Health care providers in Oregon are sharing why they’re excited to get vaccinated against COVID-19.

Jessi Cox, an emergency physician in Tillamook says, “I got vaccinated as soon as I possibly could so we can get the entire world back to school, work and in-person visits!”

Brooke Kyle MD, an OB/GYN in in Eugene, told us she got the vaccine because she cares about the pregnant mothers she treats, and their babies.

“I want to provide them the best, safest care possible,” said Dr. Kyle. “The vaccine is safe and effective. I eagerly want to see the little siblings and partners at OB visits, as this pandemic improves with the more people that get the vaccine.”

Click on the image below to see the video Dr. Kyle made about why she took the COVID-19 vaccine:

What if I need a home repair?

Keeping your home free from outside visitors is an important way to limit the spread of COVID-19, but sometimes you may need to have someone in your home for a necessary repair. If you do need to have a repair person or other visitor in your home, here are some steps to limit the risk of spreading COVID-19.

Look on the repair company’s website or ask them what they are doing to reduce the risk of spreading COVID-19.
Make sure the visitor knows that you expect them to wear a well-fitting mask.
Stay at least 6 feet away from the visitor.
Everyone in the house should wear a mask while the visitor is present, including those who live there.
Open doors and windows.
Place a fan near an open window or door, blowing outside.
Turn on the exhaust fans in your bathroom and kitchen. Keep them running for one hour before and after the visit to remove virus particles.

More information on ventilation is on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website.

Updated guidance for schools is released

As part of its planned guidance and metrics review process with the Oregon Health Authority (OHA), the Oregon Department of Education (ODE) released an update to the Ready Schools, Safe Learners guidance.

The updated guidance includes updated advisory metrics for in-person instruction. The metrics are based on the latest COVID-19 studies and data and help Oregon’s schools make informed decisions about returning to in-person instruction.

While health metrics have shifted from required to advisory, schools must follow all the required guidelines. All staff must be trained on the first three sections of Ready Schools, Safe Learners and schools need to designate a school leader to implement, support and enforce health and safety protocols.

A new requirement, that when students and staff return to in-person instruction out of alignment with the advised metrics, schools must offer access to on-site COVID-19 testing for symptomatic students and staff identified on campus as well as those with known exposure to individuals with COVID-19.

The update also includes multiple new resources to support learning outside, field trips, equitable grading practices, attendance best practices, contact tracing partnerships, COVID-19 testing, and more.

A video of ODE Director Colt Gill explaining the updates is available.