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About Hermiston herald. (Hermiston, Or.) 1994-current | View Entire Issue (May 20, 2020)
NEWS Wednesday, May 20, 2020 HeRMIsTOnHeRaLd.COM • A3 HH file photo Umatilla County’s third COVID-19 patient to die of the virus died at Good Shepherd Medical Center. Third Umatilla County resident dies of COVID-19 By JADE MCDOWELL neWs edITOR HH file photo A “Heroes Work Here” sign honors essential workers at Guardian Angel Homes in Hermiston in April. Deidre Torres hopes people will parade through town in support of social distancing rules that protect essential workers on May 30. Essential workers organize counterprotest By JADE MCDOWELL neWs edITOR When one group of Hermiston-area residents rallies on May 30 to protest restrictions put in place to slow the spread of COVID- 19, some essential work- ers those rules could help protect are planning to make their voices heard in counterprotest. Deidre Torres is spear- heading a demonstration she calls “Essential not Sac- rificial” that will take place at noon on May 30, the same time as the “Herm- iston Freedom Rally” pro- test downtown. Participants plan to meet in their vehi- cles in the Bi-Mart parking lot, displaying signs calling for a safe reopening plan, and drive through town in a socially distanced form of protest. “We’ll be following the (Centers for Disease Con- trol and Prevention) guide- lines to protect people, pre- vent exposure and keep everyone safe,” she said. Torres said she isn’t against reopening busi- nesses again in some form, but she objects to ideas espoused by at least some organizers of Reopen Hermiston that businesses shouldn’t be required to follow safety rules, such as wearing masks, and that mass gatherings should start again immediately. “I’m not necessarily against reopening, I’m just against a complete, unilat- eral reopening without a “Everyone has made sacrifices,” she said. “I’m not able to attend my little brother’s graduation cere- mony. I’ve been quarantin- ing for two months. I hav- en’t hugged my mother for two months.” Rebecca Wallace Corff, who is helping Torres orga- nize the event, said hospital workers are often “gagged” “I’M NOT NECESSARILY AGAINST REOPENING, I’M JUST AGAINST A COMPLETE, UNILATERAL REOPENING WITHOUT A SCIENCE-BASED PLAN.” — Deidre Torres, Hermiston resident science-based plan,” she said. She said she just wants to make sure that local govern- ment officials know that not everyone agrees that every- thing should be opened up now. She said many essen- tial workers she knows are also worried not only about getting the virus, but also spreading it to others who are more vulnerable. by privacy laws that don’t allow them to discuss details of what they have personally seen while treat- ing COVID-19 patients. But as a hospital worker herself, what she can say is the things she has seen are enough to make her scared that people aren’t taking the virus seriously enough. “It’s a horrible disease,” she said. “You don’t want to get it, and you don’t want your kids to get it.” She said she hopes peo- ple will see the counter- protest and realize there is a “silent majority” that are in favor of practicing social distancing. A Gallup poll published May 19 found that 54% of Americans were “very confident” social distanc- ing measures saved lives, while 31% of respondents said they were “moderately confident.” Wallace Corff said she understands that when human beings are scared, they retreat to a place of denial as a way to handle their fears. But she said if people don’t trust the gov- ernment, she hopes they will trust doctors, nurses and other health care pro- fessionals who want every- one to be safe and healthy. With dueling protests in Hermiston set for the same day, Essential not Sacrificial participants are encouraged to stay in their vehicles and not interact with protesters in either camp. A code of conduct for the event can be found on the Essential not Sacrificial Facebook page. A third Umatilla County resident has died of COVID- 19, Umatilla County Public Health announced Monday. The patient was a 70-year-old woman, who tested positive on May 4 and died May 16 at Good Shepherd Medical Cen- ter in Hermiston. The health department reported she had underlying health conditions. “We encourage everyone to be respectful as a family in our community grieves,” the county stated. As of Tuesday, May 19, Umatilla County reported 102 confirmed cases of COVID-19, and three pre- sumptive cases where some- one was showing symptoms after being close contact with a confirmed case. Seventy-eight patients are considered recovered after not displaying symp- toms for at least 72 hours. Of the 24 active cases remain- ing, one patient is currently in the hospital. A total of 1,366 Uma- tilla County residents have been tested for COVID- 19, according to the health department, with 1,263 tests coming back negative. A map of confirmed cases last updated May 12 on the health department’s web- site shows between 51 and 75 confirmed cases in the Hermiston ZIP code and 16 to 25 in Umatilla so far. According to data com- piled by Lane County Public Health, Umatilla County had the third highest COVID-19 rate per 100,000 population as of May 18, just behind Multnomah County. The health department stated in its news release that as businesses reopen, every- one should keep in mind that COVID-19 is still circu- lating in the community, and take as many precautions as they can to slow its spread. Those precautions include everyone staying home when sick, people over the age of 60 or with underlying health conditions staying home even when well, stay- ing at least 6 feet away from others and wearing a mask in public. They also include good personal hygiene, such as washing your hands fre- quently, not touching your face and sneezing or cough- ing into a tissue or your elbow. Anyone in need of men- tal health services at this time can call Lifeways at 866-343-4473 to discuss what services are available. MAY IS OLDER AMERICANS MONTH? Here are ways to reach out and help the older adults in your life during social distancing and every day! The most valuable and respected source of local news, advertising and information for our communities. • Keep in touch frequently - in person, via phone or video chat. • Offer assistance or pick up supplies to help them stay safe. • Send cards and letters to encourage those special to you. • Leave a gift with a note for someone who makes a difference in your life. www.eomediagroup.com CELEBRATE AND CHERISH THE OLDER ADULTS IN YOUR LIFE! 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