The latest news stories across the state of Oregon from the digital home of the Oregon coastal cities, OregonBeachMagazine.com
Friday, December 11, 2020
Oregon Beach Weather
Today- Rain, mainly before 5pm. High near 48. South wind 8 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%. New precipitation amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.
Saturday- Rain likely after 4pm. Snow level 2300 feet. Increasing clouds, with a high near 47. East southeast wind 7 to 11 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%.
Sunday- Rain before 10am, then showers and possibly a thunderstorm after 10am. High near 49. South southwest wind 11 to 13 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90%. New rainfall amounts between a half and three quarters of an inch possible.
Monday- A chance of showers before 10am, then a chance of rain, mainly between 10am and 4pm. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 52. Chance of precipitation is 50%.
Tuesday- Rain. Cloudy, with a high near 54. Breezy.
HEADLINES
The Oregon Health Authority reported 1,586 new COVID-19 cases statewide.
The new confirmed and presumptive cases bring Oregon’s total during the pandemic to 89,838. There have been more than 2 million negative coronavirus tests in Oregon. There were 13 additional deaths reported Thursday in connection with COVID-19 in Oregon, bringing the state’s death toll to 1,123.
The number of hospitalized COVID-19 patients across Oregon is 576, which is four fewer than Wednesday. There are 127 COVID-19 patients in ICU beds, which is five fewer than Wednesday, according to OHA.
OHA also reported Thursday it was adopting new guidance for quarantining to follow CDC guidance. A person who has been exposed to the virus will need to quarantine if they have spent more than 15 minutes over a 24-hour period in close proximity (less than 6 feet away) with an infected person.
If a person has been near someone with COVID-19, they should stay home and at least 6 feet away from everyone, including the people they live with, for 14 days.
If there are no symptoms, ending the quarantine early can be considered after 10 days without testing, or after seven days if there is a negative result from an antigen or polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test that was administered less than 48 hours before they end quarantine.
If someone chooses to shorten their quarantine period, there is a small chance they may spread the disease to others post-quarantine, according to OHA, so it is critical they continue monitoring their symptoms for 14 days.
If the person does develop symptoms, they should continue to avoid contact with others and call their healthcare provider to discuss testing.
For more, go to https://govstatus.egov.com/OR-OHA-COVID-19.
Oregon introducing new framework for counties
Starting Dec. 3, Oregon is introducing a new framework of safety measures based on each county’s COVID-19 risk level.
The new framework has four risk levels. At each risk level — Extreme Risk, High Risk, Moderate Risk, and Lower Risk — health and safety measures and guidance for businesses and individuals apply.
Oregon counties that reduce their COVID-19 risk level in coming weeks and months will be able to incrementally move to lower levels.
It’s important to note that there is no zero risk category. Until COVID-19 vaccines are widely available, health and safety precautions will remain in place so that schools, businesses and communities can reopen, and stay open.
At every risk level, to prevent COVID-19 outbreaks, Oregonians must continue to wear face coverings, watch their physical distance, wash hands, stay home when sick, and keep social get-togethers and gatherings small.
Visit Coronavirus.oregon.gov for details.
Lincoln County enters extreme-risk COVID-19 category
Lincoln County Public Health reports 131 new confirmed cases since November 29th of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19. Although there are two days left in the two-week reporting period, our case rate has already surpassed the level to enter “extreme risk” as of December 18th. During each two-week reporting period if Lincoln County has 97 confirmed and presumptive cases then we will be in the extreme risk category. The extreme risk threshold is set at a rate of 200 cases per 100,000 people. In addition to the rise in cases, Lincoln County has also had 6 people in local hospitals this week with COVID-19.
Public Health is notifying the community before the official notice from the State of Oregon so that individuals and business can start to prepare now. Some changes that will happen effective Friday, December 18 are:
- Indoor dining is prohibited while outdoor capacity reduces to 50 people.
- Faith institutions and funeral homes reduce indoor capacity to 25% or 100 people total, whichever is smaller. Outdoor services limited to 150 people.
- Indoor entertainment, recreation, and fitness is prohibited.
- Long-Term Care facilities may have outside visitation only.
- Offices must require remote work if able and offices close to the public.
- Outdoor recreation & fitness facilities are limited to 50 people.
- Outdoor social and at-home gatherings are reduced to a maximum of 6 people. Indoor social gatherings remain at 6 people.
Case investigators in Lincoln County have been completing detailed investigative interviews with all positive COVID cases. Public Health is keeping up on case investigations and contact tracing but are now asking the public to help by being proactive in notifications. Sometimes staff are not getting the full picture from the people they speak with because they either forgot a few contacts or they do not want to share who their contacts are.
