The latest news stories across the state of Oregon from the digital home of the Oregon coastal cities, OregonBeachMagazine.com
Monday, May 17, 2021
Oregon Beach Weather
Today– Cloudy, with a high near 54. Calm wind becoming west southwest 5 to 9 mph in the afternoon.
Tuesday– A 30 percent chance of showers before 11am. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 57. Calm wind becoming west northwest 5 to 8 mph in the afternoon.
Wednesday– A 50 percent chance of showers. Mostly sunny, with a high near 54. Light north northwest wind becoming northwest 8 to 13 mph in the afternoon.
Thursday– A 30 percent chance of showers, mainly before 11am. Mostly sunny, with a high near 56.
Friday– Partly sunny, with a high near 59.
Oregon reports 507 new confirmed and presumptive COVID-19 cases, 2 new deaths
There are two new COVID-19 related deaths in Oregon, raising the state’s death toll to 2,587 the Oregon Health Authority reported 507 new confirmed and presumptive cases of COVID-19 bringing the state total to 195,684.
The new confirmed and presumptive COVID-19 cases reported today are in the following counties: Benton (7), Clackamas (45), Columbia (3), Coos (12), Crook (6), Deschutes (58), Douglas (7), Jackson (15), Jefferson (5), Josephine (6), Klamath (20), Lane (39), Lincoln (3), Linn (39), Malheur (3), Marion (90), Multnomah (96), Polk (9), Washington (30), and Yamhill (14).
Vaccinations in Oregon
Today, OHA reported that 23,075 new doses of COVID-19 vaccinations were added to the state immunization registry. Of this total, 18,438 doses were administered on May 15 and 4,637 were administered on previous days but were entered into the vaccine registry on May 15.
As of today, there are 2,061,755 people who have had at least one dose of a vaccine. A total of 1,470,984 have received a second dose of Pfizer or Moderna vaccines.
The seven-day running average is now 29,334 doses per day.
Oregon has now administered a total of 3,538,855 million vaccine doses, which includes: 1,942,650 first and second doses of Pfizer; 1,473,499 first and second doses of Moderna; 121,124 single doses of Johnson & Johnson (1,582 doses were administered but vaccine product information was not specified).
Cumulative daily totals can take several days to finalize because providers have 72 hours to report doses administered and technical challenges have caused many providers to lag in their reporting. OHA has been providing technical support to vaccination sites to improve the timeliness of their data entry into the state’s ALERT Immunization Information System (IIS).
These data are preliminary and subject to change. OHA’s dashboards provide regularly updated vaccination data, and Oregon’s dashboard has been updated today.
COVID-19 hospitalizations
The number of hospitalized patients with COVID-19 across Oregon is 339, which is seven more than yesterday. There are 82 COVID-19 patients in intensive care unit (ICU) beds, which is seven more than yesterday.
The total number of COVID-19 positive patient bed-days in the most recent seven days is 2,376, which is a 2.2% increase from the previous seven days. The peak daily number of beds occupied by COVID-19 positive patients in the most recent seven days is 351.
The total number of patients in hospital beds may fluctuate between report times. The numbers do not reflect admissions per day, nor the length of hospital stay. Staffing limitations are not captured in this data and may further limit bed capacity. More information about hospital capacity can be found here.
To Mask of Not to Mask – Oregon considers vaccine passport requirement to remove mask in businesses
Though Governor Kate Brown says that Oregon will embrace the CDC’s newly-loosened mask and distancing guidance, Oregon officials say that the responsibility for verifying vaccination status will fall on businesses and other organizations if they want to follow the new recommendations.
State epidemiologist Dr. Dean Sidelinger held a briefing with members of the media on Friday, delivering an update on the current state of COVID-19 in Oregon and giving more information about how the state will handle the CDC changes. Sidelinger said that Oregon’s daily COVID-19 case rate has been falling, if slowly, and hospitalizations have plateaued without seeing a significant drop. With OHA guidance still forthcoming, Sidelinger did not go into detail about how this process will be enforced.
Businesses will still have the choice of adhering to current risk level requirements and eschewing the changes for vaccine verification entirely. What businesses can’t do, Sidelinger said, is decide to serve only vaccinated or un-
vaccinated customers.
Grocery store chains in Oregon including Fred Meyer, Safeway, Albertsons, New Seasons and QFC said they would keep requiring all customers to wear masks for now.
Looks like we’ll have to wait a bit still to know exactly what to do in each county and community.
LOCAL HEADLINES:
4.1 Earthquake Strikes 100 Miles West of Southern Oregon Coast
A 4.1-magnitude earthquake shook the bottom of the Pacific Ocean around 8 a.m. Sunday, according to the U.S. Geological Survey, which tracks the events. The quake struck about 100 miles west of Port Orford.
It was the 10th-strongest earthquake off Oregon’s coast in 2021 so far, coming about two-and-a-half weeks after three separate quakes set just as many still-unbeaten records for the year. The strongest among them hit magnitude 5.4.
