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About The Blue Mountain eagle. (John Day, Or.) 1972-current | View Entire Issue (Nov. 25, 2020)
STATE MyEagleNews.com Wednesday, November 25, 2020 A7 Oregon at ‘tipping point’ as COVID-19 surge swamps hospitals 142% increase in hospitalizations since Nov. 1 TWO-WEEK FREEZE Gov. Kate Brown ordered a two-week “freeze” on busi- nesses and activities to try to cut the rapidly rising rate of COVID-19 infections. By Gary A. Warner Oregon Capital Bureau Oregon’s hospitals are in imminent danger of being overwhelmed by a rapid rise in the number of COVID-19 cases, state health officials said Friday. Oregon is at a “tipping point,” said Oregon Health Authority Director Pat- rick Allen at a Friday press briefing. The steep increase in infections is due primar- ily to community spread driven by informal get-to- gethers in private residences. Allen pleaded with Orego- nians to follow mandates to wear masks, limit get-togeth- ers to six people, wash their hands frequently and avoid travel during the upcoming holidays. “We all want this pan- demic to be over,” Allen said. “We all have the power to end this nightmare.” Not following the guide- lines will “feed the virus what it needs” to spread, escalating hospitalizations and deaths. Statewide as of Friday, 412 people are hospitalized with COVID-19, a 142% increase since Nov. 1. OHA reported 1,174 new COVID-19 cases and six deaths on Monday. The death toll was down from the record-breaking 20 reported Thursday. Since the pandemic hit Oregon at the end of Febru- ary, there have been 66,333 cased of COVID-19 and 826 deaths. Nationwide, there have been 12.5 million cases and 258,827 deaths. At least two vaccines against COVID-19 are expected to start becom- ing available in very limited amounts around Jan. 1. But Allen said the timeline for The freeze, which runs from Nov. 18 to Dec. 2 in most of the state, includes: • Limiting social get-togeth- ers (indoors and outdoors) to no more than six people, total, from no more than two households. • Limiting faith-based organi- zations to a maximum of 25 people indoors or 50 people outdoors. • Closing zoos, gardens, aquariums, outdoor entertain- ment activities and outdoor pools. • Limiting grocery stores and pharmacies to a maximum of 75% capacity and encourag- ing curbside pickup. • Limiting retail stores and retail malls (indoor and out- door) to a maximum of 75% capacity and encouraging curbside pickup. • Closing venues (that host or facilitate indoor or outdoor events). • Closing gyms and fitness organizations. • Requiring all businesses to mandate work-from-home to the greatest extent possible and closing offices to the public. • Closing indoor recreational facilities, museums, indoor en- tertainment activities and indoor pools and sports courts. • Prohibiting indoor visiting in long-term care facilities (outdoor visitation permitted for supporting quality of life). • Limiting eating and drinking establishments to takeout and delivery only. when most Oregonians might get the vaccine is “completely unknown.” Oregon has been under a COVID-19 “state of emer- gency” since March 8, allow- ing Gov. Kate Brown to issue executive orders with restric- tions necessary to control the virus. Brown implemented a two-week “freeze” that began Nov. 18, which caps pri- vate get-togethers to six peo- ple from no more than two households. Other restric- tions include closing gyms and entertainment venues, and requiring restaurants to restrict sales to takeout only. Allen said that oppo- nents of the more stringent COVID-19 restrictions under the “freeze” have argued that Oregon’s relatively low total case numbers and deaths compared to other states should be evidence Brown should be opening up busi- nesses and schools. Republican lawmakers, a coalition of local officials and the association of the state’s restaurant owners have all written letters asking Brown to revoke some or all of the restrictions. “I have heard frequently from those who have refused to believe this pandemic is serious if we aren’t seeing hospitalizations and deaths,” Allen said. “Those hospital- izations and deaths are here, and are only likely to go up.” Among the critics on Fri- day was President Donald Trump. At a Friday press brief- ing — the first since Oct. 1 — White House spokes- woman Kayleigh McEnany specifically singled out Ore- gon’s two-week “freeze” for criticism. McEnany called the freeze and other restrictions around the country “Orwel- EOMG file photo Hospitals are at risk of being overwhelmed by COVID-19 in Ore- gon, according to state health officials. lian,” a reference to the book “1984” by George Orwell set in a society under strict state control. Her comments came after the White House coronavirus task force, led by Vice Presi- dent Mike Pence, said it sup- ported state efforts to sup- press infection rates. The Oregon officials Fri- day defended the state’s test- ing for COVID-19. “Oregon tests at a level that is comparable to most other states,” Allen said. “We’re