August 3, 2020 COMMUNITY THE ASIAN REPORTER n Page 13 OSU TRACE-COVID-19 results suggest 17% of Hermiston community infected with SARS-CoV-2 HERMISTON, Oregon — Preliminary results from random door-to-door TRACE- COVID-19 sampling by Oregon State University (OSU) late last month suggest 17% of the Hermiston community have had the novel coronavirus that causes COVID-19. The study, known as Team-based Rapid Assessment of Community-Level Corona- virus Epidemics (TRACE-COVID-19), initially began in late April in Corvallis. The random sampling effort was also expanded in late May to include 30 neighborhoods in Bend, Oregon, as well as Newport, Oregon, in mid July. “The results of this study are a significant warning,” said Hermiston mayor David Drotzmann. “We now have a clearer picture of how many people are carrying this disease without knowing it, and how rapidly it is spreading family to family, household to household.” “Our results indicate the virus is extremely widespread in Hermiston and more prevalent than previous data had indicated,” added Ben Dalziel, assistant professor in the College of Science at OSU and co-director of the project. In Hermiston, 29 two-person field teams canvassed 30 neighborhoods, with 249 of the households visited, or 44%, agreeing to participate. In all, the field workers received samples from 471 people, and 41 tested positive for SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19. TRACE modelling, which takes into account the sensitivity of the test and the locations of the positive individuals, estimates the prevalence of the virus was 169 out of every 1,000 people in Hermiston. That translates to nearly 3,000 infected people in the city overall. “This study confirms what we have feared based on weeks of troubling data WIDESPREAD INFECTION. Preliminary results from random door-to-door TRACE-COVID-19 sampling by Oregon State University last month suggest 17% of the Hermiston community have had the novel coronavirus that causes COVID-19. The study, known as Team-based Rapid Assessment of Community-Level Coronavirus Epi- demics (TRACE-COVID-19), canvassed 30 neighborhoods. The field workers (pictured) received samples from 471 people, and 41 tested positive for SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19. (Photos courtesy of Oregon State University) from the Oregon Health Authority: The Authority. “This indicates wide commu- the OSU colleges of Science, Agricultural Sciences, Engineering, Public Health, and coronavirus has spread throughout nity spread.” Hermiston and threatens the entire Oregon State University researchers Human Sciences, and the Carlson College community,” said Oregon governor Kate also gathered multiple wastewater of Veterinary Medicine, in partnership Brown. “Umatilla County is now in a samples from Hermiston and neighboring with county health officials. “We are grateful to the Hermiston ‘baseline, stay home’ status and we must Boardman in early July and again from do everything possible to contain these July 21 to 24. Analysis of the wastewater residents who were willing to participate outbreaks. Wear your face coverings, samples “showed consistently strong viral in TRACE,” said Jeff Bethel, an associate watch your distance, and wash your signals in both cities that have remained professor in OSU’s College of Public hands. I’d like to thank the TRACE team very high and not decreased over time,” Health and Human Sciences and a at Oregon State for their hard work on this said lead researcher Tyler Radniecki of the member of the TRACE leadership team. “The results show that if individuals wish OSU College of Engineering. important research.” “The levels recorded are significantly to avoid infection, they need to be extra In announcing prevalence results, the TRACE team follows reporting policies higher than any of TRACE’s previous vigilant and abide by health officials’ guidance. And because the vast majority of used by the Oregon Health Authority and wastewater samples,” he added. Both the door-to-door and the waste- people infected report no symptoms, extra local health departments. “These data reaffirm what we learn from water results indicate the virus is wide- care and additional testing is warranted public health investigations, that in spread in Hermiston and the situation is beyond only those who report symptoms.” TRACE uses a statistical model to addition to outbreaks, there are many serious and warrants immediate action, estimate the proportion of the community cases of COVID-19 which are sporadic,” said TRACE leaders. “Half of the 30 randomly selected that is infected during the period when the said Dean Sidelinger, health officer and state epidemiologist at the Oregon Health neighborhoods we visited had at least one samples were collected. The model uses positive participant,” said Dalziel. “This information on the number of samples, the means that the virus is very widespread number of positive tests, the sensitivity of contact tracers and preliminary reports within the community, not clustered in the tests, and the locations of the positive suggest that more than 100,000 contact only a few locations.” results within neighborhoods and tracers are needed nationwide in the near As well, 80% of those Hermiston commu- households. future to help prevent the further spread of nity members who tested positive in the “TRACE does two things,” Dalziel said. COVID-19. In addition, PCC’s curriculum TRACE sampling did not report symptoms “First, we find and get help to participants is aligned to specific