Mini-earthquakes strike often near Oregon’s coast, a regular reminder of the cataclysmic earthquake geologists say will happen when the pressure building between the Juan de Fuca and North American plates breaks.
Per Oregon officials, scientists say there is a 37% chance that a 7.1 magnitude or higher earthquake will happen at the boundary between the two tectonic plates, called the Cascadia Subduction Zone, in the next 50 years.
USGS Magnitude 2.5+ Earthquakes: https://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/map/?extent=9.1021,-151.25977&extent=59.31077,-38.75977
Online Child Sexual Exploitation Sting Leads To Two Arrests and Other Warrants In Curry County
Following a month-long investigation, Curry County Sheriffs arrested two men in connection to child sex crimes.
The investigation was carried out by detectives from the Curry County Sheriff’s Office and a task force which is composed of Oregon State Police and the Brookings Police Department. The task force has been investigating child exploitation crimes and conducting operations to intercept adults online who seek out children and intend to meet them in person for sex.
On May 12, deputies and detectives with the Curry County Sheriff’s Office, alongside OSP and Brookings Police, arrested two men who arranged to meet in person to engage in sexual intercourse and deviant sexual intercourse with a person they believed to be a child under the age of 16.
The two men in custody are 71-year-old Robert Chester Wittren and 47-year-old Dominique Jason Mclean and both reside or have temporary residences in Curry County. Both men are being lodged at the Curry County Jail for the crimes of Online Sexual Corruption of a Child 1st degree, Online Sexual Corruption of a Child 2nd degree, and Luring a Minor.
The investigation also yielded another three adult males in the Southern Oregon area between the ages of 21 to 71 that engaged in sexualized chat, including sending pornographic pictures and videos to a person they believed to be a child. Probable cause exists and arrest warrants are forthcoming for these three other adult men. Upon their arrests, the Sheriff’s Office will issue another press release.
According to State Data Half of Coos County Residents over 16 now Vaccinated
Just about half of Coos County residents over 16 have received a dose of a COVID-19 vaccine, according to state data. This comes as the county reports some of the lowest case rates it has experienced since positive tests first started appearing last year.
But the rate of vaccinations, which has been slowing in recent weeks, won’t yet qualify the county for reduced restrictions under a new plan announced by Gov. Kate Brown Tuesday. Under that plan, any county with 65% of its 16-plus population would be eligible to move to the lower-risk category of virus restrictions starting May 21.
Coos County likely won’t hit that target by then. The latest data show the county will remain in the moderate-risk category of restrictions for at least another week.
The county reported 68 new cases per 100,000 in population over the last two weeks and a test positivity rate of 2.6%, according to Oregon Health Authority data released Tuesday.
Coos Health & Wellness Deputy Director Dr. Eric Gleason said additional vaccinations will be the key to continuing the community’s low case rates.
As of Wednesday, the county hadn’t begun vaccinating children between the ages of 12 and 15. The Pfizer vaccine had been approved for emergency use by one federal regulatory body, but not a western states review committee.
Once the vaccine is approved in Oregon, Gleason said the county will work with the South Coast Education Service District and area school districts to set up vaccination opportunities for interested students.
According to Gleason, vaccine distribution efforts have been moving towards a model more like flu shot distribution, with fewer mass vaccination events and more vaccines available at providers’ offices and community sites like schools or employers.
Vaccine doses can be scheduled at Bay Area Hospital, Coquille Valley Hospital, Southern Coos Hospital & Health Center, Coos Health & Wellness and Broadway Pharmacy online at www.communityhealth.events/scheduler/ or by calling 541-435-7353.
Notably, those events include all three types of vaccines, including the Pfizer version open to 16- and 17-year-olds and a one-shot Johnson & Johnson event in Lakeside.
The vaccine is available at a number of other locations across the county, including Rite Aid, Walmart, Safeway, Fred Meyer and more.
Coast Guard Medevacs Injured Hiker Near Port Orford.
The Coast Guard medevaced a hiker who fell from the cliffs above Nellies Cove on Monday evening near Port Orford.
A 21-year-old male hiker had reportedly fallen and sustained multiple injuries needing emergency medical attention.
At approximately 6:30 p.m., watchstanders at Coast Guard Sector North Bend received an agency assistance request from Curry County dispatch.
Local emergency responders were on scene rendering initial medical care when the Coast Guard aircrew arrived. The fallen hiker was hoisted into the helicopter at 8:40 p.m. and transported to Bay Area Hospital in Coos Bay.
The hiker was conscious and in stable condition at 8:50 p.m. when transferred to awaiting Bay Area Hospital personnel.
AROUND the STATE of OREGON
Eugene Police Department Warns Of Fentanyl in Fake Prescription Drugs and Rise In Overdose Deaths
There has been a significant increase in overdose deaths attributed to fentanyl, according to the Eugene Police Department. Most commonly, these deaths have been linked to fake prescription drugs that are actually fentanyl, police said.
