COVID-19 cases surge, area health centers offer testing
Courtesy photo
The Oregon Health Authority recommends that all people with new symptoms constant with COVID-19, regardless of the severity, get tested. MONIQUE MERRILL chronicle2@countrymedia.net
COVID-19 cases are continuing to surge around the county, state and country. Sunday, Nov. 22, marked the fourth day in a row that the state reported a record-breaking high number of new daily cases, at 1,517. On Monday, another 1,174 were reported, bringing the total to 66,333. Columbia County reported its own record-breaking high new number of daily cases on Friday, Nov. 20, at 20 cases, and on Saturday reported a third death. A 75-year-old woman who tested positive on Oct. 23 died on Nov. 19 at Legacy Medical Center, the Oregon Health Authority (OHA) reported on Saturday. The woman had underlying conditions. As of Monday, Nov. 23, there were 440 cases reported in the county since the onset of the pandemic. In the two-week period from Nov. 9-23, there were 133 cases reported in the county, indicating a rapid spread of the disease through the community. “We have substantial community spread by all measures in Columbia County,” said Michael Paul, county public health director at a briefing on Friday. “The virus is not in Wisconsin, China, New York— it’s here in Columbia County. We have substantial spread.” The test-positivity rate in the county has also increased, Paul said. Test positivity rates are calculated by dividing the total number of people who test positive for COVID-19 by the total number people who have been tested. “That’s with approximately the same number of residents being tested each week,” Paul said. This indicates that there is a high rate of spread through the community, as evidenced by the growing number of cases reported week-to-week. As the virus continues to spread through the community, below the Chronicle has compiled a guide to testing for residents who may have been exposed or are experiencing symptoms. Who should be tested
The OHA recommends that all people with new symptoms constant with COVID-19, regardless of the severity, get tested. The virus doesn’t always present the same way but the symptoms to watch for include: fever See COVID-19 Page A2
Jeremy C. Ruark / The Chronicle
Christmas: ‘Tis the season Using his utility vehicle’s basket, Columbia River PUD employee Chuck Long lifts a large holiday decoration into place along Columbia Boulevard in St. Helens.
JEREMY C. RUARK jruark@countrymedia.net
You may have seen Columbia River PUD employee Chuck Long perched above Columbia Boulevard in St. Helens early Monday morn-
ing, Nov. 23. From his utility company truck, Long was installing the City of St. Helens’ large Christmas decorations on light posts along the street. It’s part of a cooperative agreement between the PUD and the city, according to Columbia River PUD Opera-
tions Manager Kurt Nasshahn. “It is part of our public service,” he said. “We hang the Christmas lights and decorations during the holidays and event banners other times of the year.” Nasshahn said the PUD has been placing the decorations each Christ-
mas season for at least the past 20 years. He estimated that about 30 of the large decorations will be placed in St. Helens this holiday. The PUD also places Christmas decorations in Columbia City. That project is scheduled for next Monday, Nov. 30.
Revenue forecast shows encouragement JEREMY C. RUARK jruark@countrymedia.net
While the COVID-19 pandemic has caused deep economic impacts across the state, the latest Oregon Revenue Forecast is suggesting an improving outlook. “Corporate excise tax collections, lottery sales and taxes on investment forms of income have shown the strongest recoveries, according to the Oregon Revenue Forecast executive summary. “While those sources stand out, all major forms of revenue have bounced back, including labor-related income taxes.” Gov. Kate Brown said the forecast projects relatively stable state revenues. “While this provides some sense of relief in uncertain times, we know that the sacrifices Oregon’s businesses are making right now to prevent the rapid community spread of COVID-19 will not be reflected until the next revenue forecast is released in January,” Brown said. “We continue to face uncertainty about Oregon’s economy moving forward.” Brown added Oregon—like so many other states across the country—needs another round of federal stimulus money. “This is a worldwide public health crisis, and it demands a coordinated, national response,” she said. “And we simply cannot wait until Congress convenes in January. Our workers who are facing unemployment and the discontinuation of federal benefits programs at the end of the year—and employers who have had to close businesses for the betterment of public health—need help. And they need it right now.” Brown said she is calling on
Congress to put aside their partisan differences and deliver on a coronavirus relief package, including another round of Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation and an extension of the Pandemic Unemployment Assistance program and the Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation program. “There is no time to waste,” Brown said. “We urgently need congressional action to provide direct help to local governments, businesses, and families so that we can all continue to provide critical services to Oregonians during this crisis.” According to Brown, wildfires that burned over 4,000 homes and structures in communities across Oregon in September have caused the state to face significant costs in the work to remove debris and rebuild wildfireimpacted communities. Brown said Oregon cannot recover from the fires alone and that the state will need substantial federal support. “I remain committed to exploring additional state-level solutions to assist Oregonians and Oregon’s businesses, especially those that have been hard hit by the pandemic, including the hospitality industry, small businesses, and women, Black, Indigenous, People of Color, and Tribal-
owned and operated businesses,” Brown said. “I also remain committed to making prudent financial decisions and to position our state to manage unforeseen economic challenges that may come our way.” Reaction Oregon House Speaker Tina Kotek is calling for Brown to declare a catastrophic disaster and convene a special session. “The COVID-19 pandemic is raging like never before in Oregon,” Kotek said. “Our economic recovery is fully dependent on getting this virus under control. As the state’s budget situation has stabilized and since Congress is unlikely to pass another relief package this year, I urge the governor to declare a catastrophic disaster, so the legislature can convene a remote special session in December.” Kotek said a portion of the state’s reserves should be used as soon as possible to help struggling Oregonians and small businesses through the winter months. She is suggesting that the state spend $100 million to keep Oregonians housed and stabilize the rental market as the pandemic continues into 2021. House Republican Leader Chris-
tine Drazan said the revenue forecast shows that the state economy is stable. “But this is not a reflection of reality for most Oregonians who have been impacted by these shutdowns,” Drazan said. “The most recent ‘freeze’ will hurt Oregonians and business owners, and make an already tenuous recovery even harder for families. Now more than ever we must protect jobs, support business growth, manage our reserves and control spending to ensure a long-term recovery for all of Oregon.” Rainier Mayor Jerry Cole said the revenue forecast is encouraging. “The anticipation of a positive recovery is great news for the City of Rainier, it’s business and citizens,” Cole said. “Oregonians are strong and I have no doubts in a positive outcome as we move forward.” Rainier City Administrator Scott Jorgensen said he is hopeful that the next economic recovery is driven by pent-up consumer demand for products and services. “It’s important that our policymakers be mindful that small businesses and workers are able to make it through this time until the public health crisis is at a point of reasonable containment, he said. “Businesses are adapting the best they can to the changing conditions and circumstances. Government agencies, including the City of Rainier, have also had to make adjustments in how staff interacts with the public. But we will get through this together.” The following is the Executive Summary of the Oregon Revenue Forecast prepared by the Oregon
See REVENUE Page A8