Tillamook County moves down to Moderate Risk
Other counties surge in COVID cases Hilary Dorsey Staff Writer
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illamook County Health Department reported Friday, April 30, 26 new COVID-19 cases over the last seven days, April 23 through April 29, with 25 positive and one presumptive cases. The county has had a total of 621 cumulative cases since the pandemic began. “There are a number of counties who are experiencing an increased number of positive cases of COVID, considered a surge condition,” Administrator Marlene Putman said.
“Fifteen counties are moving to Extreme Risk.” Tillamook County has moved down from High Risk to Moderate Risk, however. Putman said the state is reviewing the risk level of all counties weekly for the next three weeks. The state is currently over 300 hospitalizations. Adventist Health Tillamook President Eric Swanson said there are 339 COVID-19 related hospitalizations across Oregon. There are 811 ventilators available across Oregon. In Region 1 – Tillamook, Clatsop, Clackamas, Columbia, Multnomah and Washington counties – 71 adult ICU beds are available.
“We have more than adequate PPE to care for our patients,” Swanson said. Emergency Preparedness Coordinator Ed Colson said 539 first doses of the COVID-19 vaccine were administered this week. “As of April 29, 11,837 people have received at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine, which is 45 percent of Tillamook County residents,” Colson said. “ Of those who have received one dose, 7,984 people are considered fully vaccinated, having completed the two dose series.” Thirty percent of county residents are considered fully vaccinated. Tillamook County’s goal is to have 70
percent of residents fully vaccinated in order to reach herd immunity. In the state, 0.03 percent of people have reported adverse reactions to the vaccine. “Pfizer currently remains the only COVID-19 vaccine for those 16 and 17 years old,” Colson said. “We’re working with the school districts and do have these clinics now available for scheduling online on the dates of May 4 and May 5 and we have a tentative clinic planned on May 12 as well.” Colson said the Johnson & Johnson clinics would also be held on those dates. There is no copay or charge for
the COVID-19 vaccine, Colson added. No proof of immigration status or social security number is required,” Colson said. The health department encourages everyone to book a vaccine online or call if you need help at 503-8423914. Schedule an appointment for COVID-19 testing or ask questions about COVID-19 in general at 503842-3900. Schedule a COVID-19 vaccine at https://tillamookchc.org/coronavirus/ vaccines/ Send comments to: head-
Moderna, Pfizer, Johnson & Johnson available Hilary Dorsey Staff Writer
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Oregon State Police Bomb Squad was called in to investigate a suspicious item found in the Tillamook County Justice Center’s evidence room. Courtesy photo
Oregon State Police Bomb Squad investigate suspicious item reported For the Herald
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he Oregon State Police Bomb Squad responded to the Tillamook County Justice Facility Thursday, April 29, to investigate a suspicious item. The item was located in OSP’s evidence room inside the main building. The Justice Facility houses the Sheriff’s Office, an OSP outpost, Tillamook County Jail, Emergency Management and Community Corrections. “A Tillamook County resident was recently arrested in Washington County and a pipe bomb was found in their possession. It
was determined that a safe associated with this individual from an unrelated incident was currently in an evidence room at our facility. Out of an abundance of caution, we moved inmates and personnel to a safe location while the bomb squad did their work,” said Sheriff Joshua Brown. TCSO staff identified an area on the property to safely detonate a charge to open the safe. The area was cordoned off and deputies closed roads into the facility and ambulances were on standby. “The OSP Bomb Squad opened the safe and it was determined that it contained no explosives,” said Lt. Fernando Silveira. “We are back to business as usual.”