The fake prescription drugs are usually not white in appearance whereas the actual prescriptions are white and occasionally a very light blue color. Police said the fake drugs are commonly bright blue.
The “M” on one side and the “30” on the other are stamped to make the pill appear to be oxycodone hydrochloride, which is prescribed to treat moderate to severe pain. Officials said these are fake and actually contain fentanyl.
Fake prescription medications can be identified by the color and by looking at the stamping on the pill, police said. The fake pills do not have the same manufacturing standards and the imprinting on the pill is usually not well defined or professional in appearance.
Fentanyl is around 100 times stronger than morphine and around 50 times stronger than heroin. Very small amounts of this drug can kill, according to police.
Several Wildfires Start Following Lightning Strikes in Jackson County
According to the Oregon Department of Forestry Southwest District, several wildfires ignited Friday afternoon after lightning strikes struck Northern Jackson County.
The largest fire was estimated to be a quarter of an acre and was located off of Highway 62 near Crowfoot road. ODF resources alongside Jackson County Fire District 4 and Fire District 3 responded to that fire and have since contained and mopped up the flames.
There were at least three reported fires after lightning strikes hit the northern part of Jackson County. ODFSW also says that all three of those fires have since been contained and mopped up.
ODFSW also states that it will continue to monitor the area for fires started by lightning strikes over the next few weeks.
If you notice black smoke in an area where a lightning strike has occurred, ODFSW asks that you please call 911 to report the incident.
7th Street Traffic in Grants Pass Diverted for Disorderly Man on Railroad Scaffolding
On Saturday, May 15, 2021 at approximately 7:15 AM, the Grants Pass Department of Public Safety 911 center received emergency calls regarding a male subject on top of the railroad scaffolding on 7th St. Police, Fire/Rescue, and medical units with AMR were dispatched to the scene.
Motorized and potential railroad traffic were halted and diverted while Police and Fire personnel began addressing the man on top of the 15-20-foot-high scaffolding.
Early in their contact with the man, police determined he was in crisis , and possibly under the influence of an intoxicant. Fire/Rescue requested their fire apparatus equipped with a ladder and platform respond to the scene. Police utilized the arial platform to position themselves close enough so they could speak to the man.
Members from the GPDPS Crisis Negotiations Team (CNT) were activated, as well as members from the Mobile Crisis Team. The Mobile Crisis Team is comprised of clinicians who work for Options of Southern Oregon, but who partner with the Grants Pass Department of Public Safety. The partnership enables rapid contact from mental health professionals to those who are experiencing a mental health crisis.
As those units were responding, officers continued to de-escalate the situation. As CNT and the Mobile Crisis Team were arriving, the man later identified as 41-year-old Arthur Cassidy agreed to climb down off the scaffolding. Cassidy was taken into custody uninjured.
Officers with the Grants Pass Department of Public Safety receive training in crisis intervention which was critical in this incident that lasted one and a half hours. Cassidy was lodged at the Josephine County Jail for disorderly conduct, and criminal trespass. There, he will be seen by mental health and other services. The Grants Pass Department of Public Safety would like to thank the public for being patient as we took the time to resolve this matter successfully. — Grants Pass Dept. of Public Safety
Oregon Businesses Closed by the Thousands Early in the Pandemic but Most Have Come Back
Nearly 13,000 Oregon businesses closed during the spring of 2020, according to data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics compiled by state economic development agency Business Oregon.
That’s an astonishingly high number – the largest tally in nearly 30 years, and nearly double any single quarter on record. In a typical quarter, about 5,500 Oregon businesses close permanently.
Last spring’s closures didn’t last, though.
Over the next three months, Oregon recorded 11,600 business openings – another record. Most of those were businesses that closed briefly, according to Business Oregon, then reopened after the “stay home” order that accompanied COVID-19′s arrival in Oregon in March 2020.
The gap between businesses that closed in the spring and opened in the summer numbers more than 1,100. Those could be businesses that closed permanently, but the bureau doesn’t officially classify them as gone forever until they report no employment at all for four consecutive quarters.
The number of Oregon businesses that closed from July through September of last year, the latest period for which the bureau has published data, was only marginally higher than in the same period a year ago.
There are other signs that Oregon businesses have held up during the pandemic. The number of new businesses in the state increased 3.9% last year despite the pandemic, and the number of bankruptcies fell sharply.
Economists credit billions of dollars in federal aid with helping sustain businesses through the heart of the pandemic. Business owners got creative, too, adapting their approach to serve customers remotely and see themselves through the pandemic.
While Oregon is emerging from the pandemic, many businesses say they’re still on the edge – and a labor shortage could add pressure through the summer. So more businesses may yet founder.
Overall, though, the business closure data is another indication that Oregon’s steepest, deepest recession wasn’t nearly as bad as feared.