training guidelines of the virus. who are infected but do not know they are, per the Center for Disease Control (CDC) “This result is cause for concern because which reduces the chances of these folks and the OHA, which is a benefit to efforts to monitor and stop spread that are unknowingly spreading the virus to other students who complete the PCC training. based on symptoms will miss many people. Second, we rapidly estimate how “Contact tracers are being hired by infected individuals,” said Dalziel. “The widespread the virus is in the general county and city health departments and a large number of infected people without population, which informs public health wide variety of private businesses who are symptoms combined with the widespread strategies. Rapid, representative employing contact tracing as part of their distribution of the virus within Hermiston estimates of community prevalence back-to-work strategy,” Sanders creates significant risks for the entire provide a different type of information explained. “Currently, there is no population.” than case counts or hospitalizations, since educational or training requirement for “Residents should pay close attention to those indicators tend to lag behind current these positions. However, having training social distancing and follow the statewide conditions, and are biased toward in the basics of COVID-19 and the skills for face-covering mandate that began [in individuals who show symptoms.” culturally sensitive interviewing should July],” added Javier Nieto, dean of OSU’s The study initially was funded by OSU provide an advantage for students.” College of Public Health and Human and a grant from the David and Lucile When governor Brown and the OHA set Services and another of TRACE’s leaders. Packard Foundation, and has been aided the re-opening guidelines, PCC president “Other measures, such as avoiding large by work from the OSU Foundation and the Mark Mitsui realized the need for training gatherings, will also help slow the spread OSU Alumni Association. Funding from for local community members, who can of the virus, in line with the state of PacificSource Health Plans allowed for provide contact tracing with a culturally Oregon’s recent decision to move Umatilla expansion to Bend and Newport and appropriate lens. Mitsui has also empha- and Morrow counties back to phase one additional sampling in Corvallis, and the sized that PCC has the ability and exper- COVID-19 status. It is particularly impor- Oregon Health Authority funded the tise to act as a talent pipeline of culturally tant that individuals who have symptoms Hermiston sampling. Continued on page 16 diverse individuals into these jobs. or who have tested positive follow state “The information and guidance provided and county health guidelines such as by the governor and OHA have built the self-isolating and seeking medical care.” foundation for training and the Hermiston is the largest city in deployment of the large numbers of northeastern Oregon at just over 18,000 contact tracers that will be needed to people, and Umatilla County ranks first successfully re-open Oregon,” said Mitsui. among the state’s 36 counties in the “However, in order for contact tracing to be number of COVID-19 cases per 10,000 the most effective at the local level, each people, with more than 222 cases per region must have a unique outreach, 10,000 as of July 30. This tally includes recruitment, and training plan tailored to both current and past cases. Most of the their culturally specific needs. Portland businesses where cases have spiked are in Community College is well positioned to the food processing industry, though the contribute to this effort.” list also includes Hermiston’s Walmart To learn more, e-mail or call (971) 722-6633, or visit maker of manufactured houses. The TRACE study is a collaboration of . PCC’s Contact Tracer Training opens August 3 Beginning this month, a new Portland Community College (PCC) training course will help supply local agencies with qualified contact tracers to help combat the spread of the coronavirus. In April, Oregon governor Kate Brown and the Oregon Health Authority (OHA) announced that as part of the state’s plan for re-opening, contact tracing would be critical in combatting the spread of the virus. OHA emphasized the need to create nimble, culturally specific monitoring and response teams, which includes contact tracers. Through the Institute for Health Professional Program, PCC’s Contact Tracer Training is a self-paced, non-credit course made up of six modules. Participants have up to two weeks to complete the training and earn a letter of completion once they’ve finished. Students learn the basics of COVID-19 and contact tracing; why the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) is important; understand and practice cultural awareness; learn the basics of motivational interviewing; and how to effectively deliver a phone script. Training classes are open beginning August 3. “Contact tracers are critical to ensure the safe, sustainable, and effective quarantine of those affected to prevent additional transmission by tracing and monitoring infected people and notifying them of their exposure,” said Karen Sanders, division dean of Health Profes- sions and interim dean for Continuing and Community Education. “The foundation for the curriculum of the course was provided by OHA and we supply the instructional expertise and an online delivery method. They were excited to partner with us.” Sanders said there is high demand for