The community can help public health during this surge by doing the following:
- If someone knows for a fact that they are a close contact of a confirmed COVID case, we are asking that they start their quarantine immediately and not wait for public health to call them.
- If someone learns they are positive, make a list of the people they have been around for the 48 hours prior to symptoms or the 48 hours prior to the tests, whichever is earlier. The information public health needs is name, date of birth, and phone number for each contact. This will help speed up the contact tracing process. If comfortable, notify these contacts on your own so they know to quarantine.
“We expected to see an increase in cases this fall and winter, and right now it is increasing at a rate where it is becoming difficult to keep up with all of the contacts” said Public Health Deputy Director Florence Pourtal.
Case investigators have begun prioritizing outbreaks, specifically in high-risk settings such as long-term care facilities and other congregate spaces. In addition to the positive cases, there are 150 contacts being monitored daily. This is a substantial increase in cases for Lincoln County. While public health is keeping up, they are having to pull staff in from other programs to keep up with the cases.
An ”after the test” guide is available that explains the steps to take after a COVID test, while waiting for results, and then if you test positive. It includes information on isolation and quarantine, and when and how to tell close contacts and employers.
Lincoln County has also adapted a COVID-19 outbreak guide from Multnomah County to offer employers at businesses with multiple cases, so they know what information to gather and send to Public Health. The toolkit includes employee sick leave information, protocols on employee testing, and details about when an employee can return to work.
“We have hit our limit,” Pourtal said. “Now we’re asking everyone to be a partner in the work with us.”
For more information on the state’s response to the pandemic, please go to coronavirus.oregon.govFacebookTwitterShare
Commercial Crabbing to Open on Southern Oregon Coast
The commercial Dungeness crab fishery will open along the southern Oregon Coast in time to put crab on the table for Christmas.
Fishery managers announced crab vessels will be allowed to set gear beginning Sunday from Cape Falcon near Manzanita south to the California border. The first pull of ocean crab pots starts Wednesday.
Commercial crabbing is delayed on the North Coast until levels of the marine toxin domoic acid drop in crab caught in Washington state. More testing is needed in Washington to determine crab is safe. The two fisheries will start together.
Crab tested in Oregon’s harvest areas have remained well below alert levels.
The West Coast commercial Dungeness fishery is coordinated under a tri-state agreement between Washington, Oregon and California. It is Oregon’s most lucrative fishery, with an average ex-vessel value of $39.5 million. Last season, Oregon crabbers landed more than 20 million pounds of crab.
The recreational crab fishery is already open along the entire Oregon Coast.
House fire off 101 just south of Waldport –
9:20am Fully engulfed house fire at 1115 White Cap Drive, just south of Waldport off 101. Firefighters are converging on the scene…but the driveway is too narrow for the fire engines. Firefighters will stage the fire engines and tenders on the shoulder of 101 and run the water lines up the roadway. MOTORISTS!! SLOW DOWN THROUGH THE AREA!!!
WARNING TO NEWPORT RESIDENTS!! Water line flushing Monday Dec. 14th in these areas:
NE 20th-NE 12th… NE 17th to dead end… NE Harney from Big Creek Rd. to NE 32nd… NE Lakeview to NE Jackson Pl… NE Iler beween Big Creek Rd. & NE Lakewood Dr.
*Note additional laundry advisory.
For residents in these areas, be advised City of Newport Public Works will be doing water line flushing on Monday, Dec. 14th, from early morning until mid-afternoon in your area. You may temporarily have dirty tap water from harmless sediment. This can be cleared by running your taps for 10-15 minutes. We suggest you avoid doing laundry during this flushing period.
For questions, please call Public Works Operations at 541-574-5874.
AROUND the STATE of OREGON
Gov. Brown to hold coronavirus pandemic press conference Friday –
Oregon Governor Kate Brown is expected to hold an update on the ongoing fight against the coronavirus pandemic at 11 a.m. on Friday morning. The governor is expected to reveal more about how the state will distribute a coronavirus vaccine. The Oregon Health Authority is already preparing for the first shipment of the Pfizer vaccine, which cleared a major hurdle Thursday. Once the Food and Drug Administration authorizes the vaccine for use, experts from Oregon, Washington, California and Nevada will independently review the vaccine.
Oregon to get 100K vaccine doses in first distribution wave –
There is hope as the nation gets closer to a coronavirus vaccine. Vaccine experts at OHA said 100,000 doses will be given to the State of Oregon from Pfizer.
