Salem Health CEO and nurse Cheryl Nester Wolfe, right, delivers Salem’s first Covid vaccine to Dr. Katherine Landen on Dec. 17 at Salem Hospital (Rachel Alexander/Salem Reporter) Jeffrey Tolbert had finished his overnight shift at Salem Hospital when he got a call from an administrator. The hospital’s first shipment of[Read More…]

Lane Hawkes, emergency room nurse, receives a Covid vaccine at Salem Hospital on Dec. 17 (Rachel Alexander/Salem Reporter) An emergency room nurse, hospital cleaner, doctor and patient transport worker were the first people to receive a Covid vaccine in Salem Thursday afternoon. Salem Hospital began vaccinating workers who are in[Read More…]

Davalee Meade, a paramedic with Woodburn Ambulance Service administers a COVID-19 test during a free drive-through testing clinic on Tuesday, August 25. (Amanda Loman/Salem Reporter) Free Covid tests are available Wednesday afternoon at the Oregon State Fairgrounds in Salem. From 3-6 p.m., anyone can get a test at the drive-through[Read More…]

Gov. Kate Brown and chief of staff Nik Blosser listen in during a phone call with Vice President Mike Pence and other governors on Monday, April 20. (Amanda Loman/Salem Reporter) Daily life won’t change this year for locals in Marion and Polk counties as the region remains under Covid restrictions[Read More…]

Salem Hospital (Caleb Wolf/Special to Salem Reporter) Salem residents scheduled for a hip or knee replacement may find their procedures delayed as the area’s largest hospital begins postponing some elective surgeries to keep staff and beds available for Covid patients. Salem Hospital began rescheduling some elective surgeries requiring overnight hospital[Read More…]

Gov. Kate Brown listens to an update from the state Employment Department during a revenue briefing on Monday, April 20. (Amanda Loman/Salem Reporter) NOTE: Salem Reporter is providing free access to its content related to the coronavirus as a community service. Subscriptions help support this. TEXT OF PREPARED REMARKS by[Read More…]

Oregon Health Authority director Pat Allen sits in his office on Monday, April 20. (Amanda Loman/Salem Reporter) NOTE: Salem Reporter is providing free access to its content related to the coronavirus as a community service. Subscriptions help support this. TEXT OF PREPARED REMARKS by Pat Allen: PANDEMIC IMPACTS The Governor[Read More…]

NOTE: Salem Reporter is providing free access to its content related to the coronavirus as a community service. Subscriptions help support this. TEXT OF PREPARED REMARKS by Dr. David Zonies: PANDEMIC MEDICAL CARE My name is David Zonies, and I’m the associate chief medical officer and medical director for adult[Read More…]

Senior library assistant Armando Trujillo wheels the Salem Public Library’s curbside pickup cart outside for patrons on Aug. 26 (Courtesy/Salem Public Library) The Salem Public Library has suspended its curbside book service so employees can fully work from home as local Covid case numbers continue rising. As of Nov. 24,[Read More…]