virus,
which originated in the city of
Wuhan, China, now the major
topic of conversation around
the world, the Oregon Health
Authority is recommending
the following actions:
• Cover your coughs and
sneezes with a tissue and then
throw the tissue in the trash.
• Wash your hands often
with soap and water for 20
seconds. If soap and water are
not readily available, use an al-
cohol-based hand sanitizer that
contains at least 60% alcohol.
• Avoid close contact with
people who are sick.
• Avoid touching your eyes,
nose and mouth with un-
washed hands.
• Clean and disinfect surfac-
es that are often touched.
• Take care of your health
overall. Stay current on your
vaccinations, including fl u vac-
cine, eating well and exercising.
All help your body stay resilient.
• Consult CDC’s travel
website, wwwnc.cdc.gov/trav-
el/notices, for any travel advi-
sories and steps to protect your-
self if you plan to travel outside
of the US.
On the local level, the Sa-
lem-Keizer School district is
taking additional measures to
ensure healthy spaces for stu-
dents.
“We are initiating additional
cleaning protocols for high fre-
quency touch points like shared
surfaces and doorknobs. We
know you may want to send
additional wipes and sanitizers
to school with your child, and
at this point that is totally fi ne.
We have to be careful about the
types of products and chemicals
in our schools, however, given
the circumstances we have re-
laxed our parameters around
these. Unless your child is un-
well, we encourage you to send
them to school,” said district of-
fi cials in a email to parents over
the weekend.
School offi cials also en-
couraged parents to be mind-
ful of talk regarding Asian and
Asian-American students.
“We ask that you and your
family be mindful that bullying
of students based on race, color,
national origin, or disability is
unacceptable in our school dis-
trict,” the email stated.
Updates from the district,
including possible facility clo-
sures, can be found at salem-
keizer.org.
Those concerned about the
spread of the virus might con-
sider taking the following ac-
tions:
• Make certain you have an
ample supply of daily med-
ications. While a shortage is
unlikely, the goal is to avoid
crowds at a grocery store or
pharmacy.
• Those prone to illness can
stock up on hydrating drinks
and items like soups and crack-
ers.
• Talk with your workplace
about telecommuting in case of
an illness and have an emergen-
cy plan for the young people
and elderly in your lives.
• Above all, make washing
hands a habit, especially when
returning to work or home
from community spaces.
Keizer fi re releases second wave of bonds
At their regular monthly board
meeting on Tuesday Feb. 18, the Keiz-
er Fire District Board of Directors
approved the bank fi nancing of the
second series of bonds in the current
strong fi nancial market and increase
the value of the bonds, whiles saving
taxpayers money in rates, term, and in-
terest — the fi rst series of bonds were
sold in March of 2016.
The bond funds are to buy fi re
trucks, ambulances and equipment.
The rates, term, and interest win-
ning trifecta can be explained as fol-
lows; The property tax rate for the
bonds was set at $0.14 cents per 1,000
for property owners. The refi nancing
came in at $0.13 cents per 1,000 as
a lower tax rate for property owners.
The 20-year term of the bond was re-
duced to 16 years of payments instead
of 20 years. The interest rate is at a low
2.5% interest.
The perfect storm of market rates,
interest and investor demand for sta-
ble investments provided a startling
$1.9 million in interest savings to KFD
tax payers over the length of the fi re
equipment bond funding while yield-
ing $6.3 million instead of $5.9 million
in emergency equipment for KFD.
KFD put the funds to work im-
mediately, ordering two more ambu-
lances, a fi re truck, and a wild-land
fi refi ghting vehicle (brush truck). The
timing of the orders, combined with
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
avoiding 2020 cost increases on equip-
ment, yielded another $80,000 in cost
savings.
Speaking on behalf of the KFD
Board of Directors, Board President
Chet Patterson expressed his approval
of the fi nancial move.
“It is always a win to make good
decisions, save our tax payers money
and get the necessary equipment out
there for our fi re district to handle
emergencies,” Patterson said.
Delight
pathway
contract
awarded
There is no start date yet,
but a long-desired project in
west Keizer is one step closer
to fruition.
The Keizer City Council
awarded a contract to con-
struct a 10-foot wide asphalt
pathway along the west side
of Delight Street North at a
meeting Monday, March 3.
Gelco Construction was the
winning bidder on the project
with a low bid of $149,580.
Eight contractors placed
bids on the project, the high-
est bid was $239,822. An en-
gineer’s estimate for the proj-
ect was $170,000.
The pathway will extend
from the the north end of
the Cummings Elementary
School property to Chema-
wa Road North. The project
includes white fog lines on
both sides of Delight Street
to delineate the vehicle lanes
from the pathway.
Delight is a heavily used
street by cars, pedestrians
and riders of all sorts to ac-
cess Cummings and McNary
High School. A sidewalk
in front of the Cummings
school property will be in-
stalled by the Salem-Keizer
School District when it em-
barks on other upgrades at
the school.
The project will be funded
through the city’s street fund.
legacyhealth.org/keepmoving
Keep moving …
“ This community is beautiful and the whole staff is so attentive
and caring! As a family member, I always want the very best
for my Mom and I know that we have found an incredible
place where I know that she is happy and well-cared for.
The atmosphere is engaging and respectful and it is so good
to know that Mom is in such good hands. I would highly
recommend this community to anyone!
” — HEIDI C.
Time to fix your joint pain?
Do you want to return to doing
the things you love? To live your
best life?
We can help, with a complete,
expert approach to knee and hip
surgery, plus care for other bones
and joints.
We’ve been keeping this
community moving for years, so
you know we’ll be with you every
step of the way.
Call 503-386-4211 or visit
legacyhealth.org/keepmoving
Locations
Legacy Medical Group–
Orthopedics and Sports
Medicine
Keizer Health Center
5685 Inland Shores Way North
Keizer, OR 97303
452 Welch St.
Medical Office Building 1
Silverton, OR 97381
Woodburn Health Center
1475 Mt. Hood Ave.
Woodburn, OR 97071
Our legacy is yours.
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Qualilty
CALL (503) 390 -1300
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