With cases surging, Governor urges Oregonians to protect themselves and others by getting vaccinated Salem, OR—Governor Kate Brown held a press conference today to provide an update on the status of COVID-19 in Oregon. The Governor was joined by Dr. Peter Graven, Lead Data Scientist, Oregon Health & Science University; Mariana Robins, a 15-year old with long-haul COVID-19 symptoms; Dr. Dean Sidelinger, State Epidemiologist, Oregon Health Authority (OHA); and Dana Hargunani, Chief Medical Officer, OHA.

“As we are facing widespread cases, driven by new, more contagious variants, I was presented with data showing two paths Oregon could take: One in which we took no additional action and stood by while more people die from this disease, and another that required a temporary tightening of restrictions for certain counties but could save hundreds of lives and prevent as many as 450 hospitalizations over the next three weeks. As your Governor, I chose to save lives,” said Governor Brown.

“There is some good news. The same scientific modeling also shows that over the course of the next two-to-three weeks, based on current vaccination rates, we can get ahead of these variants. Following that trajectory, we should be able to lift restrictions statewide and return to a sense of normalcy no later than the end of June.

“We are asking for your help today. We know vaccinations are the best way to protect yourself and your loved ones, and they are the key to fully reopening our economy and moving forward to post-pandemic life. But it will take each and everyone one of us to do our part to get there. If you haven’t been vaccinated, please do so now — there are many available appointments statewide.”

Additional Materials
• A copy of the Governor’s prepared remarks from today’s press conference is available here.
• A copy of a Governor’s letter being sent to Extreme Risk counties and other stakeholders is available here.
• More information on vaccines is available at covidvaccine.oregon.gov.

OHSU Data
• Data and analysis from OHSU is available on their website under the section titled “OHSU COVID-19 forecast.”
• OHSU’s COVID forecast for April 30, 2021 is available here.

Newsroom article found here.

Oregon voters will soon begin receiving their ballots for the Tuesday, May 18, 2021 special district elections. Oregon voters will find on their ballot races for local school board, utility districts, and other special districts that provide leadership and direction on essential public services.

“There’s an intense focus on elections when we’re working to elect a President, but these local races also have a substantial impact on our everyday lives,” said Oregon Secretary of State Shemia Fagan. “The May 18 election will determine who will sit on school boards, funding through bond measures, and representation on water, fire, and other special districts that provide critical services across the state.”

Eligible voters are all citizens over the age of 18, including those who were formerly incarcerated and/or who have received a felony conviction.

Oregonians have several options for returning ballots for the Tuesday, May 18 election. Voters can mail back their ballot using the pre-paid postage envelope that accompanies each ballot or they can return their ballots to any official drop box location throughout the state. To find the nearest official drop box location, click here and enter the address where you are registered to vote: https://sos.oregon.gov/voting/pages/drop-box-locat…

“Most Oregon voters will receive their ballots in the mail over the next week. Be on the lookout for your ballot and information from your county elections office,” Secretary Fagan added. “All elections matter. This is your opportunity to have a say in the future of your communities.”

Voters with questions about their ballot should contact their county elections office. A complete list can be found at oregonvotes.gov/counties.

Lincoln County Digital Voter’s Pamphlet

Register to Vote

Original State of Oregon Newsroom article

Governor Kate Brown today extended her declaration of a state of emergency for COVID-19 for 60 days, until June 28, 2021, unless earlier rescinded or extended.

The declaration is the legal underpinning for the Governor’s COVID-19 executive orders and the Oregon Health Authority’s health and safety guidance; it also provides additional flexibility for the state and private parties responding to the challenges of the pandemic, from allowing restaurants to offer cocktails-to-go to allowing greater flexibility in who may administer vaccines. Extending the state of emergency also helps ensure Oregon is able to fully utilize available federal COVID-19 relief and assistance, including assistance with vaccine distribution.

The Governor issued the following statement:

“We are in the middle of the fourth surge of COVID-19 in Oregon, driven by more contagious variants of the disease. We must stop hospitalizations from spiking, so we can save lives, help our nurses and doctors weather this surge, and ensure no Oregonian is denied vital health care. Tomorrow, 15 counties are moving to the Extreme Risk Level, with nine more in High Risk. Hospitalizations nearly doubled in the last two weeks, to well over 300.

“At this time last year, there was so much we did not know about how to stop the spread of this deadly disease. Now, more than a year into the COVID-19 pandemic, Oregonians know the best ways to avoid spreading infection: limiting gatherings when cases are high, wearing face coverings, maintaining physical distance, staying home when sick, and––most importantly––getting vaccinated as soon as possible. We just have to hold on for a few weeks longer.

“I intend to fully reopen our economy by the end of June, and the day is approaching when my emergency orders can eventually be lifted. How quickly we get there is up to each and every one of us doing our part. Over 1.7 million Oregonians have received at least one dose of vaccine, and over 1.2 million are fully vaccinated against this deadly disease.

