Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About The Columbia press. (Astoria, Or.) 1949-current | View Entire Issue (Aug. 13, 2021)
The Columbia Press August 13, 2021 5 Increase in state’s COVID cases is ‘shocking’ governor says The Columbia Press Clatsop County recorded its 11th death due to COVID-19, health officials announced this week The death of a 69-year-old Clatsop County man occurred July 27 in Massachusetts, but the case has been attributed by Oregon Health Authority to Clatsop County. The county has reported 1,359 cases since the pan- demic began, with 103 cas- es reported just in the past week. More than 22,400 county residents have been vaccinat- ed, or about 55 percent of the population. In a press conference Wednesday, Oregon Gov. Kate Brown called the growth of COVID-19 cases statewide during the past week “shock- ing.” Eight deaths from corona- virus were reported Wednes- day, raising the state’s death toll to 2,920. “Yesterday (Tuesday), the population of hospitalized COVID-19 patients set a new pandemic record … a stag- gering 373 percent increase,” said Patrick Allen, director of Oregon Health Authority. On Wednesday, the record Cindy Yingst/The Columbia Press A turkey vulture surveys the wa- ters at Hammond Marina Aug. 4. The ominous turkey vulture Turkey vultures have been spotted in Warrenton recent- ly. The huge buzzard-like birds are 25 to 32 inches long and have a wingspan up to 70 inches – about the height of a human. While it’s not uncommon to spot them anywhere in Ore- gon, they have been few and far between on the North Coast. But this summer, they’ve been spotted at Hammond Marina, the soccer fields and Warren- ton High School. Despite the name, they’re not similar to turkeys – they’re more closely related to storks and cormorants. But their bald red heads do resemble wild turkeys. Their greatest skill: detect- ing rotting flesh from eight miles away. was broken. Oregon reported 2,329 new cases, the highest daily case total since the pan- demic started. “If you haven’t made the choice to get vaccinated yet, Delta (variant) is the game-changer that gives you a reason to reconsider,” Allen said. “Think your immune system is healthy and strong enough to fight off the Delta variant? Your immune sys- tem, no matter how tough, can’t fight a pathogen it can’t recognize. The vaccines equip your immune system with the tools it needs to de- feat Delta.” Brown also imposed a state- wide mask mandate in all in- door public spaces that be- gins Friday, Aug. 13. And all state workers will be required to be fully vaccinat- ed by Oct. 18. College news At George Fox Universi- ty in Newport, the following students were named to the dean’s list: Astoria: Mitchell Geisler, a senior engineering ma- jor; Sarah Lertora, a senior communications major; and Henry Samuelson, a senior Spanish and history major; Warrenton: Matthew Bur- gher, a senior organizational communications major; and Marin Donohue, a sopho- more music and theater ma- jor. Gearhart: Jackson Januik, a senior management major. Seaside: Niquilla Blodgett, a senior elementary educa- tion major. Students eligible for the dean’s list must have a grade- point average of 3.4 or high- er.