Officials with OHA say both vaccines are 95 percent effective. Like other vaccines, it’s common to have side effects after they’re given, the severity of which can vary depending on the person.
As for the country, OHA officials said 100 million doses will be sent out and we won’t expect more until summer of 2021. Regardless of where they are sent, the Pfizer vaccine will require ultra-cold storage.
“The Pfizer order is a minimum order size of 975 doses, so those are being targeted to those larger hospitals,” said Rex Larson, Planning Unit Manager with Oregon Health Authority, “and the Moderna allocations, they are coming a week later, but they’re going to go some of those smaller, rural hospitals that wouldn’t be able to use the entire Pfizer allocation and won’t be able to store it.”
Nine different hospitals throughout Oregon will have ultra-cold storage. Specific hospitals will be announced later.
Pfizer vaccines are expected to be released on Dec. 15 and the Moderna vaccine on Dec. 22
The former UPS driver accused of shooting at drivers along I-5 in southern Oregon has
been indicted on 34 counts in Jackson County Circuit Court, the county District
Attorney’s Office announced on Thursday.
State troopers arrested 49-year-old Kenneth Ayers in August following a string of shootings between Douglas, Josephine, and Jackson counties — one of which injured a woman near Central Point.
A Jackson County grand jury indicted Ayers on three counts of Attempted Murder in the
Second Degree, one count of Assault in the Second Degree, eight counts of Unlawful
Use of a Weapon, 14 counts of Recklessly Endangering Another Person, two counts of
Criminal Mischief in the First Degree, and six counts of Criminal Mischief in the Second
Degree. Ayers’ next court date is scheduled for Thursday, where he is expected to be arraigned on the indictment. The case against him is being prosecuted by Deputy District Attorney Virginia Greer.
Rain and snow returns to Oregon this weekend!
Rain in the valley and snow in the mountains will be possible just about every day for the coming 10 days, bringing a much-needed shot of moisture during what’s supposed to be the state’s wettest month.
Snow is also expected at pass levels, with 6 to 12 inches expected Thursday to Saturday. Driving could be a moderate challenge, with snow on the road, but no whiteout conditions are expected.
“We had a big high-pressure system sitting off the coast that just acted like a giant boulder that blocked all the storm systems trying to come in from the ocean,” National Weather Service meteorologist Clinton Rockey said. “It’s finally moving out of the way, and as a result, we should see a series of systems and not too many blue skies.”
Largest active COVID-19 workplace outbreaks in Oregon are at prisons
There are 124 active COVID-19 workplace outbreaks in Oregon as of this week reported by the Oregon Health Authority (OHA). The three largest active workplace outbreaks in Oregon are at prisons.
In this week’s workplace outbreaks data from the OHA, six of Oregon’s correctional institutions showed up in the report. The largest active outbreak remains at the Snake River Correctional Institution in Ontario, with a total of 554 cases reported.
The three largest active workplace outbreaks in Oregon are at prisons and account for 1,349 total cases :
- Snake River Correctional Institution, Ontario: 554 cases (The first reported case was June 24, 2020 and the most recent onset was reported Dec. 4, 2020).
- Eastern Oregon Correctional Institution, Pendleton: 522 cases (The first reported case was July 8, 2020 and the most recent onset was reported Dec. 7, 2020).
- Oregon State Correctional Institution, Salem: 202 cases (The first reported case was Sept. 28, 2020 and the most recent onset was reported Dec. 3, 2020).
- Deer Ridge Correctional Institution, Madras: 57 cases (The first reported case was Nov. 13, 2020 and the most recent onset was reported Dec. 3, 2020).
- Coffee Creek Intake Center, Wilsonville: 8 cases (The first reported case was Nov. 4, 2020 and the most recent onset was reported Nov. 23, 2020) .
- Sheridan Correctional Institution, Sheridan: 6 cases (The first reported case was Oct. 19, 2020 and the most recent onset was reported Nov. 25, 2020).
A new government report on high speed rail in the Pacific Northwest recommends that
Oregon, Washington and British Columbia formalize their interest in a Cascadia bullet
train by creating an independent body to plan and eventually build it.
But a critic with a conservative think tank said the region should take heed of California’s high speed rail
woes and end the Cascadia bullet train ambitions, the Northwest News Network reported. The new study built on previous state-sponsored studies that asserted there is sufficient demand for trains running at up to 250 miles per hour between Portland, Seattle and Vancouver, BC. Oregon Gov. Kate Brown, Washington Gov. Jay Inslee, British Columbia Premier John Horgan and Microsoft President Brad Smith on Tuesday renewed their endorsements of a Cascadia bullet train.