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MIDWEEK EDITION

Tuesday March 17, 2020

www.currypilot.com

Brookings, Oregon

SERVING CURRY COUNTY SINCE 1946

COVID-19 testing more easily available By Jillian Ward

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Staff Writer

ests for the novel coronavirus, or COVID-19, will become more easily accessible for Oregonians this week. Jonathan Modie, lead communications officer for the Oregon Health Authority Public Health Division and one of the public information officers on the COVID-19 response, said that the Oregon State Public Health Laboratory has received packages Tuesday, March 10, that will allow it to continue its testing and more will arrive Wednesday, March 11. This will provide enough materials to have tests for upwards of

4,800 people. “That’s good news,” he said. “We also expect clinical labs at a handful of hospitals to go online next week. There are two commercial laboratories that are now offering COVID-19 testing. One is LabCorp and the other is Quest Diagnostics. They are offering testing and clinicians, at their discretion, can take advantage of that opportunity.” He advised folks to speak with their healthcare providers if they are experiencing or have experienced symptoms and from there clinicians can choose to test patients. It is no longer required clinicians to ask the Oregon Health Authority for approval to test a suspected COVID-19 patient and then to

Coronavirus impacts Chetco Activity Center lunches he Chetco Activity Center will not be serving a sit-down lunch to visitors for the next two weeks in the wake of Gov. Kate Brown’s coronavirus recommendations. A to-go lunch will be available to people at the center located at 550 Chetco Lane in downtown Brookings, stated Chetco Activity Center board member Glena Groff in an email to The Pilot shortly before 1 p.m. “All other activities (at the center) will continue as usual,” Glenda wrote, including the Meals on Wheels program. The announcement was made midday Friday, March 13, proving that when it comes to the coronavirus change happens quickly. A couple of hours earlier that day, it was business as usual for the center. Mid-Friday morning, some of the center’s regulars sat in the dining room drinking coffee and talking. Of course, they were all sitting a little farther apart than usual. Bottles of hand sanitizer could be seen everywhere and notices about how to properly wash your hands were posted on doors, walls and windows as the state and nation attempt to curb the spread of the coronavirus. “We are going to stay open,” said Groff at the time. “We are going to follow the guidelines.” Effective immediately, all large gatherings in the state of Oregon over 250 people will be canceled for four weeks until April 8, Brown said during a Thursday, March 12, news conference. For the elderly and people

Staff Report overnor Kate Brown announced the closure of all Oregon K-12 schools late Thursday night, March 12. The announcement came just hours after Brookings Harbor School District and Central Curry School District 1 had announced cancelations of all field trips, large gatherings for concerts and events, and sports competitions. The closure from Monday, March 16 through Tuesday, March 31 is due to staffing challenges and health concerns about the public health threat of coronavirus, according to a press release from Governor Brown. Local school districts have provided additional information for parents and the surrounding community. Brookings Harbor School District “During this extended ‘Spring Break’ all school activities, including athletic events and practices, are canceled,” according to a press release from Brookings Harbor School District interim Superintendent Chris Eberhardt. “Extending spring break is a preventative measure to help slow the spread of COVID-19 (also known as ‘novel coronavirus’) and its impacts on our citizens and health care systems. “Our food service director and community food bank partners have already met to identify strategies to provide meals to students next week and we hope to be able to share details with student families as soon as possible of a process where meals may be distributed and/or picked-up. “Due to the abruptness of the school closure, there will be no required academic work assigned to students to complete online or via packets during the break. We will share more information and resources on this topic as the end of the break nears. “This dynamic and historical public health situation has no precedent and is changing daily. We will do our best to keep families informed on developments. We hope you all stay safe and healthy and we look forward to seeing all our students again on Wednesday, April 1.” For further information from BHSD, check for updates regularly at www.brookings.k12.or.us/covid19updates/

Spring Whale Watch Week returns March 21-29 T

he Spring Whale Watch Week event returns to the coast March 21-29 to celebrate the more than 25,000 Gray whales expected to migrate north past Oregon over the next few months. Trained volunteers will be stationed 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. each day at some of best whale watching sites on the coast, ready to help visitors spot the whales and to answer questions about the animals. A map of the whale watching sites is available online on the official whale watch webpage on the Oregon State Parks website. Due to lower volunteer turnout this year, not all sites will be staffed by volunteers or park rangers. Check the whale watch webpage for the latest information and updates before heading to the coast. Whale spotters can also visit the newly-renoMore Whales on Page A4

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Weather HIGH LOW

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Past four days

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Central Curry School District 1 “There will be free meals provided for students/children ages 0-18 during the week of March 16-20 and March 30-31,” said CCSD1 Superintendent Tim Wilson. “Breakfast and lunch will be served from 9-11:30 a.m. at Riley

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More Lunches on Page A4

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More Testing on Page A4

Governor Kate Brown announces statewide school closure

Pilot Editor

Index

the hour,” he said. “COVID-19 is now in the community in Oregon. There is community transmission and is just as likely to happen in Coos County as any of the other counties … We have seven counties so far that have cases and I think we’re expecting more.” Modie advised that people can take steps now to protect themselves and their family members by washing their hands with soap and water for 20 seconds or use hand sanitizer if soap and water is not available. Of course, covering coughs and sneezes can also prevent the spread of the disease. “Absolutely stay home if you’re sick

COVID-19 updates

By Brian Williams

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have OHA to request a test from the Centers for Disease Control. However, the Oregon State Public Health Laboratory wants to ensure that people who are most sick get tested. This includes people who are hospitalized, have evidence of a lower respiratory viral infection or viral pneumonia, or those who test negative for the flu. “Those are folks who are most sick and we want to make sure they get tested,” he said. When asked about possible cases in Coos County, Modie said no confirmed cases are being reported at this time. “I can tell you the situation is changing by

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5-day forecast, tides and complete weather: Page A10

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Creek (School) starting on Monday, March 16. We are in final stages of arranging meals to be picked up at other sites in the district. I will announce that change when approved. This is a grab-and-go meal. “There will be no school activities held, including the ASCEND program, during this time period. District custodial employees will continue with its deep cleaning in preparation

for students and staff's return. For continuous updates, refer to the district web site at www.ccsd.k12.or.us

or through the districtapproved Facebook pages that More COVID19 on Page A5

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