EDITOR’S NOTE – From over 3 hours of meetings, the Community Leadership meeting and an Emergency Board of Commissioners meeting today: It is truly the worst of times … by the numbers over the past 7 days, Tillamook County has had 180 cases of COVID; the past 14 days 361 cases, and tragically more than doubled the number of deaths – FIVE people died from COVID in the last five days. The local funeral home is at capacity and a mobile morgue is going to be brought in to make sure our lost community members are properly handled at this tragic time. Grim milestones indeed, our two week total exceeds the total number of cases we had in December; test positivity rate is over 21% (it was 6-8% in July and we had a 3 week period with zero cases.) We are most certainly going backward. 90% of hospitalizations are unvaccinated individuals; Tillamook County’s vaccination rate is just about 65% for those eligible (53.6% of total population) and we must get to 70-80% for herd immunity to help slow the spread of the COVID Delta variant. The Delta variant is 3x more transmissible and causes twice the infections. There are six confirmed workplace outbreaks, eight more pending investigation. The Tillamook County Board of Commissioners met to discuss closing the courthouse and requiring remote work for as many county employees as possible; several county departments have already been impacted by cases and/or quarantine. Several county department heads shared concerns that just one case in their department could cause severe disruptions. The County Commissioners will be making final determinations on closures and more at tomorrow’s BOC meeting.
TILLAMOOK, Ore. — Today, August 24, 2021, Tillamook County Public Health Department is reporting 5 new COVID-19 related deaths in Tillamook County, which raises the county’s death toll to 11.
Tillamook County’s 7th COVID-19 associated death is a 49-year-old man from Tillamook County who died on Aug. 18th .
Tillamook County’s 8th COVID-19 associated death is a 80-year-old man from Tillamook County who died on Aug. 21st.
Tillamook County’s 9th COVID-19 associated death is a 67-year-old man from Tillamook County who died on Aug. 22nd.
Tillamook County’s 10th COVID-19 associated death is a 31-year-old woman from Tillamook County who died on Aug. 22nd.
Tillamook County’s 11th COVID-19 associated death is a 93-year-old man from Tillamook County who died on Aug. 23rd.
No other information is available at this time; more information may be released on the deaths from Oregon Health Authority (OHA) at a later date. When available, this report from OHA can be access here.
“We grieve for every life lost and wish to extend our sincerest condolences at this difficult time,” said Marlene Putman, Administrator, Tillamook County Health Department.
COVID-19 is a highly infectious illness. As of August 23, 2021, there have been 1,194 cases of COVID-19 tracked in Tillamook County. Local and state health officials continue to urge all Oregonians to take steps to protect those who are most vulnerable to complications from COVID-19.
Those considered “high risk” include adults 60 and older, or anyone with a serious health condition, including lung or heart problems, kidney disease or diabetes, or anyone who has a suppressed immune system.
To help control the spread of the illness, those not yet vaccinated are urged to limit travel, avoid gatherings, and make a plan to get vaccinated against COVID-19 as soon as possible.
We ask all county residents to be extra mindful of choices in regard to gatherings and to follow current public health guidance to slow the spread of the COVID-19:
• Follow guidance on face coverings.
• Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth with unwashed hands.
• Keep 6 ft. of distance from those not in your immediate household.
• Stay home if you feel ill.
About Tillamook County Community Health Centers
TCCHC has been a Federally Qualified Health Center since 1994, providing medical, dental, behavioral, and public health services.
Please visit our website at https://tillamookchc.org/ and our Facebook at TillamookCHC.