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About The Columbia press. (Astoria, Or.) 1949-current | View Entire Issue (Nov. 6, 2020)
The Columbia Press November 6, 2020 County, state have record bad COVID weeks The Columbia Press Clatsop County had one of its worst weeks for new virus cases since the pandemic be- gan. Twenty-one new cases of COVID-19 were reported during the week that ended Wednesday. The new cases were scat- tered throughout the county and from all age groups, in- cluding two children and two women in their 80s. It brings the county’s to- tal case count to 271 and in- cludes one hospitalization. All other new cases are con- valescing at home. Clatsop has had no deaths and 234 had recovered as of Wednes- day. The state has recorded 47,049 cases as of Wednes- day, with a death toll of 705. It was the second consecu- tive week in which daily case counts set record highs for the pandemic. Since the pandemic and testing began, Clatsop Coun- ty has had a 3.72 percent cu- mulative positive test rate. Statewide, the cumulative positive test rate is 5.29 per- cent, and nationwide, the rate is 6.25 percent. The state changed its rules recently on school reopen- ing metrics, which brought good news for Clatsop County schools. The young- est students in the Warren- ton-Hammond district have returned to in-person classes three days a week. An outbreak of 39 cases was reported at the Fred Meyer Distribution Center in Clack- amas. Quarantine paid leave Employees who’ve had to be off work due to quaran- tines or while waiting for COVID-19 testing can receive temporary paid leave benefits from the state if not compen- sated by their workplace. More than $2 million was dispersed and 2,000 peo- ple statewide have been approved for the program. However, money still is avail- able. Employees who work in Oregon can apply online for the COVID-19 Temporary Paid Leave Program at or- egon.gov/covidpaidleave. The Oregon Department of Consumer and Business Ser- vices is administering the program. To qualify, residents must work in Oregon and file per- sonal income tax returns. They must have been direct- ed to quarantine by a health care provider because of ex- posure to an infected person or COVID-related symp- toms. Because the available funds are limited, the program is available only to quarantine periods that were in place on or after Sept. 16. Applicants can claim only one quaran- tine period. Childhood obesity The pandemic isn’t just making you fat and anxious. Pediatricians are seeing a rise in childhood obesity and mental health issues due to the pandemic, according to one study. The percentage of children considered obese is expected to jump in 2020, after de- clining slightly in the past 10 years. Mental health issues among children and teens range from sadness and stress to anxiety and depression. The kids aren’t all right, said Dr. Lisa Denike, chief of pediatrics for Kaiser Perma- nente Northwest. COVID-19 has fueled stress eating, in- equities, and lack of fitness. “We’ve seen kids gain 10- 20 pounds in a year, who may have had a BMI (body mass index) as a preteen in the 50th or 75th percentile and are now in the 95th per- centile, which is a significant crossing of percentiles into obesity,” Denike said. 3 Enrollment opens for health plans Pandemic-related job losses have increased the number of Oregonians el- igible for help with health insurance. The Oregon Health Insurance Market- place estimates thousands may be newly eligible. In recent years, Oregon had made strides in re- ducing the uninsured rate, according to the state De- partment of Consumer and Business Services. Before the COVID-19 pan- demic, 94 percent of all Oregonians had health cov- erage. Since the pandem- ic, hundreds of thousands have either lost jobs or ex- perienced an income loss. Insurance agents and com- munity partners can help those applying for financial assistance and choosing private plans. Consumers can also browse plans and City of Warrenton Committee Vacancies The City of Warrenton seeks people interested in apply- ing for vacancies on the City’s various committees. We have vacancies on the following boards: • • • • Public safety calls • Continued from Page 2 1200 block 19th Street. Un- founded. • Unpermitted burn, 4:11 p.m. Nov. 1, 100 block Southwest Birch Avenue. Medical calls • Female who fell and has head injury, 4:56 p.m. Oct. 29, 33400 block Sunset Beach Lane. • Female with diabetic issue, 8:21 p.m. Oct. 29, 500 block Seventh Court. • Female lift assist, 2:02 a.m. Oct. 30, 100 block Cedar Avenue. • Female fall patient, 3:52 a.m. Oct. 30, 2000 block Azalea Avenue. • Recovery of body, 2:05 p.m. Oct. 30, Highway 101 off Youngs Bay Bridge. • Female down, 9:30 p.m. Oct. 30, Nineteenth Street and Bugle Avenue. • Unknown medical issue, 3:43 p.m. Oct. 31, 400 block North Main Avenue. • Possible stroke victim, 6:27 p.m. Oct. 31, 1100 block South Main Avenue. • Water rescue on sunken boat, 10:44 a.m. Nov. 1, Hammond Marina. • Assist Medix with extraction, 7 a.m. Nov. 1, 1200 block South- west Cedar Avenue. • Assist Medix with extraction, 5:25 p.m. Nov. 1, 2200 block Dolphin Avenue. • Female who’s not feeling well, 8:22 a.m. Nov. 2, 200 block Southwest Second Street. • Female having a seizure, 9:01 a.m. Nov. 3, 300 block Marlin Avenue. find out how much savings they’re eligible for by going to OregonHealthCare.gov/ WindowShop. Oregonians who do not get health insurance through their job or a program such as the Oregon Health Plan or Medicare may qualify for help paying for coverage at OregonHealthCare.gov. Even if people are tempo- rarily uninsured, they can sign up for help by the Dec. 15 deadline to get insurance for next year. “A pandemic is no time to go without health insurance and the essential health benefits that come with it,” said Chiqui Flowers, admin- istrator of the agency. Those making $51,040 or less per year, and families of four making $104,800 or less, may get help paying for coverage. • • Warrenton Budget Committee - 2 positions (3 year term) Warrenton Planning Commission - 2 positions (4 year term) Warrenton Community Center Board - 4 positions (4 year term) Warrenton Parks Advisory Board - 2 positions (3 year term) Warrenton Parks Advisory Board - 1 vacancy (1 year term) Warrenton Community Library Board - 4 positions (4 year term) Warrenton Urban Renewal Advisory Committee - 3 positions (2 year term) Applications are due by Nov. 30, 2020. This is an excellent opportunity to participate in the im- portant decisions affecting your community. For more information and appointment qualifications go to the City’s website at www.ci.warrenton.or.us, (click on the “Community” tab at top of the page and then “Citi- zen Involvement” from the drop-down menu). If you need additional information, please contact Dawne Shaw, City Recorder at 503- 861-0823 or via email at - cityrecorder@ ci.warrenton.or.us.
