Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About The daily Astorian. (Astoria, Or.) 1961-current | View Entire Issue (March 21, 2020)
147TH YEAR, NO. 114 | WEEKEND EDITION // SATURDAY, MARCH 21, 2020 | $1.50 FORESHADOW Photos by Hailey Hoff man/The Astorian TOP: Few cars line the typically-packed Commercial Street in Astoria on Thursday evening after government restrictions to contain the spread of the coronavirus. ABOVE LEFT: An electronic message along U.S. Highway 101 near Warrenton reminds travelers of the dangers of COVID-19 and to avoid groups. ABOVE RIGHT: Alan Isaksen sanitizes a returned cart at the entrance to the Astoria Co+op on Thursday morning. Hospitals told to scale back to focus on virus A move to preserve masks and gowns By EDWARD STRATTON The Astorian Fearing a critical shortage of surgical masks for health care workers caring for people with the coronavirus, Gov. Kate Brown ordered hospitals in Oregon to cease nonemergency procedures to conserve medical supplies. The order applies to hospi- tals, outpatient clinics and other health care providers, such as den- tists and veterinarians. Health care experts are worried about poten- tial shortages of masks, gowns and gloves in a virus outbreak. “It is critical that we preserve every piece of personal protective equipment we have in Oregon so that our health care workers can keep themselves safe while treat- ing COVID-19 patients,” Brown said in a statement Wednesday. “If we do not take immediate action, the surge in demand in our hospi- MORE INSIDE California, New York and other states issue stay at home orders. Page A3 tals for masks, gowns and gloves will quickly outstrip the limited supplies they have available. “We cannot let that happen. I want to thank the health care pro- viders —including dentists, veter- inarians and others — who have already preserved and donated their critical supplies.” Washington Gov. Jay Ins- lee also moved to restrict none- mergency medical and dental procedures to conserve protec- tive equipment for health care workers. Brown’s order also limits visits to hospitals to help protect health care workers and patients. Columbia Memorial Hospital in Astoria and Providence Seaside Hospital are the most impacted on the North Coast. Columbia Memorial stopped By NICOLE BALES The Astorian SEASIDE — Spring break usually brings the fi rst real rush of tourists to the coast. But this time it’s quiet. Many of the t our- ists who are visiting despite the coronavirus pandemic have to peek through shop win- dows to see who is still open . Jimmy Griffi n, the owner of Seaside Brewing Co. , stood in his empty restaurant Thursday fi lling to-go orders while juggling other tasks . He said the restaurant and patio would typically be packed on a sunny spring afternoon . After Gov. Kate Brown ordered restau- rants and bars in Oregon to offer takeout-only as a precaution against the virus, Griffi n spent the past few days updating his website and buying new marketing materials to advertise to-go options. But now he thinks it won’t be long until Oregon follows California and New York and directs people to stay at home . “Financially, it’s affecting me just as much as it is everyone else,” Griffi n said. “This is really hurting us.” But he believes taking precautions is bet- ter than the alternative if the pandemic is not contained . “We’re all going to have to make some sacrifi ces here,” he said. Griffi n said he employed nearly 30 peo- ple before Monday. Other popular downtown restaurants, including Finn’s Fish House, Twisted Fish Steakhouse and Sports Lounge and the Times Theatre & Public House, have closed. Some restaurants have managed to keep a few employees working by taking to-go orders and delivering. “This isn’t us trying to save money,” Griffi n said. “This is us now working 15 to 20-hour days, not because we’re busy, but because we’re trying to keep our businesses open so we can bring our people back. “In a little town like this, a lot of us bleed all winter long so that we have our peo- ple around in spring and summer,” he said. “Spring break is when we make some of that back ... It’s not going to happen this year. So we’re going to see a lot of real stressed busi- nesses this year as a result of that.” See Hospitals, Page A8 Port could park cruise ships in limbo over virus ‘This is really hurting us’ Seaside quiet as concerns about virus grow all nonessential surgeries on Tues- day. “Personal protective equip- ment is obviously a great concern to all of us as we work to keep our community healthy,” Nancee Long, the director of communica- tions at the hospital, said in a text message. Earlier Wednesday, in a mes- sage to patients and the commu- nity, Columbia Memorial had pledged that any changes to care, such as offi ce visits and elective A potential source of new revenue By EDWARD STRATTON The Astorian Nicole Bales/The Astorian Finn’s Fish House is one of many restaurants in Seaside that are temporarily closed. MORE INSIDE State closes campgrounds over virus. With revenue decimated by a trade war with China and the coronavirus pandemic, t he Port of Astoria could host cruise ships that need a place to park while global voy- ages are suspended. “Cruise ships are in a scramble,” said Will Isom, the Port’s executive director. “They don’t have dockage for all their vessels.” The Port is exploring the logistics of docking one or two cruise ships with skel- eton crews along Pier 1, where dockage has been a major driver of the Port’s oper- ational revenue. R evenue has dwindled since a trade war between the U.S. and China stopped log exports from Pier 1 by Astoria Forest Prod- ucts. The company has since been trying to escape from its leases with the Port. Page A8 See Seaside, Page A7 See Port, Page A8