ANDREW CUTLER
Publisher/Editor
KATHRYN B. BROWN
Owner
PHIL WRIGHT
News Editor
SATurdAy, AuGuST 14, 2021
A4
Founded October 16, 1875
OUR VIEW
Commissioners
make the right
decision
T
he decision the Umatilla County
Board of Commissioners made
last week to reinstate mask
requirements for county employees, and
for residents visiting county buildings,
was the right one.
The decision was unfortunate, at least
in the sense it was probably inevitable,
judging by the way the COVID-19 cases
are surging in the county.
The county decision means all its
employees put on facemasks anywhere
outside their workspace and when some-
one visits their desk. Also, people who
attempt to enter the county courthouse
without wearing masks will be denied
access.
At first glance the decision may seem
almost routine in this age of COVID-19,
but it also should show just how criti-
cal the surge is. That’s because a county
courthouse is one of the most visible
and relevant structures of democracy in
America. Residents should expect to be
able to have access to a place where the
people’s business is conducted.
But the COVID-19 outbreak is
extremely serious and, so far, appar-
ently out of control. Cases in the county
are climbing at an alarming rate. The
situation is made even more frustrat-
ing because there are ample supplies of
COVID-19 vaccines available. In short,
there now exists a tool that is safe and
effective that can protect residents from
the infection, yet the county is in the
middle of an outbreak with no end in
sight.
Of course, the government can’t —
and should not — be in the business of
forcing people to get a vaccine. However,
when cases of COVID-19 surge — as
they are now — that means there will
be consequences, such as new mandates
for county employees and new rules on
access to the courthouse.
The commissioners made the right
decision. In fact, they made really the
only decision they could in a situation we
now face as a county.
While the new surge in COVID-19
cases may seem to be surprising to many,
the fact is the virus never really disap-
peared. The lifting of state restrictions at
the end of June did not signal a victory
over the virus. What it did mean was the
threat level — because of the availability
of vaccines — was lower than in the past.
No one wants to go back to restrictions
or to the constant donning of masks, but
until the virus case load diminishes, that
may be the only way to try to stop the
spread.
The commissioners made a good deci-
sion. We just hope such decisions don’t
become the norm in the future.
EDITORIALS
Unsigned editorials are the opinion of the East
Oregonian editorial board. Other columns,
letters and cartoons on this page express the
opinions of the authors and not necessarily
that of the East Oregonian.
LETTERS
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of 400 words or less on public issues and public
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SEND LETTERS TO:
editor@eastoregonian.com,
or via mail to Andrew Cutler,
211 S.E. Byers Ave. Pendleton, OR 97801
YOUR VIEWS
Both parties have
problems
I find it increasingly difficult to
understand how anyone can call them-
selves a proud Republican, or proud
Democrat. For the last several years,
each succeeding administration seems
more partisan and dysfunctional.
The Republican Party is feckless
and seems unable to develop legislation
to benefit the American people; think
health care.
The Democratic Party has moved
so far left as to be unrecognizable. It
has created unsecure borders allowing
thousands to enter illegally, promote
amnesty for those let in, piling up
endless debt and facilitating major
crime waves in major cities by defund-
ing police and failing to prosecute crim-
inals.
Worst of all is that truth has become
a casualty in both our political system
and mainstream media, which is now
controlled by a few major corporations.
Some media outlets — like Fox or CNN
— favor one party or the other, so they
report information that favors their
party.
Even “fact checkers” disagree with
other “fact checkers.” This is to say
nothing of misinformation on social
media. Individuals need to expose
themselves to a variety of media
sources in order to obtain balance in
reporting.
Americans need to demand truth
from our politicians and the media. Fox
News reported that when a reporter was
asked why some prominent politicians
lie, the answer was “because they can.”
Politicians who have become too parti-
san to maintain good judgment need to
be replaced, along with those who have
forgotten who they represent.
Larry Nelson
Bend
EOU has responsibility
to safeguard health of
students, staff
Tom Herrmann is a retired professor
of physics at Eastern Oregon Univer-
sity. I was therefore surprised to read his
decidedly unscientific letter regarding
COVID-19 vaccination of students at
EOU (“EOU should reevaluate requir-
ing vaccination,” July 24, 2021).
He claimed: “There is no significant
threat of death from COVID to healthy
young people.”
Not true. The Center for Disease
Control and Prevention’s Monthly
Mortality and Morbidity Report showed
2.9 million cases in those younger than
24 between March 1 and Dec. 12, 2020,
and 57% of these were in the college-
age group. Among those for whom data
on hospitalization and death was avail-
able, there was a 2.5% rate of hospi-
talization (30,229), a 0.8% rate of ICU
admission (1,973), and a 0.1% mortal-
ity (death) rate (654). I would call 654
deaths a significant threat — wouldn’t
you?
He claimed: “Treatments have been
developed that greatly reduce symptom
severity and death.”
Only partially true. Monoclonal anti-
body and convalescent serum therapies
are not universally available. This is still
a dangerous disease with a high death
rate.
He claimed: “There is no benefit to
vaccination after COVID infection.”
Not true. While it is unclear how
long a COVID-19 infection grants you
immunity, reinfection is known to
happen. Vaccination is the surest route
to long-lasting immunity, even if boost-
ers are needed down the pike.
Regarding myocarditis: Cases are
rare and there are no fatalities. There
is a risk of 40 cases of myocarditis for
every million second doses of mRNA
vaccine in males aged 12-29. And no
deaths. That same million doses will
prevent 560 hospitalizations, 138 ICU
admits and six deaths. (Most cases of
myocarditis occurred among males).
Regarding vaccination and preg-
nancy: I know of no conclusive data
on this issue. It would be reasonable
(though not necessary) to delay vaccina-
tion if pregnant.
Professor Herrmann cites a “poll”
of EOU students as showing 65% are
against mandatory vaccination. We
know nothing about this poll’s meth-
odology and cannot draw any conclu-
sions from it. We do know that a 2021
study of college campuses that reopened
to in-person learning showed infec-
tion peaks in their student bodies that
immediately preceded and were appar-
ently linked to infection peaks in their
surrounding communities.
EOU and its administration have a
responsibility to safeguard the health of
its students and staff and the La Grande
community at large. Failure to vaccinate
the student body (and staff) clearly abdi-
cates this responsibility.
David Moyal
La Grande
CONTACT YOUR REPRESENTATIVES
U.S. PRESIDENT
Joe Biden
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Ave. NW
Washington, DC 20500
Comments: 202-456-1111
GOVERNOR
Kate Brown
160 State Capitol
900 Court St.
Salem, OR 97301-4047
503-378-4582
U.S. SENATORS
Ron Wyden
221 Dirksen Senate Office Bldg.
Washington, DC 20510
202-224-5244
La Grande office: 541-962-7691
Jeff Merkley
313 Hart Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510
202-224-3753
Pendleton office: 541-278-1129
REPRESENTATIVES
Bobby Levy, District 58
900 Court St. NE, H-376
Salem, OR 97301
503-986-1458
Rep.BobbyLevy@state.or.us
Greg Smith, District 57
900 Court St. NE, H-482
Salem, OR 97301
503-986-1457
Rep.GregSmith@state.or.us
U.S. REPRESENTATIVE
Cliff Bentz
2185 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515
202-225-6730
Medford office: 541-776-4646
SENATOR
Bill Hansell, District 29
900 Court St. NE, S-415
Salem, OR 97301
503-986-1729
Sen.BillHansell@state.or.us