“But the overwhelming majority of our new COVID-19 cases are from people who have not yet been vaccinated. Younger, unvaccinated Oregonians are now showing up in our hospitals with severe cases of COVID-19. Right now, more than ever, as we see the path over the peak of the spring surge and down the other side, we need Oregonians to step up and take on the personal responsibility to get vaccinated. Vaccinations are the best way to protect yourself, your friends, and your loved ones. They are also the quickest path toward lifting restrictions.

“Today, I am lifting Oregon’s executive order for price gouging related to the pandemic, because the days of hand sanitizer and, yes, toilet paper scarcity are far behind us. In the weeks to come, as the number of fully vaccinated Oregonians continues to grow, we will be able to lift the emergency orders and state regulations that have kept us safe for the past year.”

The Governor reviews and reevaluates each of her emergency orders every 60 days, to determine whether those orders should be continued, modified, or rescinded. The findings of this review process are listed in the executive order.

Original news release found here.

It remains important to wear a mask and maintain social distancing.

On April 13^th, 2020, Lincoln City’s City Council adopted ordinance 2020-09 declaring foam polystyrene (Styrofoam) plastic food and other containers a public nuisance. The use of these containers has been prohibited.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, however, the effective date of the ordinance was delayed by a year. This was done to give restaurants time to shift to environmentally friendly containers.

We have now passed the end of the one-year postponement. The ban on foam polystyrene containers went into effect on April 13^th, 2021.

Grace Period

In order to give businesses additional time to use up existing foam container stock, enforcement of the plastic foam food container ban will be delayed by an additional 90 days.

After July 13^th, 2021, the ban on foam polystyrene food containers will be enforced. Violations will be Class C misdemeanors that include fines.

Thank You for Your Help

Styrofoam is a major source of ocean pollution. It breaks down into microplastic pieces that literally take thousands of years to fully decompose.

Your assistance in helping to remove this source of pollution from Lincoln City is greatly appreciated.

Thank you for making Lincoln City cleaner, greener and safer for everyone.

WILDFIRE READINESS PRESENTATIONS ANNOUNCED

Click this link to view/translate this communication in other languages. Oprima en este enlace para ver/traducir esta comunicación en otros idiomas.

The Lincoln County Fire Defense Board, Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office and Lincoln County Public Health are partnering together to prepare our community members, business owners, and visitors on our local wildfire threat conditions, public safety evacuation response procedures, and efforts individuals can take to be ready for wildfire season.
May 1st is Wildfire Community Preparedness Day; this is a great day to develop a list of the items you can do around your home or property for wildfire mitigation.

Over the next several weeks you will see that many of our state partners have already or will be kicking off wildfire readiness programs. We will try to share these when they are referred to us and post on our local “What’s happening now” webpage.

Locally, due to continued physical distancing, our outreach campaign will be offered in a virtual format until we can be with you again for in person events. We are expanding our 2-hour Lincoln County Wildfire Readiness presentation into six modules and adding an additional session for each Fire District/Department of Lincoln County. These sessions, split up into modules will give more flexibility to our community members to pick and choose those sessions of most interest to them.

Wildfire Readiness Community Presentations – Virtual:

All presentations are scheduled from 7-8pm; the recordings and presentation slides will be posted to the website for access.

Due to the rapid spread of COVID-19 in Oregon, Governor Kate Brown today announced updates to county risk levels under the state’s public health framework. With hospitalizations rising above 300 people statewide, threatening to overwhelm doctors and nurses, 15 counties will move to the Extreme Risk level effective Friday, April 30 through Thursday, May 6. In addition, nine counties will be in the High Risk level, four at Moderate Risk, and eight at Lower Risk. A complete list of counties and their risk levels is available here.

“If we don’t act now, doctors, nurses, hospitals, and other health care providers in Oregon will be stretched to their limits treating severe cases of COVID-19,” said Governor Brown. “Today’s announcement will save lives and help stop COVID-19 hospitalizations from spiking even higher. With new COVID-19 variants widespread in so many of our communities, it will take all of us working together to bring this back under control.”

Governor Brown is partnering with lawmakers to approve a $20 million small business emergency relief package to immediately support impacted businesses in Extreme Risk counties through the commercial rent relief program. [Lincoln County is at High Risk]

In an effort to speed up the return to normal business operations, county COVID-19 data will be evaluated weekly for at least the next three weeks. Any updates to county risk levels next week will be announced on Tuesday, May 4 and take effect on Friday, May 7. Counties that improve their COVID-19 metrics will have the opportunity to move to a lower risk level. Counties will remain in Extreme Risk for a maximum of three weeks.

Continued Governor Brown: “The fastest way to lift health and safety restrictions is for Oregonians to get vaccinated as quickly as possible and follow the safety measures we know stop this virus from spreading. I recognize the burden these restrictions place on Oregon businesses and working families. My goal is to lift these restrictions as soon as it is safely possible, and keep Oregon on the path for lifting most health and safety requirements by the end of June so we can fully reopen our economy. But we will only get there if enough Oregonians get vaccinated. There are appointments available right now all across the state.”

