The Marion County Health and Human Services headquarters in Salem (Rachel Alexander/Salem Reporter)
NOTE: Salem Reporter is providing free access to its content related to the coronavirus as a community service. Subscriptions help support this.
This new digest provides all-in-one-place access to reporting on the novel coronavirus outbreak. A statewide media collaboration is forming to also share coverage among Oregon’s newspapers and broadcast outlets. Salem Reporter is part of that collaboration, and will share reports from around Oregon in our round up. This post will regularly be updated with the latest news.
Question? If you have questions about the outbreak, the disease or other related matters, email reporter Rachel Alexander ([email protected]) for consideration.
Suggestions? What stories would you like to see? Email editor Les Zaitz (les@salemreporter) with your ideas.
THURSDAY, March 12:
Willamette University moves all classes online amid COVID-19 concerns
Willamette’s campus and dorms will remain open, but for at least the next month, all undergraduate and graduate courses are online-only, President Steve Thorsett told students and faculty.
Gov. Kate Brown has signed an executive order banning social gatherings. Public health officials said Oregon could see 75,000 cases by mid-May unless action is taken.
Five Keizer Fire Department paramedics quarantined after caring for COVID-19 patient
None of the responding paramedics are reporting an illness, but quarantines could pose challenges for the Keizer Fire Department, which has only 28 firefighters on staff.
Attempting to contain the novel coronavirus, Gov. Kate Brown is imposing restrictions on large events in Oregon for the next four weeks. The state also is urging schools to cancel assemblies and other gatherings and employers to take cautions as well. Oregon’s major universities said they would switch to remote teaching in spring term.
THE OREGONIAN: Coronavirus spreads to veterans’ nursing home in Oregon; 2 patients infected
Two residents at a veterans’ nursing home in Lebanon in Linn County have now tested positive for coronavirus, the Oregon Health Authority announced Wednesday night, signifying a dramatic and troubling turn as the deadly pandemic runs rampant across America.
PRO PUBLICA: Should I Quarantine Because of Coronavirus? It Depends on Who You Ask.
Agencies, local authorities and national governments do not agree on who should be quarantined or what that should actually look like. Here’s what we do know.
WEDNESDAY, March 11
As coronavirus fears spread, schools struggle to quell rumors about illness
A false rumor shared Wednesday in a Facebook group for Salem-area parents claimed a local high school student had tested positive for COVID-19. The case illustrates the challenges schools face when fear spreads faster than accurate information.
As the coronavirus outbreak reaches pandemic levels, Oregon sees its number of cases rise to 19
The World Health Organization has declared the outbreak a pandemic. There disease has now officially reached nine counties and is expected to grow. Gov. Kate Brown is preparing to take more measures in response to the outbreak while issues over testing and supplies continue to linger.
BEND BULLETIN: First presumptive COVID-19 case identified in Deschutes County
Just hours after getting test results Wednesday, health officials confirmed the first presumptive case of COVID-19 in Deschutes County. More people could be identified in the coming days as the Deschutes County individual’s case is investigated, said Dr. George Conway, Deschutes County Health Services director, at a press conference Wednesday.
Salem providers working to keep coronavirus away from homeless residents
As COVID-19 spreads in the U.S., increased hygiene is being pushed to help Salem’s homeless avoid getting infected. This vulnerable population could see more severe symptoms if they are infected.
We answered your questions about COVID-19 in the Salem area
Here’s what we know and don’t know about the Marion County case of the novel coronavirus, how local hospitals are preparing, and why health officials say this is different than seasonal flu.
In a continued ramp-up to contain the novel coronavirus, Oregon officials on Tuesday announced tight restrictions for visitors to 670 care facilities. Health officials also urged the elderly, especially vulnerable to the disease, to stay home.
Oregon promised millions from federal agency to help confront coronavirus
Federal officials have advised Gov. Kate Brown that Oregon will get more than $7 million to boost the state’s efforts to contain and treat the novel coronavirus. This comes on top of $5 million shifted from the state’s reserves this week as state health officials expect to see more infected Oregonians in the coming days.
South Salem resident recounts experience being quarantined in China for nearly a month
Dago Benavidez was visiting his mother-in-law in China when COVID-19 sent the country into quarantine. He had to check in and out of the building where he was staying and spent his days watching the world outside through a condo window.
Oregon officials taking emergency actions to contain coronavirus outbreak
With new cases of COVID-19 emerging, state and county health officials are focusing testing to determine how widespread the virus is in Oregon and who is most vulnerable to the infection. At the same time, they urged school officials to take precautions but to close schools only as a “last resort.”
WEB RESOURCES FOR YOU:
World Health Organization frequently asked questions
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention frequently asked questions
