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About The Columbia press. (Astoria, Or.) 1949-current | View Entire Issue (May 15, 2020)
Pandemic: What happened this week Continued from Page 1 Street to the Turnaround on Saturday morning until the rally disperses. Ironically, the Seaside City Council voted this week to re- open beaches to the public on Monday, May 18. An item on the agenda to reopen lodging in the city was rejected, but will be reconsidered at the council’s May 20 meeting. As of Wednesday, there were 3,416 cases of the virus in Ore- gon and 134 deaths. The first case of pediatric inflammatory syndrome was found in a child in Portland. s eafood workers Twenty-eight workers at two Bornstein Seafood plants in Astoria tested positive for COVID-19 last week. And this week, Pacific Seafood in War- renton got bad news. Ten active cases of coro- navirus were reported at the May 15, 2020 T he C olumbia P ress 4 Warrenton processing plant, Clatsop County Public Health reported. Another case in- volves a contact of a Pacific Seafood worker. Pacific Seafood carried out testing of its Warrenton staff through a private health-care provider last weekend. It brought the total cases in Clatsop County to 34 (workers who live in Washington state are not included in the county total). None of the positive cases among the Bornstein and Pa- cific Seafood employees have been hospitalized and all are reported to be convalescing at home. Six other cases reported in Clatsop County between March 23 and April 9 have re- covered. C ounty ’ s reopening plan Clatsop County submitted its reopening plan to the Gover- nor’s Office this week. The plan fol- lows the state’s framework – released by Gov. Brown late last week – for a phased reopen- ing of businesses Brown and other public spaces. It includes careful mon- itoring to ensure each stage of the process doesn’t lead to a re- surgence in COVID-19 illness. Brown’s stay-at-home and essential travel orders remain in effect through July 6. But counties that meet certain guidelines can begin reopening businesses such as hair salons and restaurants with reduced capacities. The ability to reopen is based on COVID-19 cases, testing, and other criteria. The county asked the governor to allow re- opening steps to begin today, May 15. All but four of the state’s 36 counties have submitted plans. C hurChes get CreatiVe The governor’s orders re- garding large gatherings and social distancing have meant churches must get creative to meet the needs of their flocks. But a parking-lot service at Warrenton’s First Baptist caught some attention. While responding last week- end to reports of churches holding in-house services, an officer found all but one church in compliance, according to his report. The Baptist church’s parking lot was full, side doors were open to the building and people were gathered inside in close contact, he wrote. His observations were passed along to Public Health authorities. Church member Terry Ste- vens disputed the report. “We weren’t enclosed; we were in cars doing a radio thing,” Stevens said. “We had a few people running in and out only to run the electrici- ty and get the signal right. … We quickly set up an amplifier outside.” d riVe - through testing Clatsop County Public Health Department began drive- through testing for COVID-19 this week. On the first day, 59 county residents were tested. Testing will take place Mon- days, Tuesdays and Wednes- days at the county’s Household Hazardous Waste disposal fa- cility, 1780 Williamsport Road, next to the Recology waste transfer station in Astoria. Testing is open to Clatsop County residents who are 15 or older. To receive a test, make an appointment by calling 503- 325-8500. Have insurance in- formation available. Those getting tests also will get a health screening. To avoid crowds and lengthy waits, callers will be assigned a specific day and time to appear at the testing site. The program involves the na- sal swab test; no antibody tests are available. Public Health expects to conduct 100 tests a day. Results should be avail- able within five days. There is no charge for the test, but a lab processing fee may be charged to partici- pants. The First Presbyteri- an Church in Astoria donated $2,000 to cover testing costs for people in need. n o County fair County commissioners can- celled the 2020 Clatsop Coun- ty Fair, usually held in June, due to the governor’s orders banning fairs, festivals, and large events until at least Sep- tember. Organizers of the 4-H/Fu- ture Farmers of America ani- mal auction are making plans for a virtual auction.