Governor partnering with Legislature for $20 million for immediate aid to businesses in Extreme Risk counties, announces updates to outdoor capacity limits

Governor Brown is also partnering with legislators on a $20 million emergency relief package to provide immediate aid to impacted businesses in Extreme Risk counties through the state’s commercial rent relief program.

Governor Brown continued: “After conversations with legislative leaders, I am confident we can move quickly to bring relief to businesses and their employees in Extreme Risk counties. The vast majority of Oregon businesses have followed our health and safety guidance to protect Oregonians from COVID-19, even though doing so has come with an economic cost. This emergency aid will help businesses in Extreme Risk counties.”

In addition, the Governor announced that outdoor capacity limits for bars, restaurants, and other sectors will be raised from 50 to 100 people in Extreme Risk counties, with health and safety measures, including physical distancing, in place.

Added Governor Brown: “We know that the risk of COVID-19 transmission is lower outdoors. I am urging all Oregonians, if you choose to gather with others, keep it outdoors. Indoor transmission is a key driver in the COVID-19 surge that is making renewed health and safety restrictions necessary.”

The Oregon Health Authority will also be working to align Oregon’s outdoor mask guidance with the CDC guidance announced today.

Three-week limit placed on Extreme Risk level, Portland-area hospitals to closely monitor capacity

Under the Risk Level framework, counties move to (or remain in) Extreme Risk when they meet the county metrics for case rates and percent positivity, and Oregon meets statewide hospitalization metrics: COVID-19 positive patients occupying 300 hospital beds or more, and a 15% increase in the seven-day hospitalization average over the past week.

Counties will stay in Extreme Risk for a maximum of three weeks, and will be able to move to a lower risk level sooner if their COVID-19 case rates are brought down in the intervening weeks, or if Oregon moves below 300 statewide hospitalizations or the seven-day hospitalization average percent increase goes below 15 percent.

The Governor has also worked in partnership with Portland metro-area hospitals to ensure systems are in place to closely monitor and manage hospital capacity. Health systems in the Portland area are using the coordinated system developed at the beginning of the pandemic to manage hospital surge capacity, bed space, essential services, and non-urgent procedures as needed over the next three weeks in order to preserve hospital beds and critical care capacity.

Continued Governor Brown: “I want to thank hospital and health care leaders for the work they are doing to manage hospital bed space, so that no Oregonian is turned away from receiving the health care they need. Now, I am asking Oregonians to do their part to help stop the spread of COVID-19 in our communities so we can help support our nurses, doctors, and frontline health care workers.”

The Governor has asked hospital leaders to alert the Governor’s Office and OHA immediately if additional measures are needed to preserve hospital capacity.

If, after three weeks, Oregon still exceeds statewide hospitalization metrics and one or more counties still meet the case rates and percent positivity for Extreme Risk, the Oregon Health Authority will evaluate why and make recommendations to the Governor’s Office.

The Oregon Health Authority updated the COVID-19 Sector Risk Level Guidance Chart as of April 23, 2021 with changes primarily include allowance for indoor full-contact sports. See chart below.

Salem, OR—Governor Kate Brown held a press conference today to provide an update on the status of COVID-19 in Oregon, and to urge Oregonians to make a plan to get vaccinated. The Governor was joined by Dr. Renee Edwards, Senior Vice President and Chief Medical Officer, OHSU Health; Olivia Quiroz, Executive Director, Oregon Latino Health Coalition; Patrick Allen, Oregon Health Authority (OHA) Director; and Dr. Dean Sidelinger, State Epidemiologist, OHA.

“In the race between vaccines and variants, right now the variants have the upper hand,” said Governor Brown. “Today’s cases topped 1,000, with Oregon now ranking second in the nation for having the most rapid growth of infection spread. Our hospitals are about to surpass 300 positive COVID-19 cases. That means several counties are on the verge of having to reinstate Extreme Risk restrictions on businesses and activities.

“At this moment, we are moving backwards. Oregon needs to be moving forward. My goal is to get the state back on track to lift the restrictions this pandemic has forced upon us — I think we can get there by the start of summer, but we will all need to work together.

“In order to fully reopen our economy, we need to reach a significant majority of Oregonians with a vaccine; we need to close the equity gap in our vaccine efforts; and vaccine supplies need to be readily available for all eligible Oregonians who want to be protected. Vaccines are your best protection against the variants and the quickest way for us all to get back to the people and things we miss the most.

“That’s the hill on the horizon. We can climb it together. How quickly we get there is up to each and every one of us.”

A copy of the Governor’s prepared remarks from today’s press conference is available here.

More information on vaccines is available at covidvaccine.oregon.gov.

Video Links
• A recording of today’s live-streamed press conference is available on YouTube. Please note the video starts at the 28:21 mark.
• A recording of a Spanish language translation is available on OHA’s Facebook page.
• An HD recording of today’s press conference for members of the media is available on Vimeo.

Visit the KOIN News website here for full article and video interview with Krista Eddy, Visual Arts Director at the Lincoln City Cultural Center, discussing celebration of Oregon Arbor Month in Lincoln City.

For more information visit the Lincoln City Cultural Center website or their Facebook page to get more information about them and all they are doing.