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About Hermiston herald. (Hermiston, Or.) 1994-current | View Entire Issue (July 15, 2020)
BUSINESS A8 • HERMISTONHERALD.COM WEDNESDAY, JULY 15, 2020 New workplaces join list of COVID-19 outbreaks By JADE MCDOWELL NEWS EDITOR Umatilla County’s rising COVID-19 cases continue to touch more workplaces in the area, as the county passed the 1,000-case mark over the weekend of July 11-12. As of Tuesday, July 14, Uma- tilla County reported 1,073 con- fi rmed COVID-19 cases and 66 presumptive cases. After hitting a high of 17 hospitalizations on Fri- day, July 10, the county was at 12 hospitalized cases on July 14. An eighth Umatilla County resi- dent who was positive for COVID- 19 died on July 8, according to Umatilla County Public Health. The person was a 54-year-old man who died at his residence. Oregon Health Authority con- tinues to report worksite outbreaks in a report released each Wednes- day. The outbreaks on the list have at least 30 people at the worksite and have at least fi ve cases linked to that worksite, through employ- ees testing positive and close con- tacts of those employees testing positive after they do. Atkinson Staffi ng in Hermiston was added to the Oregon Health Authority’s list of outbreaks for July 8, with 13 cases linked to the company. Owner Michael Atkinson said he had previously brought in a company to test all employees, and at that point no one tested posi- tive, but since then there have been cases. He said Atkinson Staffi ng has a “very generous” COVID-19 sick Staff photo by Ben Lonergan Barbara Dickerson protests in support of stronger COVID-19 precautions in prisons outside of Eastern Oregon Correctional Institution in Pendleton on Friday, July 10, 2020. Dickerson’s husband is an inmate at EOCI who tested positive for COVID-19. leave policy because he doesn’t want anyone to feel that they must come to work sick to be able to support themselves. He said people are paid to stay home from the time they start showing symptoms until whatever quarantine period their doctor or the county health depart- ment asked them to follow is up. The nature of a staffi ng agency, where people come in looking for work and are sent on temporary work assignments in various loca- tions, can mean more exposure to the community than some work- places. But Atkinson said they are doing what they can, includ- ing paying people to stay home if they were exposed to some- one who tested positive, sanitiz- ing everything regularly and clos- ing down the offi ce so that people can only come in for a one-on-one appointment. “We’ve got people working from home that I wouldn’t have thought could work from home,” he said. Atkinson said so far all but a couple of the employees who have tested positive have experienced only mild symptoms. Lamb Weston’s potato process- ing plant in Hermiston remained on Cancer center offers online classes By JADE MCDOWELL NEWS EDITOR The Tri-Cities Cancer Cen- ter, which has a satellite offi ce in Hermiston, is offering free vir- tual classes to the community. Jennifer Hamilton, an oncol- ogy esthetician, is teaching “Skin Care for Cancer Conquer- ors” on Friday, July 17 from 10-11 a.m. The class will discuss skin care for patients going through chemotherapy or radiation treat- ment, or recently fi nished. Topics will include which products are safe to use, sun protection and avoiding rashes, dry skin or acne breakouts. Register by calling call 509- 737-3427 or visit tccancer.org/ event/free-community-presen- tation-skin-care-for-cancer-con- querors-virtual. The class is free, but registration is required to receive a link to the Zoom meeting. Doctors Lee Ostler from The Center for Dental Health and Guy Jones of the Tri-Cities Cancer Center will teach “Oral Health in Cancer Care” on Thursday, July 23, from 4-5 p.m. The class will cover how to maintain good oral care, nutri- tion and hygiene during can- cer treatments, including how to address oral side effects of the treatments. Register by calling call 509- 737-3427 or visit tccancer.org/ event/free-community-pre- sentation-oral-health-in-can- cer-care-virtual-class. the Oregon Health Authority’s list of outbreaks for a third week, with 115 cases linked to the worksite as of July 8. Lamb Weston spokeswoman Shelby Stoolman said in an email that the plant was closed for three weeks after the company learned of its fi rst four cases on June 15. “Since June 15, our staff have been at home with pay as we have done everything we can to under- stand the outbreak and how to bring our team back safely,” she said on July 8. “Today, we brought back a limited staff of about 30 people to begin reopening.” Columbia River Processing, a subsidiary of Tillamook in Board- man, remained on the list for a sec- ond week in a row with 22 cases. Oregon Potato Company in Board- man remained on the list with 11 cases. Hill Meat Company remained on the list with seven cases. Shearer’s Foods in Herm- iston was added to the Oregon Health Authority’s list for the fi rst time with 11 cases, but had previ- ously sent out a news release about its fi rst six cases. Medelez Trucking and Good Shepherd Health Care System in Hermiston, Umatilla County’s fi rst two worksites to land on OHA’s list in June, have both moved to the “resolved outbreaks” list after going more than 30 days without a new case linked to them. Two Rivers Correctional Insti- tution in Umatilla had fi ve cases linked to it as of July 8. Jennifer Black, communica- tions manager at Oregon Depart- ment of Corrections, said they will continue to test inmates who dis- play COVID-19 symptoms, screen employees, and sanitize common areas. “The health of our employees and the people we incarcerate is our highest priority,” Black said. Eastern Oregon Correctional Institution in Pendleton had its fi rst inmate test positive on July 8, according to a news release. As of July 13, the prison was report- ing 16 inmates and three staff had tested positive. Hermiston Herald reporter Nada Sewidan contributed to this report. OSHA has online reporting form HERMISTON HERALD The Occupational Safety and Health Administration is encour- aging workers and members of the public to use its online report- ing tool when reporting workplace hazards. According to a news release from OSHA, the agency is process- ing high numbers of complaints related to COVID-19, and while people can still call in, the online reporting form in English and Spanish is a quicker way to bring the complaint to their attention. Michael Wood, administra- tor for Oregon OSHA, said “Our online system is faster at absorbing complaints and allowing us to effi - ciently respond to them.” Gov. Kate Brown has des- ignated OSHA, rather than law enforcement, as the main enforce- ment agency for COVID-19 rules, such as keeping customers 6 feet apart and requiring people to wear a mask in indoor public spaces. For more information about OSHA or to report a workplace complaint of any kind, visit osha. oregon.gov. Dr. Shanley is welcoming new patients, 6 months and older, for all their primary care needs at Good Shepherd’s Primary Care Clinic. Dr. Shanley brings over 20 years of Family Medicine expertise, treating a large variety of different health conditions that will benefit his patients. “ I am happy to fulfill the need of primary care in Hermiston and the surrounding communities, and look forward to positively impacting the health and well- being for patients of all ages, through all stages of life. - Dr. Shanley ” Welcoming New Patients Welcome Family Medicine Physician, David Shanley, MD GOOD SHEPHERD MEDICAL GROUP Primary Care Clinic 541.667.3830 620 NW 11th Street, Suite 103 Hermiston, OR 97838
