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About Hermiston herald. (Hermiston, Or.) 1994-current | View Entire Issue (March 25, 2020)
NEWS A12 • HERMISTONHERALD.COM Home Continued from Page A1 Staff photo by Ben Lonergan Signs advise people arriving at the hospital not to enter the parking lot unless they are seeking medical services. Hospital Continued from Page A1 getting low, but not criti- cally low,” she wrote, add- ing that they could draw on the state’s emergency stock- pile if needed. In addition to protec- tive equipment, one of the concerns of a COVID-19 outbreak is that a wave of critically ill patients will overwhelm resources such as ventilators, as has hap- pened in epicenters such as China and Italy. Burke said the hospital currently has nine respiratory therapists and 15 ventilators, but could end up getting more from other hospitals in the state if Hermiston became a major hot spot for the virus, or, by the same token, Hermis- ton could lend its equipment if things got bad in another part of the state. The Oregon Health Authority is gathering infor- mation on what resources hospitals across the state have on hand to be ready to mobilize those resources depending on how the out- break spreads. In addition to cancel- ing some procedures and appointments, the hospital has also changed its visiting policies to reduce potential exposures. No visitors are allowed other than one parent accompanying a minor child in need of care, one care partner for the duration of a mother’s stay at the Family Birth Center, one care part- ner for patients requiring one for “self management” or to make medical deci- sions on their behalf, and no more than two visitors in a 12 hour period for patients receiving end of life care where a physician has deter- mined death is “imminent.” Visitors in all of those situ- ations must be over 18 and free from fever or other fl u and cold-like symptoms. Patient access to the hos- pital and clinics is limited to specifi c doors, with all doors other than the emer- gency room entrance locked between 7 p.m. and 7 a.m. All patients and vendors are directed to enter the campus through the Elm Street entrance and will be screened briefl y for symp- toms, including having their temperature taken. Cozad said if a patient “meets criteria” they are tested for COVID-19, with specimens sent to their con- tracted laboratory or the Oregon State Public Health Laboratory. She didn’t spec- ify how many tests had been conducted so far, but said it takes three to fi ve days for results to return. She said the hospital sup- ports the efforts of the Ore- gon Association of Hospitals and Health Systems to urge the governor to take stronger social distancing measures. Although people are still welcome to use city trails and the open spaces in parks, Smith said play- grounds and basketball courts where people are more likely to come into contact with germs will be closed off with caution tape. In answer to a ques- tion about how Hermiston police might enforce the governor’s order to stay home unless necessary, Smith said enforcement will “come as we can.” “We’re not going to send police out specifi cally to look for that,” he said. Chief Jason Edmiston said he was encouraging his offi cers to be “reason- able” in their enforcement, with a focus on educating people. Drotzmann said he had been on multiple calls with the governor and he appre- ciated her willingness to listen, engage and ask ques- tions of Eastern Oregon public offi cials as she tries to protect public health. During the meeting, the council passed a resolution allowing the city to reim- burse itself for expenses related to building a new city hall, should the city end up going forward with a plan to sell bonds for money to build the proj- ect. Smith said the resolu- tion did not mean the city has to sell the bonds. But if it does, the money can be used to pay the city back for costs it has already incurred for design work. Eff ect on businesses A week after the state closed dine-in restaurants and two weeks after the governor closed schools, local businesses are try- ing to adjust to the new requirements. Cherice Clayton was putting the fi nal touches on Lisa Hagerman’s freshly colored magenta hair on Monday afternoon at Ellig’ance in Hermiston. Hargerman’s original appointment was Tues- WEDNESDAY, MARCH 25, 2020 BUSINESSES CLOSED Eff ective Tuesday, Gov. Kate Brown has ordered the following businesses to close. Other businesses must operate remotely or within social distancing guidelines. Amusement parks Aquariums Arcades Art galleries, except by appointment Barber shops, hair salons Bowling alleys Cosmetic stores day, but Clayton was able