‘I chose to save lives’ Brown defends lockdown plan Gov. responds to calls for local control Zack Demars Country Media
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regon Gov. Kate Brown defended her decision to impose more COVID-19 restrictions on some parts of the state the same day 15 Oregon counties were forced to close indoor dining and recreation. “Cases are widespread, driven by new, more contagious variants. Oregon leads the nation for our rate of increase in cases over the last two weeks,”
Brown said Friday. “I was presented with data showing two paths Oregon could take.” Brown explained last week’s decision to cancel a warning period and force the counties into the extreme-risk category of virus restrictions as the choice between those two paths: One path without restrictions and with additional virus deaths, and another path with more restrictions and fewer deaths. “As your governor, I chose to save lives,” Brown said. Since she announced her plan to re-impose the restrictions on indoor dining and recreation, the governor has faced significant opposition from impacted businesses and local government leaders concerned about the damaging economic effects of the plan. Earlier this week, dozens of
county officials from across the state signed onto a letter from the Association of Oregon Counties and the Oregon Restaurant & Lodging Association, calling on the governor to pull back on her plan. “The variants are indeed troublesome, and we share your concern for their spread. But shutting down our restaurants and further depriving Oregonians of their right to make calculated community engagement risks when the virus continues to spread elsewhere will not result in success,” the 78 county commissioners wrote in the letter. The county leaders pointed to the toll the pandemic’s restrictions have taken on their communities and economies, saying the restrictions are dividing communities “rather than bringing Oregonians together” and
asking for greater local control over pandemic restrictions. In response, Brown pointed to the state of the virus. “What I would respond to in terms of the elected officials and businesses is that COVID is surging across Oregon right now,” Brown said. “It takes community-wide measures to make sure that we can protect our most vulnerable Oregonians.” While showing no signs of letting up the extreme-risk closures, Brown offered one concession for businesses impacted by the current closures: A plan with state legislators to provide $20 million in relief funds. Those funds will be passed to the 15 counties in the extreme-
illamook County Health Department reported during a Tillamook County Board of Commissioners meeting Wednesday, April 28, 18 new cases of COVID-19 between Friday, April 23, and Tuesday, April 27. The county is moving from High Risk to Moderate Risk Friday, April 30, through Thursday, May 6. Administrator of Human and Health Services Department Marlene Putman said 15 other counties are moving to Extreme Risk. As of April 28, there were 328 COVID-19 related hospitalizations statewide. Counties will be monitored closely over the next three weeks. “Oregon is experiencing a surge in cases in most counties,” Putman said. Quarantine guidelines have been updated. Those unvaccinated or partially vaccinated are still recommended to quarantine for 14 days after exposure to COVID-19. Those fully vaccinated may not have to quarantine if they are asymptomatic after being exposed to someone with COVID-19, Putman said. Emergency Preparedness Coordinator Ed Colson said as of Tuesday, April 27, 44 percent of Tillamook County residents have received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine and 29 percent of residents are considered fully vaccinated. Less than 1 percent of Oregon’s population has reported adverse reactions to the vaccine. Colson said these reactions are noted within the 15 or 30-minute observation time after an individual receives the vaccine. Adverse reactions can range from minor reactions to someone needing to be monitored in the emergency room, Putman added. Reactions after the first dose may include a headache or chills for some people but these reactions are mainly seen after receiving the second dose. “In Tillamook County, for the vaccine types, we do have Moderna, Pfizer and Johnson & Johnson, which are now available at our vaccine provider sites,” Colson said. “When scheduling online, the clinic will include the vaccine type and the minimum age that will be required for that clinic.” Pfizer is the only vaccine authorized for those 16 and 17 years old. There is plenty of the Pfizer vaccine available for these age groups, Colson added. “Our COVID-19 cases have decreased amongst those 65 years old and older,” Colson said. “This group does have the highest vaccination rate at 75 percent.” Vaccines are free and no insurance is needed. Insurance providers may be billed an administration fee, which covers the cost of administering the vaccine, but this will not result in copays or impact deductibles. Sign up for a COVID-19 vaccine at https:// tillamookchc.org/coronavirus/vaccines/ If you have limited or no computer access, call 503-842-3914 to sign up.