MIDWEEK EDITION
Tuesday April 7, 2020
www.currypilot.com
Brookings, Oregon
SERVING CURRY COUNTY SINCE 1946
Three confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Curry County Staff Report
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ate Sunday evening, Curry County Public Health received information through Coos County Public Health of two Curry County residents who tested positive for the novel coronavirus (COVID-19). According to a press release from Curry County Public Health Administrator Sherrié Ward, the tests were performed in Coos County and those tests were confirmed positive Sunday for the COVID-19. The two individuals have been self-isolating. It was not immediately clear why the two indi-
viduals were tested in Coos County rather than Curry County. Also on Sunday afternoon, Curry General Hospital notified Curry County Public Health of another confirmed COVID-19 case of a Curry County resident who has also been selfisolating. This is unrelated to the first two cases. "Curry County Public Health has been in contact with all three individuals who are apparently symptom free at this time and will monitor them on a daily basis," Ward wrote in the press release. The Oregon State Health Authority has been notified
and will be assisting Curry County with information and direction. No further information is being released at this time, said Curry County Director of Operations Julie Schmelzer in an email. "It is imperative that we all follow the Oregon Health Authority, the Centers for Disease Control and the Governor’s guidelines about social distancing, protecting yourselves and staying home to slow the spread and save lives," Ward wrote. It is important to note that other than information from the OHA and CDC, press releases from
the Curry County Public Health administrator have the most accurate information, Ward stated. Information put out by other individuals in Curry County on COVID-19 without the Public Health administrator’s input may not have the most accurate up-to-date information. Curry County Public Health stated it will continue to keep the public informed with all the information they can to keep its citizens safe. Del Norte County sees first confirmed case A Crescent City man was Del Norte County’s
Microscopic image of the COVID-19 virus. first confirmed case of the COVID-19 coronavirus, county officials stated Thursday, April 2. The county confirmed a second person with COVID-19 on
Saturday. As of Sunday afternoon, April 5, the number of confirmed cases was still More COVID-19 on Page A5
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Coronavirus Turbulence
Dear Reader,
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ine months ago, Country Media saved the twice-weekly newspapers in Crescent City and Brookings from an uncertain fate by buying them out of bankruptcy proceedings. Our goal then was to implement a business model that would sustain those newspapers’ longDel Norte County Regional Airport and Brookings Airport have not been term business operations hit as hard as other larger airports due to the coronavirus pandemic. and ensure their longevity. Photos by Brian Williams. That goal is unchanged. What has changed is the difficulty of achieving it, given the advent of the coronavirus pandemic, which may remain with us for months to come. Longtime newspapers in California and Oregon now are working hard David Hayes However, many questions remain for Del said. “The government would be giving them simply to survive. At least Staff Writer Norte’s airport, as the grant under the AEAS time set up operations, so they could be up and one Oregon daily has beprogram was in the process of being renewed running Oct. 1. But with the coronavirus comgun publishing just three s the airline industry continues to feel the by Sept. 30. An online survey last month sought plications, it’s a moving goal post. But I think days a week. Another has financial squeeze of less travel during public input on priorities for continued and we’re still on track.” reduced its distribution the COVID-19 pandemic, the Del Norte County future service at Jack McNamara Field. Hooper For now, Hooper said to not expect any from seven days each Regional Airport and the Brookings Airport said the initial date to send those community disruption in service, as aviation is a sub-sector week to six. have so far avoided the economic crunch. comments back to the DOT was April 14. But of transportation, which is considered a “critical And more than one The Del Norte County Regional Airport finds because of complications and health concerns infrastructure sector” by the federal governweekly newspaper has itself in a fairly unique situation operationally. over the coronavirus, that’s been pushed out to ment. Thus, the airport is required to remain ceased publication altoRandy Hooper, Del Norte County Airport May 14. open during emergencies such as this. However, gether. Director, said this is because the airport receives The airport currently has a contract with he urges those who do not need to travel at this As you can see from a federal subsidy through the Department of Contour Airlines to provide flights in and out time to not do so. a quick drive down U.S. Transportation’s (DOT) Alternate Essential Air of Oakland. But Hooper said it’s out of his With fewer flights, Hooper expects the Highway 101, the virus’s Service (AEAS) program. The program guaran- hands whether the federal government decides regional airport can stay operational with fixed impact on local businesses tees service in rural locations through a contract to continue its contract with Contour or go with tenant contracts with Cal-Ore Life Flight and is severe. Many stores with specific carriers. another carrier. Federal Express and additional landing fees have closed their doors, “A lot of the larger airports don’t have an “Either way, we expect an orderly transition, coming in through UPS. some permanently. essential air service agreement, so there are a lot whether it’s another round with Contour, or These local businesses more, bigger questions for them,” Hooper said. through a selection of a new carrier,” Hooper More Airport on Page A2 rely on newspapers to connect them to potential customers. We, in turn, rely on their advertising dollars for 90% of our total revenue. Business closures intended to prevent the spread of the coronavirus Linda Pinkham every month, but work volumes “The drops are significant," Staff reductions affected 192 have dramatically reduced Staff Writer at the hospital began declining Williams said, "because these employees either through layoffs, our advertising revenues. around March 8. Revenues took drive our revenue.” reductions in hours or changes to While we all hope to urry Health Network a sharp decline after Governor per diem contracts. The strategy emerge from this situa(CHN) outlined staff cuts Kate Brown declared the ceswas to offer medical providers tion soon, there’s no way Workforce Reductions that have been made and other sation of elective surgical and the option to move from fullto predict the duration or After analyzing what services expense reduction measures durmedical procedures on March 15 time to per diem, which would severity of the pandemic are most essential to support ing a special meeting on April 3. to preserve Personal Protective allow the hospital to rebound as on the economy. patient and emergency services, CHN CEO Ginny Williams Equipment (PPE). volumes come back after the outWe must make some CHN implemented a workforce reported on the organization’s Since the outbreak, clinic ofbreak. The providers are eligible changes to ensure the susreduction plan of $1.4 million economic situation and what they fice visits dropped by 65%, elecfor unemployment insurance, tainability of the newspaeach month, which will be fully are doing “to ensure financial tive surgeries have dropped by realized after the first month. The Williams said, adding “It was the per business. So beginning viability” in the future. The 80%, emergency room visits in kindest way to treat our employ- the week of April 12, we delay is due to payments of sevhospital’s forecast modeling calls both Brookings and Gold Beach erance and paid time off owed to for about $2 million in revenues by 60%, and lab work by 70%. More Changes on Page A4 More Workforce on Page A5 employees who were furloughed.
Del Norte’s airport expects rough skies during pandemic A
Curry Health Network reduces workforce Decline in revenues due to COVID-19 precautions lead to layoffs, contract changes
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