to squeeze her in Monday because come Tuesday, the salon would be closed per the governor’s orders. “It’s a little scary,” Clay- ton admitted about clos- ing her salon for an unde- termined amount of time. “When you are self-em- ployed, you don’t get unemployment. I’m for- tunate my husband works at the prison, so we still have an income. But others don’t.” Including Clayton, there are fi ve beauticians at the salon, and as many as 40 clients come through the salon on any given day. The salon is open six to seven days a week depending on appointments. “I worked Sunday because I knew this was coming,” said Clayton, who has been in the busi- ness for 38 years. Governor’s orders Brown on Monday directed most Oregonians to stay home except for getting groceries, going to work or handling important activities that cannot wait. She said she was act- ing because many Orego- nians had failed to heed her directives to prac- tice “social distancing” to decrease the transmission of COVID-19. “I was very, very clear. I asked and urged Orego- nians to stay home. On Fri- day night, I frankly directed them to stay home, and now I am ordering them to stay home,” she said in a con- Dance studios Esthetician practices Fraternal organization facilities Furniture stores Gyms and fi tness studios, including climbing gyms Hookah bars Indoor and outdoor malls except for businesses allowed to remain open, including food (takeout or delivery), grocery, health care, medical, pharmacy or pet store services. Indoor party places, includ- ing jumping gyms and laser tag ference call with reporters Monday afternoon. “As I’ve said a zillion times in the last couple weeks, this is an instance where each one of us can make a difference and each one of our actions can have an impact and truly save lives.” Brown ordered more than two dozen types of businesses to close as of Tuesday, primarily ones that cannot operate without close personal contact. Other businesses, including farmers markets and auto repair shops, may stay open if they maintain at least six feet of social dis- tance between people, or if they can operate remotely. She applauded stores that already have marked off spots six feet apart for individuals to stand in line or have converted solely to curbside pickup. “I am not interested in taking someone’s job or shutting down a business if they can practice social dis- tancing at work,” Brown said. “I’ve been really clear: If businesses are not com- plying with this order, we will shut them down.” Among businesses allowed to stay open are grocers, pharmacies, bars and restaurants for takeout or delivery, banks and gas stations. Key provisions of Brown’s far-reaching order include: • Oregonians should stay home whenever possible. • Violating the order Jewelry shops and bou- tiques unless exclusively through pick-up or delivery Medical spas, facial spas, day spas and non-medical massage therapy services Museums Nail and tanning salons Non-tribal card rooms Skating rinks Senior activity centers Ski resorts Social and private clubs Tattoo/piercing parlors Tennis clubs Theaters Yoga studios Youth clubs could be a Class C misdemeanor. • Except for members of the same residential household, all non-essen- tial social and recreational gatherings of individuals are prohibited immediately, regardless of size, unless people can stay at least six feet apart. • Businesses not on the closure list may operate via telework or by imple- menting social-distancing policies “consistent with guidance from the Oregon Health Authority.” Brown said OHA still was working on those guidelines. • Playgrounds, sports courts, skate parks and some other outdoor recre- ation facilities are closed. Facilities allowed to remain open, including golf courses, must strictly follow social distancing guidelines. • Child care facilities are restricted to “stable groups of 10 or fewer children,” meaning that the children must be in the same group each day. • Public and private campgrounds are closed, although veterans and camp hosts can remain in state parks. RV parks and other housing may remain open. • State agencies gener- ally are closed to the pub- lic, except by appointment in some circumstances, and state employees should work remotely if possible. Brown urged local, tribal and federal offi ces to do the same. PAID ADVERTISEMENT Eastern Oregon students leading school district’s effort to cut energy use Umatilla School District Superintendent Heidi Sipe accepts a check from Energy Trust of Ore- gon YOU WORK HARD ENOUGH. MAKE YOUR PLACE WORK HARDER FOR YOU. You’ve been chipping away at the to-do list and the place is looking great. 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