right in line with other states per capita.” Oregon is changing the way it reports test results, switching from people tested to number of tests. The new method is in line with how the Centers for Disease Con- trol reports infection, as well as several other states. The new formula drops Oregon’s 12.9% rate of posi- tive tests to 6.7% “Case counts have sky- rocketed,” Allen said, but the current measuring system inflates the rate. The new metric will include people who receive multiple tests, such as resi- dents and staff at long-term care facilities. Dr. Melissa Sutton, a senior advisor to OHA, said 966,000 Oregonians have been tested for COVID-19, or roughly 1-in-4 of the state’s estimated 4.2 million residents. Because of the Thanksgiv- ing holiday, OHA said there would be no press briefing this week. The next ques- tion-and-answer session with media will not be until Dec. 4. 20%–75% OFF Regular Price Store-wide thru Daily Drawings Nov. 27–30 Come down and shop our amazing sales for Black Friday thru Cyber Monday! DP Home Entertainment 137 E Main St. • John Day, OR 541-575-1637 S215398-1 Grace Chapel (EMC ) 154 E. Williams St. Prairie City, Oregon 541 820-4437 Sunday School (all ages) 9:30-10:30 Sunday Worship 10:45-12:00 S211472-1 Pastor Robert Perkins Redeemer Lutheran Church Come Worship with us at John Day Valley Mennonite Church 24/7 Inspirational Christian Broadcasting Meeting every Sunday at Mt. Vernon Grange Hall Tune into KSPL 98.1 FM Sunday School ...............................9:30 a.m. Sunday Morning Worship ............10:50 a.m. For more information, call 541 620-0340 Pastor Leland Smucker Everyone Welcome • 541-932-2861 P rairie B aptist C hurch 238 N. McHaley St., Prairie City Sunday School (all ages) .......9:00 a.m. Sunday Morning Worship .10:30 a.m. Awana (Oct.-Apr.) ................3:00 p.m. Youth Group .........................5:30 p.m. St. Elizabeth of Hungary Catholic Church Corner of S Canyon Blvd and SW 2 nd Mon. - Fri. Mass - 12:05 pm Saturday Mass - 5:00 pm Sunday Mass - 9:00 am Holy Days Mass: Noon & 6 pm Confession: Saturday 4:00-4:45 pm Anytime by appointment 541-974-8638 St. Anne Monument - 2nd & 4th Sundays at 12:30 pm Office Hours Monday - Friday 9 am - 12 Noon Sunday Worship • 9AM 2 Corinthians 5:17 Every Sunday in the L.C. Community Center (Corner of Second & Allen) Contact Paster Ed Studtmann at 541-421-3888 • Begins at 4:00pm FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH Sunday School ...................... 9:30 a.m. Sunday Morning Worship .. 10:50 a.m. Sunday Morning Worship .. 10:50 a.m. No Mid-week Services Pastor Jesse Gosnell 300 W. Main, John Day 541-575-1355 627 SE Hillcrest, John Day 1 st Sunday Worship/Communion ..................10am 3 rd Sunday Worship/Communion/Potluck ...4:30pm 2 nd , 4 th & 5 th Sunday Worship .........................10am Wednesday Evening Bible Study .....................6pm For information: 541-575-2348 Community Church SUNDAY SERVICE..............9 am SUNDAY SERVICE ...........9 am 541-932-4800 EVERYONE WELCOME (541) 575-1326 johndayUMC@gmail.com 126 NW Canton, John Day Food Pantry Friday 3-4PM Like us on Facebook! FIRST CHRISTIAN CHURCH 541-820-3696 www.prairie-baptist-church.com Pastor David Hoeffner Pastor Keith DeHart JOHN DAY UNITED METHODIST CHURCH MT. VERNON PRESBYTERIAN Sunday School ..................... 9:45 am Sunday Worship ...................... 11 am Fox Community Church ............. 3 pm Sunday Evening Bible Talk ......... 6 pm Saturday Men’s Study ............... 6 pm Full Gospel- Come Grow With Us 541-575-1202 Church 311 NE Dayton St, John Day Pastor Al Altnow Cornerstone Christian Fellowship 139 N.E. D AYTON S TREET , J OHN D AY 541-575-2180 Sunday Worship Service 10 am Sunday Youth Group 3 pm Thursday Celebrate Recovery 6 pm Pastor Levi Manitsas cornerstonejohnday@gmail.com ccfjd.org CHURCH OF THE NAZARENE Sunday School .......................... 9:30 am Sunday Worship Service......... 10:45 am Sunday Evening Service ...........6:00 pm Children & Teen Activities SMALL GROUPS CALL FOR MORE INFO Weekdays: Sonshine Christian School St. Thomas Episocopal Church Join us on Facebook live Sunday 10am Like us on Facebook! Pastor Randy Johnson 521 E. Main • John Day • 541-575-1895 www.johndaynazarene.com 59357 Hwy 26 Mt. Vernon Seventh-Day Adventist Church SATURDAY SERVICES Celebration of Worship JOHN DAY 110 Valley View Dr. 541-575-1216 Head Elder ..........................541-575-2914 Bible Classes (all ages) .................9:30 am Worship ...........................................11 am LONG CREEK E. Main Street 541-421-3033 Head Elder .................................421-3468 Bible Classes (all ages) ......................2 pm Worship .............................................3 pm Jr./Sr. High Youth Connection Sundays 5:30pm Youth: 0-6th Grade Midweek Service Thursdays 6:30pm Youth: 0-6th Grade Wednesdays at 6:30pm Overcomer’s Outreach Mondays at 6pm at LWCC A Christ-Centered, 12-Step Recovery Support Group Pastor Sharon Miller 541-932-4910 www.livingwordcc.com S214412-1
