May 22, 2020
T he C olumbia P ress
4
Pandemic: What you need to know this week
Continued from Page 1
ness.
Statewide, there had been
3,801 cases and 144 deaths as
of Wednesday. The number
of cases reported last week
dropped 25 percent from the
previous week and deaths de-
clined 62 percent. It’s reas-
suring news, considering the
rate of testing rose markedly
last week.
d rive - through testing
The county continues to of-
fer drive-through COVID-19
nasal testing three days a
week for anyone 15 and older.
For details and to register, go remain in effect until it gets a
to co.clatsop.or.us and click chance to hear the argument.
on the red bar at the top of the
The Governor’s Office is-
page or call 503-325-8500.
sued a statement Tuesday
l egAl chAllenge
saying the executive orders
On Monday, a Baker County have prevented more than
Circuit Court judge blocked 70,000 infections across the
Gov. Kate Brown’s stay-at- state and averted about 1,500
home orders, calling them hospitalizations.
“null and void” because they
Although many of the
infringe on personal religious state’s counties have moved
freedom and the ability of cit- on to Phase I of the gover-
izens to earn a living.
nor’s reopening protocols,
But before sundown, the Or- Clackamas, Marion, Mult-
egon Supreme Court stayed nomah, Polk and Washing-
the ruling, allowing the gov- ton counties remain bound
ernor’s executive orders to by the earlier orders.
o ther neW rules
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Summer school: Oregon
Department of Education has
issued new guides for in-per-
son instruction and other
summer programs. Program
operators must develop com-
municable disease manage-
ment plans with measures
for infection control, physi-
cal distancing, screening for
symptoms, and contact trac-
ing.
Summer camps: All
camps must have a commu-
nicable disease management
plan in place for staff and for
youth. Overnight camps ar-
en’t permitted and day camps
are limited to groups of 10 or
fewer children.
Homelessness: New di-
rectives can’t be used to crim-
inalize homelessness.
Childcare: Now open under
certain
restrictions,
with
priority
placements
for
children of health care
workers, first responders, and
frontline workers.
f ourth of J uly
The cities of Warrenton
and Gearhart have cancelled
Fourth of July festivities this
year, due to the COVID-19
outbreak.
“This event has been an im-
portant and integral part of
this community for decades,
and we are disappointed to
have had to make this de-
cision,”
Warrenton
City
Manager Linda Engbretson
wrote. “On a brighter note,
look for more information
over the next several months
on a planned end of pandem-
ic celebration.”
r eMdesivir triAls
Oregon received its first
shipments last week of rem-
desivir, an experimental drug
that has shown some suc-
cess in treating the sickest
COVID-19 patients.
Providence hospitals in
Portland have given the drug
to more than 30 patients
during earlier clinical trials.
While not formally ap-
proved by the Food and Drug
Administration, it’s being
used under a federal Emer-
gency Use Authorization.
The EUA allows health pro-
fessionals to use the drug to
treat severely ill patients who
meet certain criteria.
Oregon Health Authority is
distributing the drug to hos-
pitals statewide.
h elp With rent
A rent relief program
launched by Oregon Hous-
ing and Community Services
is making $8.5 million avail-
able statewide to those strug-
gling to pay rent because
they’ve lost income during
the pandemic.
The Community Action
Team, which includes Clat-
sop County, has received
$299,610 for distribution, an
amount determined through
a needs-based formula.
Applications should be
made through CAT by call-
ing 503-397-3511 for more
details. Tenant income loss
documentation and other
materials are required and
Continued on Page 8