NEWS
WEDNESDAY, JULY 8, 2020
HERMISTONHERALD.COM • A3
COVID-19 numbers continue to climb
New workplaces added to outbreak list as Umatilla
County announces seventh death
By JADE MCDOWELL
NEWS EDITOR
Umatilla County’s sev-
enth COVID-19 death
came just two days after its
sixth, according to Umatilla
County Public Health.
The
department
announced that an 83-year-
old COVID-19 patient died
at his residence on July 3.
On July 1, a 93-year-old
Umatilla County man with
COVID-19 died at his resi-
dence. Both had underlying
health conditions, according
to the news release.
The county continues to
see double-digit increases
of new confi rmed COVID-
19 cases daily. As of July
7, Umatilla County had
announced a total of 788
confi rmed cases and on
that date had 46 presump-
tive cases that were awaiting
confi rmation.
According to the health
department, 332 people had
recovered from the virus and
there were 495 active cases
when counting presumptive
and confi rmed. A presump-
tive case is defi ned as a per-
son who has been in close
contact with a confi rmed
case and is now show-
ing symptoms, but has not
received a test result to con-
fi rm or deny the diagnosis.
Twelve Umatilla County
residents were hospitalized
with COVID-19 as of July
7, down one from the record
of 13 announced July 6.
The Oregon Health
Authority announces an
updated list of workplace
outbreaks of COVID-19 in
the state each Wednesday.
On July 1, a few new Uma-
tilla and Morrow county
worksites made the list,
which only names worksites
with at least 30 employees
that have at least fi ve cases
linked to them.
Lamb Weston’s Hermis-
ton facility had the third-larg-
est outbreak in the state,
according to the list, with 73
cases that were linked to it,
either through an employee
getting sick or a close con-
tact of a COVID-positive
employee testing positive.
Spokeswoman
Shelby
Stoolman said in an email
on July 2 that after Lamb
Weston’s fi rst cases had
emerged, the company con-
ducted a testing event for
their employees after clos-
ing down the plant. She
said they were awaiting the
remainder of the test results
before determining when
it would be safe to restart
operations.
“All of our facilities oper-
ate under safety protocols
that include health screen-
ing on arrival, required
mask use on-site, and social
distancing,” she said. “We
consistently review these
protocols to ensure we’re
providing a safe work
environment for our team
members.”
Hill Meat in Pendle-
ton was added to OHA’s
list, as was Oregon Potato
Company in Boardman and
Columbia River Processing,
a subsidiary of Tillamook
Cheese in Boardman.
According to a statement
by Tillamook, the cases are
Staff photo by Ben Lonergan
A sign outside of Lamb Weston’s Hermiston processing facility thanks the plant’s employees. The potato processing facility has
been linked to 73 COVID-19 cases.
related to employees who
tested positive for COVID-
19 between June 16 and
June 28. The company
stated that three of those
employees have already
recovered and been cleared
to return to work, while the
rest are recovering at home.
Those who are recovering
at home or are quarantin-
ing after being identifi ed as
a close contact are receiving
full pay and benefi ts.
The company indicated
that employees have already
been wearing masks and
social distancing as much as
possible, and will continue
to do so. The factory has not
been shut down.
“We are working closely
with state and county health
offi cials to keep them
apprised of these devel-
opments and they have
affi rmed that the protocols
we have in place to pre-
vent the spread of the virus
refl ect best industry prac-
tices,” the company stated.
“On June 17, OSHA, the
Oregon Health Authority
and the Oregon Department
of Agriculture completed
an on-site inspection at our
Boardman facility and gave
us their top rating and high
praise for the measures we
have in place to protect our
workers. We have and will
continue to put the health
and safety of our employ-
ees, and the communities
where (we) operate, as our
highest priority.”
Shearer’s Foods was not
listed on OHA’s worksite
outbreaks for the week, but
the company voluntarily
sent out a news release on
June 29 that six employees
of its Hermiston plant had
tested positive for COVID-
19 and that all of those
employees and close con-
tacts of those employees
had been sent home to quar-
antine with full pay.
Umatilla County’s rising
case numbers, and in partic-
ular its quickly rising hos-
pitalizations, have landed
the county, along with Mor-
row County, on the state’s
watchlist for counties that
may have to go back under
more stringent restrictions if
things do not improve.
In his regular update
to public offi cials in the
county, Umatilla County
Commissioner
George
Murdock noted the coun-
ty’s contact tracers con-
tinue to trace a large num-
ber of cases back to people
who went to work while
sick. He stated that many
of those people work in low
wage jobs without much of
a safety net to help them feel
able to take several days off
of work to quarantine if they
are only experiencing mild
symptoms.
The county health depart-
ment continues to urge peo-
ple to stay home from work
if they are experiencing any
symptoms of illness includ-
ing a cough, fever, shortness
of breath, sore throat, chills,
diarrhea, vomiting, runny
nose or a new loss of the
sense of taste or smell.
Hermiston residents respond to Lopez letter
bility and intentions as red
to the election.
Edmiston alleged that
fl ags began to arise during
“THE TIME SPENT ON THIS FICTITIOUS CLAIM
HPD has learned that Lopez
his candidacy. The trust he
MEANS TIME LOST ON OTHER MATTERS, NOT TO
Revelations this week that was attempting to build was
never served in the U.S.
a viral, racist letter wasn’t questionable from the begin-
Coast Guard as stated, which
MENTION IT NEEDLESSLY ADDS TO THE
what it seemed have mem- ning, and the news about this
would be a violation of the
2013 Stolen Valor Act.
bers of Hermiston’s Latino letter confi rms what some of
INCREDIBLE TENSION THAT EXISTS IN
“This investigation is par-
community concerned about us believed to be true: Lopez
OUR NATION TODAY.”
ticularly frustrating as we are
the repercussions.
was never fi t to represent the
On Monday, July
in the midst of multiple major
Latinx community.”
