The indoor mask requirement went into effect statewide yesterday, July 1st.
Over the past five weeks, we have seen the number of people with COVID-19 quickly growing. More younger people are getting COVID-19, and the virus is spreading more widely in both our rural and urban communities. NOTE: Tillamook County has seen an nearly 50% increase in cases over the past five days, going from 6 cases for months to now 11 cases.
Since February, we have been communicating daily through this email. We’re now reaching nearly 150,000 Oregonians. Today we’re asking you to take the knowledge you have and be leaders among your families and social circles to help us reduce the spread of COVID-19.
Unless you have a disability or medical condition that makes wearing a face covering unsafe, we are asking you to wear a face covering when you are in public indoor spaces or in places where you can’t keep 6 feet of distance from people outside your household. We’re also asking you to share with others why it’s important to wear a face covering.
We know that wearing face coverings may not be the most comfortable thing to do. It might make you feel self-conscious. But it is increasingly clear from the health evidence that face coverings are a key way to stop the spread of COVID-19 and keep our families and communities safe.
We truly appreciate all the readers of the Coronavirus Update. You have stayed home to save lives when you can, given us great ideas for stories, sent us incredibly thoughtful notes thanking us for the information, kept track of all the data that we post, and helped us share critical health information and resources with your friends, co-workers and family.
And now we’re asking you to help us make mask wearing part of daily life in Oregon so we can keep people from getting this virus. Each of us can help Oregon stay safe and healthy.
Thank you, we appreciate you.
Resources you can share:
OHA fact sheet: Face covering facts
OHA mask and face covering FAQ
The Governor’s office has created a social media toolkit of 70 share graphics you use or share your own photo wearing a mask. Use the hashtag #MaskUpOR.
Proctect our community mask up#MyORHealth horizontal rule
Eviction and foreclosure protections extended during COVID-19
It’s the first of the month and if you’re struggling financially due to COVID-19, we want to share important new information about eviction and foreclosure protections. If you rent or own property in Oregon, state law protects you from eviction or foreclosure during the COVID-19 emergency through September 30, 2020. Here’s what you need to know about the new laws:
House Bill 4213 extends the statewide eviction moratorium on nonpayment and no-cause terminations. Tenants will have until March 31, 2021 to pay rent owed for April through September 2020. Landlords cannot evict, impose late fees or report delinquency to credit reporting agencies due to failure to pay during this time. To learn more, read Oregon Law Center’s fact sheet and frequently asked questions about the new law.
House Bill 4204 prohibits lenders from pursuing foreclosures against homeowners and other borrowers. Missed payments will be due at the end of the loan term, if borrowers do not make other arrangements with their lender. If borrowers cannot make scheduled payments, they must notify their lender and explain that they cannot pay due to loss of income related to the COVID-19 pandemic.
If you are having problems paying your rent or mortgage or have concerns about your ability to repay missed payments, you can seek help now.
Renters: You can apply for rental assistance through your local Community Action Agency. To learn more, visit 211info.org or call 211.
Property owners: Contact your lender or mortgage servicer as soon as possible to see if your mortgage may qualify for federal programs related to COVID-19. You can also find other foreclosure prevention resources on the Oregon Housing and Community Services website.
#MyORHealth horizontal rule
Finish OHP applications by July 2 or wait until July 6
Have you started an online application for the Oregon Health Plan?
If so, you’ll need to complete your application by July 2 or wait until July 6 to start one. We’re updating our computer system to better serve you, and all incomplete applications will be deleted after 4 p.m. on July 2. You can still turn in a paper application if you prefer.
For more information, visit https://one.oregon.gov/ or call OHP Client Services at 800-699-9075.
OHA to report outbreaks in child care facilities
Starting July 1st, the COVID-19 Weekly Report will include names and case counts for child care facilities that enroll 30 or more children and have five or more cases. The Weekly Report also will include the total number of facilities statewide—no matter how many children they enroll—that have five or more cases.
The Weekly Report covers data from June 22-28. In the report, most indicators point to a resurgence in COVID-19 transmission. OHA recorded 1,402 new cases of COVID-19 infection, an 11 percent increase from the previous week (1,263 new cases). In addition, 12 Oregonians were reported to have died, the same number as the preceding week.
The number of COVID-19 tests reported (28,359) decreased by 11 percent and the percentage of tests positive increased to 4.2 percent from 3.7 percent in the preceding week. Meanwhile, large outbreaks have contributed a diminishing proportion of recent cases, and sporadic cases have increased consistent with diffuse community spread.
Lastly, the report notes that about 75 percent of recent cases have been diagnosed in people younger than 50 years old. Since hospitalization is less common among younger people with COVID-19 infection, statewide hospital capacity remains sufficient for now.
Oregon reports 281 new confirmed and presumptive COVID-19 cases, 1 new death
COVID-19 has claimed one more life in Oregon, raising the state’s death toll to 208, the Oregon Health Authority reported Wednesday July 1st.
Oregon Health Authority reported 281 new confirmed and presumptive cases of COVID-19 as of 12:01 a.m. today bringing the state total to 8,931. It is the highest daily case count since the beginning of the pandemic.
The new cases reported today are in the following counties: Baker (3), Benton (2), Clackamas (20), Clatsop (1), Columbia (1), Deschutes (4), Douglas (2), Jackson (3), Jefferson (7), Klamath (4), Lake (2), Lane (12), Lincoln (12), Linn (7), Malheur (16), Marion (27), Morrow (2), Multnomah (38), Polk (8), Tillamook (2), Umatilla (42), Union (5), Wallowa (2), Wasco (4), Washington (48), and Yamhill (7).
To see more case and county-level data, go to the Oregon Health Authority COVID-19 website: www.healthoregon.org/coronavirus.