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About The Blue Mountain eagle. (John Day, Or.) 1972-current | View Entire Issue (April 29, 2020)
NEWS MyEagleNews.com Wednesday, April 29, 2020 A5 Grant County has 50 coronavirus antibody tests Health administrator: ‘More questions than there are answers’ about test By Steven Mitchell Blue Mountain Eagle Grant County Court Com- missioner Sam Palmer said the county has the capacity for 50 coronavirus antibody tests Thursday at the court’s closed meeting that was live- streamed on the Eagle’s Face- book page. County Health Administra- tor Kimberly Lindsay said the county’s medical group met Monday to discuss the poten- tial of administering the anti- body tests. “There are more questions than there are answers,” Lind- say said. Lindsay said scientists still don’t know whether corona- virus antibodies give a person immunity or reduce the risk of reinfection. She said the test, which is not FDA approved, has an 85% accuracy rate. “You want a higher effi- cacy rate in the medical pro- fession,” Lindsay said. Lindsay said people who are showing COVID-19 anti- bodies are still getting sick with the virus again, which, for her, poses a problem. “People make significant decisions around a positive or The Eagle/Steven Mitchell County Commissioner Sam Palmer, left, and County Judge Scott Myers at Thursday’s Grant County Court session that was live-streamed on the Eagle’s Facebook page. negative result,” she said. Lindsay said another con- cern the group has is that some insurance companies may not pay for the test. Palmer said he would like to use the antibody test on the person who tested positive for COVID-19 in Grant County and their spouse. He said he would then like to get a sam- ple segment of people who tested negative and a segment of people who had COVID-19 symptoms earlier in the year but were not tested and see how they fall into line “That would be a great control study group,” Palmer said. Meanwhile, health offi- cials and corporations across America are pouring money into antibody testing, hoping it will give people confidence to return to work and reopen parts of the economy. Palmer said these samples would go to Oregon Health & Science University to help get the antibody tests licensed under the FDA. In other county court news: • The court voted to leave the courthouse closed to the public through May 15. Grant County Judge Scott Myers said the county has been meet- ing the needs of the public so far and that for the health of the public they should “leave it as it is.” • The court voted unan- imously to begin the pro- cess of seeking grant funding for communications equip- ment for the Grant County Emergency Communications Agency. Hospital to lift ban on elective nonemergency procedures May 1 By Steven Mitchell Blue Mountain Eagle With Gov. Kate Brown’s announcement Thursday to lift the ban on nonemergency medical proce- dures beginning May 1, Blue Moun- tain Hospital will cautiously increase outpatient, clinic and ancillary ser- vices, according to a BMH press release. Brown’s plan, starting next month, will allow hospitals across the state to open back up for elective proce- dures as long as they reserve enough hospital beds and protective gear — gowns, masks, gloves — for a surge in coronavirus cases. The cancellation of nonemergency elective procedures thrust hospitals into an awkward position: They were told to prepare for the COVID-19 pandemic, while at the same time see- ing a dramatic drop in revenue wait- ing for the spike in patients. Additionally, the hospital is still closed to visitors and non-patients, and the hospital adjusted its seating policy in the waiting room to accommodate appropriate social distancing. The hos- pital will continue to monitor its sup- ply of personal protective equipment continuously. According to the press release, the emergency room triage tent will be taken down, and patients seeking emer- gency services are to report to the emer- gency room entrance. Patients with respiratory symptoms are still encouraged to continue to call 541-575-1311 before arriving to the hospital. Should there be a surge in COVID- 19 cases, the hospital would use the negative pressure tent that it received from the Oregon Health Authority. The Eagle/Steven Mitchell The triage tent, erected for a spike in COVID-19 cases, will be taken