6A — BAKER CITY HERALD
LOCAL & STATE
THURSDAY, APRIL 8, 2021
Oregon expanding vaccine eligibility
■ With a ‘fourth wave’ of infections underway, state will offer vaccines to everyone 16 and older starting April 19
about two-thirds of the country.
The Oregon Health Authority has
Facing a “fourth wave” of CO-
reported 19 cases of the U.K. variant
VID-19, Oregon will drop eligibility
in Oregon, but believes there are
restrictions for COVID-19 vaccina-
many more.
tions April 19, up to two weeks
Biden’s announcement on
earlier than planned.
Tuesday is the second time a
President Joe Biden directed
White House directive has changed
Tuesday morning, April 6, that
Oregon’s phased vaccine eligibility
states should open inoculation ap-
timeline.
pointments to everyone age 16 and
Brown and the OHA had original-
older.
ly set July 1 as the earliest date that
Oregon had previously planned
a long series of priority groups would
to drop all eligibility restrictions by
be fi nished and the vaccine could
May 1, with some counties possibly
be offered to anyone that wanted a
offering appointments as early as
shot.
April 26.
On March 11, Biden issued a
Kristyna Wentz-Graff/Pool/AP File directive that states drop all barriers
Gov. Kate Brown said Oregon
Medical professionals from Oregon Health & Science University
would drop limits on April 19 but
to eligibility no later than May 1 as
load syringes with the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine at a drive-thru
until then, it would continue to
a way to speed-up vaccination rates.
vaccination clinic in Portland in January.
prioritize vaccinations for people
Oregon condensed the timeline for its
with underlying medical conditions,
eligibility groups to meet the deadline.
essential workers, and communities will lead to an average of 1,000
Health offi cials are worried about Brown said it might even be possible
underserved during the pandemic. cases per day by next month.
highly contagious and potentially
for some counties to open eligibility as
“We are locked in a race between
Evidence of the virus rebound was more lethal variants of the original early as April 26.
vaccine distribution and the rapid
also found in the latest infection risk virus that has killed 2.86 million
The new April 19 deadline will only
spread of COVID-19 variants,”
level ratings for Oregon’s 36 coun-
people around the globe, including
impact Oregon and a few other states.
Brown said.
ties, issued later Tuesday.
556,000 in the United States.
A majority of states already allow all
The move comes as infections
After a steady trend of counties
Oregon has maintained some of
residents over 16 to be vaccinated and
and hospitalizations have started
moving lower in the four-tiered risk the lowest infection rates and death only two — Oregon and Hawaii —
to rise after a long decline since
ratings, the report this week showed totals in the nation, but has still
had announced plans to lift the fi nal
January.
a number of counties with infections reported just under 2,400 deaths.
barriers on May 1.
The state has reported over 400
on the rise, requiring a return to
“Impending doom,” is how Dr.
The Biden administration has
cases per day in the past week
tighter controls on activities, gather- Rochelle Walensky, director of the
pushed for ramping up vaccinations,
and has seen rising numbers of
ings and dining.
Centers for Disease Control, last
saying at least a third of adults in the
hospitalizations, despite having
While COVID-19 deaths have
week described the combination of
nation have received at least one dose
fully vaccinated over 777,000 of the continued to stay lower than previ- spreading viruses and relaxed safety of vaccine and three million shots were
state’s estimated 2.8 million adult
ous peaks, health offi cials have
habits by a pandemic-weary public. going into arms every day.
residents.
remained concerned about possibly
The CDC has singled out one
Brown and Oregon Health Author-
An Oregon Health & Science
more virulent variants of COVID-19 variant originally found in the
ity Director Pat Allen have said the
University forecast released last
spreading across the country and
United Kingdom — B.1.1.7 — as
greatest impediment to widespread
week estimated the current spike
into Oregon.
the main version of the virus hitting inoculation is supply of vaccine.
By Gary A. Warner
Oregon Capital Bureau
Over the past week, Oregon has
questioned the federal allocation
process state officials believe could be
short-changing the state on vaccine
allocations.
“My office will work closely with
the White House to ensure Oregon
receives our fair share of federal
vaccine supplies, so we can continue
with a fast, fair, and equitable vaccine
distribution process,” Brown said.
