The Columbia Press
August 20, 2021
5
Driver shortage could require bus route cuts
Sunset Empire Transporta-
tion District could be making
some significant service cuts
due to a severe shortage of
drivers.
Executive Director Jeff
Hazen, who posted the an-
nouncement Wednesday on
the district’s Facebook page,
said he’ll recommend cuts to
the Board of Commissioners
when they meet Aug. 26.
“The driver shortages are not
unique to SETD,” he wrote.
“This shortage is affecting
transportation providers in all
sectors across the nation.”
The following routes are
proposed for suspension ef-
fective Sept. 6:
• Route 17, Cannon Beach
weekdays
• Route 21, Cannon Beach
weekends
• Route 13, Astoria week-
ends
• Route 16, Warrenton week-
ends
• Seaside Streetcar, week-
ends
• Route 15 in Warrenton is
proposed to be cut back on
weekdays to just 5:50 to 9:03
a.m. and from 5:30 to 8:43 p.m.
Boosters recommended for some by CDC
A booster of the COVID-19
vaccine is recommended for
people with moderately to se-
verely compromised immune
systems.
The recommendation was
announced Aug. 13 by the
U.S. Food and Drug Admin-
istration, Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention and
Western States Scientific
Safety Review Workgroup.
“This official CDC recom-
mendation — which follows
FDA’s decision to amend
the emergency use authori-
zations of the vaccines — is
an important step in en-
suring everyone, including
those most vulnerable to
COVID-19, can get as much
protection as possible from
COVID-19 vaccination,” CDC
Director Rochelle P. Walen-
sky said.
Meanwhile, cases through-
out the country have been
rising at an alarming rate,
largely because 50 percent
of the population remain un-
vaccinated and the more con-
tagious Delta variant is now
the dominant strain.
Clatsop County Public
Health has reported 248 cas-
es with 24 hospitalizations
during the past seven days
ending Wednesday, which
brings the county’s total case
count to 1,605. There have
been 11 deaths locally since
the pandemic began.
As of Aug. 13, 22769 people
had been vaccinated here in
Clatsop County.
Statewide, 11 new deaths
were reported Wednesday,
raising the death toll to 2,975.
Oregon Health Authori-
ty also reported 2,139 new
confirmed and presumptive
cases, bringing the state total
to 247,866.
Oregon Health Authority
reported an outbreak of cases
at Clatsop Care Health & Re-
habilitation.
The four cases were report-
ed Aug. 7, three of them staff
members and one a resident.
Clatsop County has had
more than a dozen recent
outbreaks, the county’s pub-
lic health director told county
commissioners Aug. 11.
“It’s a lot for Clatsop Coun-
ty, but it’s not unique to Clat-
sop County,” Margo Lalich
said. There have been out-
breaks in congregant living
settings, including long-term
care facilities.
Members of North Coast
Family Fellowship in Seaside
received emails this week
saying several staff mem-
bers, including lead pastor
John Nagle, had contracted
COVID-19.
• Route 101 will be cut from
four buses per day to two,
with arrival frequency about
every hour.
In addition, each route will
be shut down for an hour
during each shift for the driv-
er’s lunch break.
Employers are encouraged
to contact Transportation Op-
tions Specialist Kathy Kleczek
at 503-861-5360 or kathy@
ridethebus.org to assist with
alternatives for their employ-
ees.
Members of the public are
urged to contact Hazen at
jeff@ridethebus.org by 5 p.m.
Aug. 25 if they want to com-
ment.