w70220

Page 1

eEdition

MOSTLY SUNNY  64 • 52  |  THURSDAY, JULY 2, 2020  |  theworldlink.com

Follow us online:

facebook.com/theworldnewspaper

twitter.com/TheWorldLink

instagram.com/theworldlink

South Coast events update SOUTH COAST — Residents and visitors alike are probably wondering what’s happening this Fourth of July weekend and for the remaining of the summer along the South Coast with the current COVID-19 restrictions. Here’s an update:

liabilities for cities and counties if there are COVID-19 surges following the events. Most fireworks companies have agreed to carry over the money cities have already paid and apply it to next year’s display, city administrators have reported. However ... Fireworks displays scheduled

Fireworks displays canceled Almost all cities along the Oregon Coast from Astoria to Brookings have canceled their annual fireworks displays, following the lead of most jurisdictions and entities. In addition, private displays, such as the annual much-anticipated Mill Casino-Hotel & RV Park’s July 3 fireworks show, have also been canceled. City and county law enforcement lack the resources to control crowds or to enforce any type of physical distancing or health precautions with crowds of the expected sizes. The cancellation of other displays along the coast makes it likely that any area that is having fireworks would be met with a flood of people. The crowds also could create

Gardiner There will be a fireworks display in Gardiner on July 4. Here are the details: Fourth of July Fireworks Show, presented by the Gardiner Fire Department. The festivities begin at 10 a.m. at the Gardiner Fire Department, 208 Marsh St., just north of Reedsport. The event includes a food stand featuring barbecued hamburgers and hot-dogs, potato salad and drinks for purchase. A fundraising car wash will also be held. Fireworks start at sundown and will be fired over the water across from the fire department. There will be paid parking inside the fenced area for $6. Important note from the Gardiner Fire Department: “We are following social distancing guidelines from the government

AMY MOSS STRONG The World

(including) 6 feet stay safe. Thank you for practicing social distancing. Please come join us for the fun and help support our local volunteers!” Coos Bay Speedway On Saturday, July 11, the Eve of Destruction XI American Daredevil Mr. Dizzy and the Oregon Coast’s Best Fireworks will be held at the Coos Bay Speedway, 94320 Highway 42. The grandstands open at 4 p.m. and racing starts at 6:30 p.m. Fireworks happen after dusk. There is an admission fee. For more information, call 541269-2474 or visit the website at http://www.coosbayspeedway.us/ Legal fireworks only It is illegal to possess or light illegal fireworks in the state of Oregon. The definition of an illegal firework is: “Illegal firework in the state of Oregon is anything that will fly in the air, explode, travels more than 6 feet on the ground or 12 inches in the air.” If you did not buy it from a fireworks stand in the state of Oregon it is more likely than not illegal. Citations and fines can be issued by local law enforcement for those in possession of or

found lighting illegal fireworks. No fireworks on the beach The public is reminded that no fireworks of any kind, even legal ones, are allowed on beaches or Oregon State Park property. In addition, beach fires are not allowed south of Cape Arago to the Coos-Curry County line. This rule went into effect on June 24. To report a controlled beach fire in the Bandon area, please call Bullards Beach State Park at 541-347-2209 ext. 221 or 222 and leave a message. Do not call 911 to report, unless the fire is out of control. Coos Bay City will hand out flags Though there will be no fireworks over the bay this year, and no family day in Mingus Park or Mayor’s Firecracker Run. Coos Bay city employees will still celebrate America’s Independence — just in a less explosive way. City Manager Rodger Craddock announced that instead of fireworks, Coos Bay residents will see police and fire vehicles driving through the city playing patriotic music and giving away

Bees at the North Spit

miniature American flags. On July 4, from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. three police and three fire vehicles will tour the city. The fire department plans to send one ladder truck and two fire engines. The police department will send three marked vehicles. The vehicles will roam in pairs of one fire vehicle and one police vehicle through different segments of Coos Bay. The city has been loosely divided by neighborhood and the pairs will drive through Empire, Eastside and Coos Bay. Fire Chief Mark Anderson said, “It’s not a parade route. We’re just spending time, driving the streets, handing out mini flags, wishing everyone a happy Fourth of July and encouraging them to enjoy the holiday.” Blackberry Arts Festival and Bay Area Fun Festival The Coos Bay Downtown Association has made the difficult decision to cancel two major festivals that draw thousands of visitors to the downtown core. “Because of COVID-19 restrictions placed on festivals in the phased reopening of Coos County, the CBDA board made

Please see Events, Page A2

Masks are a proper precaution JILLIAN WARD The World

Zach Silva, The World

A bee flies near some Scotch broom flowers along a path near the North Spit.