6, Hermiston Police
Jason Edmiston, Hermiston police chief
investigations while battling
They called on
Chief Jason Edmis-
a resource shortage due to the
him to issue an apol-
ton said former Uma-
ogy and step down who shared the East Orego- tutions. Hermiston is one the May 2020 primary and current pandemic,” Edmis-
tilla County com-
ton said. “The time spent on
from any lead- nian’s article on Facebook of several Eastern Oregon placed fourth.
missioner candidate
ership
positions. used it to cast doubt on pre- communities that saw Black
Edmiston said his depart- this fi ctitious claim means
Jonathan Lopez had
Lopez has been vious statements by area res- Lives Matter protests in ment was also forwarding time lost on other matters,
admitted that he had
serving as a mem- idents participating in the June.
information to the district not to mention it needlessly
Lopez
penned the anony-
ber of Hermiston’s Black Lives Matter move-
In their response to attorney’s offi ce about pos- adds to the incredible tension
mous letter, which
Hispanic Advisory ment that racism is a prob- the letter, Yajaira Avalos, sibly fraudulent statements that exists in our nation today.
went viral on social media Committee.
lem in Umatilla County.
Leon-Guerrero and de la in Lopez’s entry in the May As a lifelong resident of this
after Lopez claimed he had
When contacted July 6,
When asked whether he Cruz talked about the diver- 2020 voter’s guide about diverse community, I’m dis-
found it in his mailbox.
Lopez initially stated the was concerned about the sity of Umatilla Coun- his background and educa- gusted someone would try to
The letter stated in part issue was a big misunder- incident causing people to ty’s communities of color, tion. Some of those claims carelessly advance their per-
that Lopez and other “Mex- standing. He said he just not believe other stories of including Black and indig- were repeated in a Hermis- sonal ambitions at the risk of
icans” were “not welcome meant to speak with Edmis- racism in the future, Lopez enous residents and immi- ton Herald article leading up others.”
here” and that “America is ton about racism in Uma- responded that “many peo- grants from a long list of
for the God fearing, pro gun, tilla County and use the let- ple in many places are countries. They talked about
pro life humans who refuse ter as an example of the type always going to have their the struggles those commu-
to be controlled by the gov- of racism people experience, opinion.”
nities have faced and the
ernment.” It included sev- but often don’t speak out
He said during his cam- integral ways they have con-
eral racist, misogynistic and about publicly.
paign for county commis- tributed to the county.
homophobic slurs.
“I never meant to fi le a sioner he had experienced
“This is an opportunity
“From the onset, this report, it just kind of spiraled racist comments, includ- for us to turn to the people
alleged incident has been out,” he said.
ing people accusing him and organizations doing the
thoroughly investigated,”
He also said he “never of being an undocumented years of dedicated work,
Barcelona/
Edmiston wrote in an email. meant to mislead” the immigrant, and he had heard and empower our Latinx
Loft
“Our investigation has public.
from other people who were youth to continue this work
shown that Mr. Lopez wrote
When questioned fur- afraid to speak up about rac- that helps create a sense
the letter himself and made ther about his statements ism they had experienced. of belonging,” they wrote.
false statements to the police on Facebook that he had He said thinking about “Through authentic commu-
and on social media. The end received the letter anony- those things was what had nity engagement and empa-
result is a verbal and written mously, and the fact he told inspired him to write the let- thy, we are all involved in
PHASE 2
admission by Mr. Lopez that a Hermiston Herald reporter ter to show what people in the process of envisioning
the letter was fabricated.”
on June 24 that he had found the area were experiencing.
a future that inspires contin-
He said the case would the letter in his mailbox
*Similar Rendition of the Home
The incident comes ued collaboration, commu-
be forwarded to the Umatilla when he got home, he con- during a broader national nity, and economic develop-
Richmond
County District Attorney’s fi rmed he had told a police discussion about racism, ment for all.”
offi ce for review for initiat- offi cer the same story.
brought to light as peo-
Before the letter inci-
ing a false report, a Class A
After the story about ple around the country pro- dent, Lopez ran for a seat on
misdemeanor in Oregon.
Lopez’s confession was test systemic racism in law the Umatilla County Board
Jazmin Yajaira Avalos, posted online, a few people enforcement and other insti- of Commissioners during
Anesat Leon-Guerrero and
Excellent builder
Heldáy de la Cruz, who
that takes care
described themselves as
of details.
“members of Hermiston’s
Latinx community,” penned
*Similar Rendition of the Home
a response to the revela-
tions after the East Orego-
nian broke the news on July
6. In their response, they
said they were “appalled” at
Lopez’s actions.
PROPERTIES
“We want to make it
clear that a lot of our local
ART KEGLER
and hometown voices have
PRINCIPAL BROKER, GRI, OWNER
never stood with Lopez’s
Phone: (541) 289-3000
541-720-2020
politics and stances on
Email:
uecbrc@gmail.com
541-481-2888
issues within our commu-
We’re here to assist your
2 Marine Drive, Suite #104
nity,” they wrote. “In fact,
farm
or
small
businesses
1475
N.
First
St.
in
Hermiston
Boardman, OR 97818
a number of organizers and
Open Monday-Friday, 8 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Oregon Licensed Realtor
with
Covid-19
relief.
leaders began asking ques-
with a lunch closure from 1-2 p.m.
tions about Lopez’s credi-
FIRST-CLASS SERVICE & LOCAL EXPERTISE
By JADE MCDOWELL
NEWS EDITOR
UNDER
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DESIRABLE
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