Coronavirus diagnoses continued to rise Sunday in Oregon, and health officials reported 247 new confirmed and suspected cases of COVID-19. That brings the state total to 8,341 known cases.
Most of the new diagnoses on Sunday were made in the Portland metro area, with 52 cases in Multnomah County, 29 in Washington County and 18 in Clackamas County. Additionally, 48 new cases were reported in Umatilla County and 43 in Marion County.
Although infections continue to increase, the death rate remains stable. The Oregon Health Authority reported no new deaths on Sunday, leaving the state’s total at 202 deaths.
As of Friday, 149 people were hospitalized with suspected or confirmed cases of COVID-19 statewide, including 35 who are on ventilators. The coronavirus has led to the hospitalization of 1,022 people in Oregon during the pandemic.
Clatsop County to Require Masks July 1, Manzanita Asks to Join
People are required to wear masks in Clatsop County starting Wednesday, The Daily Astorian reports.
Clatsop County Commissioners voted unanimously Wednesday night to opt for the mask requirement that Oregon Gov. Kate Brown imposed on seven Oregon counties. The governor approved the request on Friday.
The governor’s order requires masks in most interior businesses and public spaces, including bars and restaurants.
The requirement went into effect Wednesday for Multnomah, Washington, Clackamas, Hood River, Lincoln, Marion and Polk counties.
Clatsop County President Kathleen Sullivan said wearing a mask in public is a small inconvenience that can help protect everyone.
“I take this pandemic very seriously and that’s why I wear a mask because I want to protect the people around me,” he said. “I don’t want to be part of the problem.”
Sullivan said the county continues to work on the educational portion of the mask requirement. He hopes that wearing a mask in public can become part of people’s daily routine.
The mayor of Manzanita, a coastal city in Tillamook County, submitted a formal request to Brown on Saturday asking that the city be added to the list of communities subject to the order to wear masks.
Scott said that Manzanita is a popular vacation destination, attracting large numbers of people during the summer months. He fears for the safety of the city’s elderly population.
“Since Manzanita is the permanent home of many vulnerable retired citizens who fear for their health and the health of others, we believe in masks, we wear masks, and we encourage everyone who visits to wear masks. Please help us continue that effort, ”says the letter.
Northwest grocery stores ask the public to wear masks
In a press release on Saturday, the Northwest Grocery Association issued a call to the public to wear masks or facial covers when they are in a place of business, especially in grocery stores.
“While what we know about this virus continues to change, today we know for a fact that social distancing and face masks (or covers) are our most powerful tool in preventing the spread of COVID-19, but their grocery stores and retailers do not. you can do it alone, “said Amanda Dalton, legislative director of the Northwest Grocery Association.
Brown’s order that residents in seven Oregon counties must wear masks inside interior public spaces went into effect last Wednesday. Clatsop County will join the order on July 1. People with a medical condition that makes breathing difficult are exempt from wearing masks; children under 12 are also exempt.
The NWGA also cited concerns for the safety of grocery store employees and customers following reports of aggressive shoppers refusing to wear a mask.
“These increasing incidents have presented new workplace safety issues as supermarket workers interact with a tired and sometimes frustrated public on a daily basis. … Stores are balancing the various responsibilities of protecting the health safety of everyone in stores, and are now trying to avoid volatile confrontations that could cause physical security problems for employees and customers in the store, “said the release.
While supermarkets seek clarity about the legality of declining service to unmasked shoppers and if they can ask about an individual’s medical information, Dalton said supermarkets rely on the public to help prevent the spread of the disease.
Umatilla County Churches Respond to Union County Outbreak
Some Umatilla County churches have reexamined their church service protocols after the state’s largest coronavirus outbreak at a Union County church.
The East Oregonian reports that after the outbreak, churches in Umatilla County are struggling to stay open.
“As we’ve seen cases, there have been conversations among our staff,” said Hermiston Assembly associate pastor Alex Valle-Lopez. “We are thinking of closing as a preventive measure.”
The church has been able to separate the banks and limit the number of families in the building according to social distancing guidelines, but Valle-López is not sure if it will remain open.
First Christian Church is among the churches that have delayed reopening plans or remain closed in response to the Union County outbreak. Loretta Hampton, the church’s moderator, said they don’t want to put their members at risk.
“We have several older members and we feel that the church is a lifelong habit,” he said. “They would come if we opened, and it wouldn’t necessarily be safe.”
There are no established plans for the reopening at this time.
Health officials report that Union County has 309 COVID-19 diagnoses as of Saturday. Most of those cases stem from an outbreak linked to the Pentecostal Lighthouse Church in Island City, just east of La Grande. A video deleted from the church’s Facebook page showed members who worshiped very close to each other.
Read the full story of The East Oregonian here.
New Oregon COVID-19 Cases by Zip Code
This map shows new cases of COVID-19 in every ZIP code in Oregon. Zip codes are colored by Number of cases per 10,000 inhabitants. “New” cases include cases between June, 15 and June 21; “All” cases are the number of cases registered by OHA as of June 15. ZIP files are shaded to show contrast; rates in Oregon are still lower than most in the U.S.
Washington in over 30,000 cases
Health officials in Clark County, Washington, reported 17 new cases of coronavirus on Friday. That brings the county total to 758. Public health officials did not report any additional deaths, with a total retention of 29.
Washington Governor Jay Inslee announced a mandatory mask order Tuesday in response to the increase in the number of cases and the potential to overwhelm the state’s health system. All Washingtonians are required to wear face masks in indoor and outdoor public spaces.
According to the latest available data, Washington has 31,404 confirmed cases of coronavirus and 1,310 known deaths. As of Sunday, the coronavirus has led to the hospitalization of 4,240 people in Washington.
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