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Headlight Herald

TUESDAY, MAY 18, 2021

VOL. 133, NO. 19 • $1.50

TILLAMOOK, OREGON • WWW.TILLAMOOKHEADLIGHTHERALD.COM

Tillamook County remains in Moderate Risk Vaccines open for ages 12 plus

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Hilary Dorsey Staff Writer

isk levels for Tillamook County will continue to remain in Moderate Risk, effective Friday, May 14, through Thursday, May 20. Tillamook County had 41 new confirmed and presumptive cases from Sunday, April 25, through Saturday, May 8, Tillamook County Health Department relayed during a community update Tuesday, May 11. “Oregon is still seeing an increase

in COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations,” Tillamook County Health Department Administrator Marlene Putman said. Putman said 15 counties shifted out of Extreme Risk last week and into High Risk. “The governor expects that counties will not return to the Extreme Risk category again hopefully for the duration of the pandemic,” Putman said. “This is as long as we continue to work together to decrease cases by following precautions.” Adventist Health Tillamook

President Eric Swanson reported 326 hospitalizations across Oregon, as of May 11. There were 794 ventilators available in the state of Oregon. “We have plenty of PPE here at Adventist Health Tillamook this morning,” Swanson said. Emergency Preparedness Coordinator Ed Colson said Moderna, Pfizer and Johnson & Johnson vaccines are available in the county. People can schedule a vaccine online at https://tillamookchc.org/coronavirus/vaccines/ The Food and Drug Administra-

tion approved Pfizer’s emergency use to be extended to those aged 12-15, Colson said. CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices reviewed that approval Wednesday, May 12. Western States Scientific Safety Review Workgroup reviewed and affirmed the decision later that evening. Vaccinations for 12-15 year olds can now begin, as of Thursday, May 13. As of May 11, 292 appointments are scheduled for the vaccine in Tillamook County. “As of May 10, 12,635 people

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Ariel Richwine was enjoying her morning coffee in Pacific City recently when she captured this seal with a springer steelhead in its mouth. Richwine lives just down from the boat launch in Pacific City. Do you have a camera and an eye for beauty? Send us your photos to: jwarren@countrymedia.net please and thank you of course.

Vaccine update: Appointments, walk-ins available for 12 plus O

regon is now considered out of the fourth COVID-19 surge, Tillamook County Health Department reported during a Tillamook County Board of Commissioners meeting Wednesday, May 12. Administrator Marlene Putman said a new goal for the state is to reach 70 percent and for counties to reach 65 percent of

their adult populations to receive at least on dose of the vaccine, so the county can move into the state’s lower risk tier of virus restrictions. “Counties must also submit a comprehensive vaccine plan that addresses equity gaps prior to moving to that next level,” Putman said. “If we meet the goal, we have to [submit] the plan also.” For some counties, movement to that lower level may happen as early as Friday, May 21. Tillamook County, as of May 12, is at 57.9 percent of the population vaccinated with 7.1 percent more to go to reach the 65 percent goal. As of May 14, Tillamook County was at 58.2 percent of residents vaccinated with at

least one dose. “Even with this great decrease in our cases and vaccine availability, people are still getting sick with COVID,” Putman said. “If you’re feeling ill, stay home, confer with your health care provider or if you recognize those symptoms and want to be tested, testing is available at no cost.” The health department on Friday, May 14, reported 13 new COVID-19 cases. Emergency Preparedness Coordinator Ed Colson said Moderna, Pfizer and Johnson & Johnson vaccine are available at all Tillamook County provider sites. Appointments are available as well as walk-ins. “When you sign up online, the clinic will include the vac-

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Individuals, businesses have choice with new mask rules

Breakfast time

Hilary Dorsey Staff Writer

have received at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine,” Colson said. “That is 48 percent of Tillamook County residents.” Colson said 9,322 residents are considered fully vaccinated, which is 35 percent. To schedule an appointment for a COVID-19 test, call 503-842-3900. For help scheduling a COVID-19 vaccine, call 503-842-3914.

cine type and minimum age required for that clinic,” Colson said. The Food and Drug Administrator recently approved Pfizer to be authorized for emergency use for those 12-15. The CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices affirmed the decision May 12. Western States Scientific Safety Review Group reviewed and affirmed the federal decisions later that evening. Those 12-15 years old can now be vaccinated, as of Thursday, May 13. Oregon law allows for those 15 years of age and older to receive certain medical care without parental-guardian consent,

n See UPDATE, Page 8

Zack Demars Country Media

regon’s state health officer said Friday individuals and businesses have choices when it comes to protecting against COVID-19. “I think individuals have a choice which kind of protection they want to use,” said Dr. Dean Sidelinger, state epidemiologist, in a press conference. “Masks and physical distancing, or vaccination — and I hope more people choose vaccination, because it’s safe, it’s effective and it’s available across the state right now.” The doctor’s comments came the day after the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention laid out new guidance for wearing face coverings, saying those who’ve been fully vaccinated against COVID-19 don’t need to wear masks or physically distance in many instances. Oregon Thursday adopted that guidance, allowing the fully vaccinated to unmask (with exceptions, like public transit, health care facilities and homeless shelters, where masks are still required). “We have the tools we’ve been using since last summer: keeping our distance, wearing our masks,” Sidelinger “Now we have some other amazing tools: We have three very safe and effective vaccines that people can choose to use.” But the federal and state announcements Thursday have left a lot of questions still to be answered — particularly for businesses where COVID-19 restrictions have faced the most complexity throughout the pandemic. Sidelinger said more clear guidance would be coming from the Oregon Health Authority, but that businesses also have the choice for how to keep their customers safe. They can’t choose to serve only vaccinated customers, but they can choose which set of measures to put in place, he said. “Businesses should have a plan to either keep the current guidance in place — where they require physical distancing and masking for everyone — or implement a plan where they’re checking the vaccination status of those who come in and that those individuals could be allowed to be in that business without wearing their masks and with less physical distancing,” Sidelinger said. The change doesn’t yet mean the state’s fourtier, capacity-limiting framework is going away. Those rules are in place at least until 70% of the state is vaccinated, and businesses still have to limit their capacity based on those rules in their county. But businesses can now choose to allow fully vaccinated customers to unmask if they verify their vaccination status. That adds yet another rule for businesses to keep track of. “We know that this puts put them into a different position, if they chose to implement a system where those who are (vaccinated) can come into the business without a mask and without physical distancing, it will require them to ask about vaccination status and check on that before they come in, and that’ll put some in a difficult position,” Sidelinger said. Sidelinger noted that voluntary disclosure of someone’s vaccination status isn’t a violation of privacy laws — but said the state is figuring out how that verification process should work. “As you can probably imagine, this is a radical shift in the CDC framework,” Sidelinger said.

n See RULES, Page 8


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