down as the hospital begins to open up for non-emergency elective medical procedures on May 1. COPS AND COURTS Arrests and citations in the Blue Mountain Eagle are taken from the logs of law enforcement agencies. Every effort is made to report the court disposition of arrest cases. Grant County Sheriff The Grant County Sheriff’s Office reported the following for the week of April 22: Concealed handgun licenses: 0 Average inmates: 11 Bookings: 3 Releases: 1 Arrests: 1 Citations: 0 Fingerprints: 1 Civil papers: 4 Warrants processed: 0 Assistance/Welfare check: 0 Search and Rescue: 0 Oregon State Police Grant County Justice Court Violation of the basic rule: Raymond G. Star- key, 64, Aumsville, March 3, 70/55 zone, fined $165; Ryan M. Stahl, 19, Pendle- ton, April 15, 76/55 zone, $165; Dianna L. Ness, 48, Milton Freewater, March 26, 81/55 zone, fined $265; Sylvester Mahone, 47, Spo- kane, Washington, March 6, 70/55 zone, fined $165. Exceeding speed limit: Katherine F. Sanders, 39, Portland, March 22, 79/65 zone, fined $265; Peter Podovinikoff, 83, Surrey, British Columbia, March 1, 47/30 zone, fined $140. April 22: OSP arrested Raymond S. Martin, 42, of Seneca for an outstanding fel- ony warrant out of Missouri. April 23: OSP stopped a white Dodge pickup for viola- tion of the posted speed, 79/65 zone. Britt M. Wilcox, 25, of John Day was issued a cita- tion and released on a misde- meanor arrest warrant for fail- ure to appear out of the Grant County Circuit Court. He was also issued a citation for viola- tion of the posted speed. April 24: OSP responded to milepost 128 on Highway 26 for a vehicle versus deer crash. The vehicle was travel- ing eastbound at 45 mph when a deer ran into the road from the north shoulder. The driver was unable to avoid the deer. The deer struck the side of vehicle and rolled down the side, taking off the mirror and damaging the driver side. The vehicle sustained significant damage, but was driveable. The driver drove the vehicle away from the scene. No cita- tions issued. Dispatch John Day dispatch worked 90 calls during the week of April. 20-26, including: • John Day Police Department April 20: Received a report of a fight on West Main Street. April 23: Received a report of a driver that was high. Tina Hand, 52, of John In order to be open during the Covid 19 quarantine, a lot of things have to be done to keep everyone safe. Mother’s Day orders for flowers & candy must be done through the drive up or walk up window or by calling in advance - which is highly 541-575-2112 • Call/Text/PM Me recommended due to the high demand. pain on West Main Street. April 21: Dispatched for a man with a possible broken back on Cottonwood Street. April 21: Dispatched to Mt. Vernon for a man with a sei- zure who fell and hit his head. April 22: Responded for a 25-year-old man with a possi- ble allergic reaction. April 22: Dispatched for a woman with flu-like symp- toms on Southwest Violet Street. April 23: Responded for a woman with heart attack symptoms on Highway 26. April 24: Responded for an infant who had stopped breathing. April 26: Responded to a 78-year-old woman with chest pains on Valley View Drive. Mother’s Day Specials Tablets Computers Verizon & Dish Digital Frame Starting @ $99.99 (limited supply) Greenhouse OPEN Pony Packs Hanging Baskets - 10” & 12” Large Kitchen Center Amy Howard at Home Huge Hardware Selection Gifts of All Kinds • We will be doing limited deliveries and they will be knock and drop. • European wraps: $25~$40~$60 • Gourmet chocolates available in 1, 4, 6, or 12 piece boxes. S185383-1 Open Monday-Saturday 8-6, Sunday 10-3 Day was booked and released for DUII. April 25: Along with OSP and Grant County Sheriff’s Office, responded to a dispute on East Main Street. • Oregon State Police April 23: Received a report of a reckless driver between John Day and Prai- rie City. • Grant County Sheriff’s Office April 23: Received an ani- mal complaint on Shirttail Creek Road. • John Day ambulance April 20: Received a report of a person with a headache, neck ache, fever and chills on Violet Street. April 20: Responded for a 65-year-old man with chest • Other arrangements can be purchased but you can not go in to view. We will show you a couple of different options. • No call out orders, which means we cannot call other floral shops in other areas for delivery. S186210-1 S185153-1