The White House announced Tues-
day that 150 million shots have been
administered since Biden took office
on Jan. 20. He had promised to get 100
million shots into American’s arms by
his 100th day in office, April 30.
Oregon health officials said it had
injected over 2 million doses of vaccine
into the arms of Oregonians. Most of
the shots are for the two-dose Pfizer
and Moderna vaccines.
The one-shot Johnson & Johnson
vaccine has accounted for just over
50,000 shots in Oregon.
Several weeks of falling infection
numbers had led the state to relax-
ing limits on eating at restaurants,
holding public events, and limiting
the number of customers allowed in
businesses at one time.
The rise in numbers will lead
to the return of some restrictions.
Brown announced on Tuesday that
the most extreme limits would only
go into effect if more than 300 people
with COVID-19 are hospitalized and
the number increases 15 percent or
more over a 7-day period.
As of Tuesday, Oregon hospitals
reported 163 patients with CO-
VID-19.
I-84 drivers reminded
about missing woman
State House passes foreclosure moratorium bill
The (La Grande) Observer
Associated Press/Report for America
MEACHAM — Oregon State Police are reminding
people in the area of the Interstate 84 work zone near
Meacham to keep an eye out for anything that could
lead to fi nding a woman who has been
missing almost three months.
Deborah “Deb” Hendrichs of Ada County,
Idaho, has been missing since Jan. 11. OSP
Lt. Daniel D. Conner with the La Grande
Area Command reported that an Oregon
Department of Transportation worker was Hendrichs
the last person to report seeing Hendrichs,
whose 2012 black Toyota RAV 4 SUV ran out of fuel on
eastbound I-84 near mile point 238.5.
“Members of the Oregon State Police responded to the
scene within 20 minutes to fi nd the vehicle unoccupied,”
according to state police.
Hendrichs is 56, stands 5-feet-6 and weighs 145
pounds. Multiple search efforts have not led to fi nding
Hendrichs. Conner urged anyone who sees anything
suspicious in the area to contact the Oregon State Police
La Grande Area Command at 541-963-7175 and refer to
case No. SP21-014895.
moves to the state Senate.
“I assure you that Orego-
PORTLAND — A measure nians need this sort of protec-
that would reinstate and ex- tion. Without it, I fear that we
tend Oregon’s moratorium on face even more economic dis-
foreclosures until Sept. 1 dur- tress,” said Rep. Paul Holvey,
ing the COVID-19 pandemic a Democrat representing
on Tuesday, April 6 passed the Eugene. “More Oregonians
state’s House of Representa- will become homeless if this
tives.
bill does not pass.”
Unlike the bill that was
passed by lawmakers in June
2020, the new legislation
would not protect commercial
property owners — those who
own more than fi ve properties
or properties with more than
four housing units. The mora-
torium would be retroactive
back to Dec. 3, 2020, and could
be extended until the end of
2021 by the governor.
The latest bill, which
passed in the House 38-21,
By Sara Cline
In March, more than 6% —
or more than 65,000 Oregon
homeowners — said they
were not caught up on their
mortgage payments, based
on the U.S. Census Bureau’s
most recent Household Pulse
Survey.
Financial hardships during
the COVID-19 pandemic have
only exacerbated the state’s
ongoing housing crisis and as
a result has been a top prior-
ity for lawmakers, even prior
to this legislative session.
In December, during a
special legislative session,
lawmakers extended Oregon’s
eviction moratorium through
June 30, 2021.
e
c
a
e
P of Mind
State GOP lawmaker faces
recall effort over walkout
SALEM (AP) — Oregon state Senate
Minority Leader Fred Girod faces a recall
effort because he was among GOP lawmakers
who allowed the chamber to reach a quorum
last month while it debated whether to ban
fi rearms in state buildings.
Oregon Public Broadcating reports that Gi-
rod and fi ve fellow Republicans were on hand
March 25, ensuring the chamber had the mini-
mum 20 members present required to take up
business. Republicans in the state Senate have
previously skipped fl oor sessions en masse to
thwart legislation favored by majority Demo-
crats. The gun bill passed over GOP objections.
On Monday, April 5, a Molalla resident
named LaVaedra Newton fi led a prospective
petition to bounce Girod from the Senate seat
he’s held since 2008. Newton and others say
Girod abdicated his duty by not blocking the
gun bill.
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