Oregon could be moving toward 900 new cases of COVID-19 a day SALEM (AP) — Oregon had a record 281 new confirmed coronavirus cases Wednesday, but officials predict that the increase may become much steeper during the next month - potentially reaching 900 new cases per day. The state has had five straight weeks of case growth, reaching nearly 9,000 total confirmed cases. “Our latest projections showed that we are on track to hit a worst case scenario model that we had just two weeks ago,” Dr. Dean Sidelinger, the state’s epidemiologist, said at a news conference. “We all have to remember that the numbers, I speak about, are people. They are our fellow Oregonians,” Sidelinger said. “These are people who are sick, and tragically some of whom have died. These are people with families. These people are our neighbors.” Based on projections,

Sidelinger said if Oregon continues on the path it is on, coronavirus hospitalizations would increase from eight people per day to 27. The coronavirus death toll in Oregon has risen to 208 people and 118 people are currently hospitalized. “Our healthcare system is becoming increasingly burdened,” Sidelinger said. As of Wednesday, Sidelinger said, hospitals have adequate intensive care beds and ventilators to handle the number of cases the state has — according to the state’s website, there are 784 ventilators available. Sidelinger said that COVID-19 is circulating more widely in the community, and rising fastest in rural counties — specifically in central and Eastern Oregon. The Oregon Health Authority has also noticed a substantial increase in cases for all age groups younger than 50.

The Oregon Health Authority reported this week the state’s first known outbreak at a child care center in Lake Oswego. Officials said 28 cases, which include children, staff and family members, have been connected to an outbreak at Lake Grove KinderCare. Sidelinger described the increasing trends as “ominous.” People throughout Oregon are now required to wear face coverings in indoor public spaces to slow the spread of coronavirus. “Modeling from the Oregon Health Authority shows that if we don’t take further action to reduce the spread of the disease, our hospitals could be overwhelmed by new COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations within weeks,” Gov. Kate Brown said. Oregon is just one of more than 20 states that have implemented face covering requirements. “Wearing a face covering is

a simple, common sense way to protect yourself and others. What an easy way to save a life,” Brown said. For weeks the governor and health officials have urged residents to wear a mask, wash their hands and practice physical distancing. During the press conference they stressed that if people do not follow those guidelines, the spread of the disease could become much worse and “overwhelming.” “The choices each of us makes will decide whether we reduce the spread of this virus and find a way to keep businesses open -- or whether we let down our defenses and allow the virus to take hold,” Brown said. In addition, on Tuesday Brown extended the COVID-19 state of emergency for 60 days. Despite a surge in cases, Oregon continues to have one of the lowest infection rates in the country.

COOS COUNTY — As the governor’s guidance to wear masks in public spaces goes into effect, Coos Health and Wellness talks about what that means for the county. “As we learn more about COVID-19, evidence continues to mount that face coverings play a critical role in reducing transmission,” said Gov. Kate Brown in press release. “We have to live with this disease for a while. And that is going to require adjusting our habits — taking the simple step of covering our nose and mouth in spaces where we interact with others.” Incident Commander Eric Gleason with Coos Health and Wellness said this means customers will need to wear masks when walking into businesses, including grocery stores, gyms, and shopping malls. According to Gov. Brown’s guidance on the state website, it also includes public transit, personal service providers, and ride sharing services. “It’s a positive move,” Gleason said of the new guidance, which went into effect on Wednesday, July 1, statewide. “Our cases in the state are increasing seemingly daily and when you look at the rate of our positives throughout the state on a daily basis they’re much higher than we had to work with when this started. We’re at a point where we have to make decisions on how to remain open.” Gleason pointed out that there were a number of people who held protests to reopen the state and that in order to stay open “we have to do things that protect each other and this is the best way to do it, in my opinion, as we progress through the phased approach to reopen.” Based on what experts know right now about the new coronavirus, early precautions of washing hands, not touching your face, and staying six feet apart should still be followed, Gleason said. “…Wearing a mask does reduce the possibility of spreading the virus, but it isn’t a perfect system,” he said, explaining why the other precautions are needed. “(People) should wear their masks properly as well, because Please see Masks, Page A3


Turn static files into dynamic content formats.

Create a flipbook
Issuu converts static files into: digital portfolios, online yearbooks, online catalogs, digital photo albums and more. Sign up and create your flipbook.