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eEdition  CLEAR 69 • 52  |  THURSDAY, AUGUST 27, 2020  |  theworldlink.com

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Coos County sees surge in COVID-19 cases AMY MOSS STRONG The World

COOS COUNTY — In the past nine days, there have been 13 confirmed and presumptive COVID-19 cases in Coos County, the highest number since the pandemic began. According to information from Coos Health & Wellness, of the 13 cases, nine are confirmed and four are presumptive. The cases bring Coos County to 80 confirmed cases (positive lab result), and 26 presumptive cases for a total of 106 cases. A total of 5,316 individuals have tested negative for COVID-19 in the county. That number does not include those who have also tested positive (confirmed cases with multiple

results) or those who meet presumptive case status. Presumptive cases are people who are a close contact of a confirmed case and who have experienced specific symptoms consistent with COVID-19 but have not tested positive with a laboratory-confirmed test. This could mean they have not been tested, or they have tested negative. “Due to the fact that a negative test does not rule out COVID-19, the Oregon Health Authority and the Coos County Public Health Division treats these persons as if they have been infected,” stated Coos Health & Wellness in its daily Situation Status Report. There have been 25 positive COVID-19 cases in the past 29

days in Coos County, but no current hospitalizations. No deaths have occurred in Coos County due to COVID-19 and there have been four total hospitalizations, according to officials. When asked if the cases in the past 10 days are linked to an outbreak, Cynthia Edwards, health promotion coordinator and public information officer with Coos Health & Wellness said in an email the department “currently has multiple outbreaks (per state guidelines) that are actively being investigated and mitigation measures are in place.” An outbreak is deemed when there are only two or more cases within a workplace setting and only when five cases are reached at an employer with 30 or more

employees will the location be publicly named. “This is only for workplace settings,” Edwards wrote. Meanwhile, due to safety concerns from a possible but not confirmed COVID-19 exposure, the Coos County Area Transportation District suspended all of its services countywide on Tuesday, Aug. 25 with plans to resume on Monday, Aug. 31. “We understand that suspension of services is inconvenient for people, especially for passengers who rely on CCAT as their primary or only means of transportation,” CCAT posted on social media but did not reach out to local media. “This was not an easy decision to make, but this is necessary for the safety of our employees, passengers

South Coast Strong

and the public.” When asked if the outbreaks were related to the CCAT temporary suspension, Edwards said they “do not have any indication as to why CCAT has closed at this time.” If individuals are deemed close contacts of postive COVID-19 cases, Coos Health & Wellness will reach out to educate and request quarantine, Edwards said. “If individuals have not received this call, then they are not deemed to have been exposed,” she said. Anyone wishing to have CCAT appointments rescheduled for next week can call 541-5830519. Please see Cases, Page 2

Pence defends police

PORTLAND (AP) — The FBI chief in Portland, Oregon, said Wednesday he is shifting the agency’s resources to focus more heavily on crimes committed during nightly racial injustice protests in the city that often end in vandalism, clashes with police and dozens of arrests. Special Agent in Charge Renn Cannon said he is pulling agents from fraud and organized crime teams to focus on acts of violence and federal crimes committed during nearly three months of unrest. The FBI respects the rights of peaceful protesters to assemble and demonstrate, but problems associated with the protests have created a dangerous and volatile situation, he said. “We do investigate major threats of violence and federal crimes. And sometimes a major threat of violence is a cumulative threat that happens over a period

of time. It starts to have a really negative impact on the community,” Cannon said in an interview with The Associated Press. “Here in Portland, we’re ... making the assessment that we should be trying to do a little more than we have, because the cumulative effects and the nature of the problem indicate that the community needs help,” Cannon said. He declined to provide specifics about the number of agents being shifted and did not specify which cases or how many the agency is investigating. The FBI has previously released wanted posters related to two incidents on May 29. The announcement came as Mayor Ted Wheeler held a news conference to plead with residents to join him in opposing nightly violence that he said has tarnished Portland’s reputation as one of the most livable cities

in the world. Wheeler said he was meeting with the Portland Police Bureau and the city’s business community over the next 36 hours to discuss a way forward. “We have allowed our proud tradition of progressive protests to be stolen by a few dozen individuals engaged in violence and criminal destruction,” Wheeler said. “They’re intent on creating mayhem and attacking and harming people, not just property. That’s a line that we can’t allow our community to cross. Not anymore. Enough is enough.” Wheeler is being challenged in his bid for a second term as mayor by Sarah Iannarone, who has marched with protesters frequently and who recently stepped up her criticism of his leadership on social media. Portland has been gripped by nightly protests for nearly three months since the police killing of

George Floyd in Minneapolis. Demonstrators have repeatedly targeted police buildings, police union buildings, city and county offices and federal buildings with vandalism that includes setting fires, spraying graffiti and smashing windows and security cameras. Some protesters want to eliminate or drastically reduce the city’s police budget — saying police prioritize property over Black lives — while the city’s mayor and others in the Black community have decried the violence, saying it is counterproductive. Police arrested four dozen people over the past two nights as protesters smashed windows and vandalized City Hall and repeatedly set fire to the police union headquarters building, officials said.

WASHINGTON (AP) — Just over 1 million Americans applied for unemployment benefits last week, a sign that the coronavirus outbreak continues to threaten jobs even as the housing market, auto sales and other segments of the economy rebound from a springtime collapse. The Labor Department reported Thursday that the number of people seeking jobless aid last week dropped by 98,000 from 1.1 million the week before. The number of initial claims has exceeded 1 million every week but one since late March, an unprecedented streak. Before the coronavirus pandemic, they had never topped 700,000 in a week. “Layoffs are ongoing reflecting interruptions to activity from virus containment that are likely resulting in permanent closures and job

losses,’’ Rubeela Farooqi, chief U.S. economist at High Frequency Economics, wrote in a research report. Farooqi added that “the risk of permanent damage to the labor market remains high which will slow the pace of recovery. The return to pre-pandemic levels of prosperity is set to be an uncertain and prolonged process.’’ More than 14.5 million are collecting traditional jobless benefits -- up from 1.7 million a year ago -- a sign that many American families are depending on unemployment checks to keep them afloat. Until July 31, the unemployed were receiving an extra $600 a week in federal money on top of regular state unemployment benefits, part of an extraordinary lifeline extended to help them through the crisis. The loss of

that money is putting the squeeze on many families. “My income is basically cut in half,’’ said Taylor Love, 34, an unemployed massage therapist in Austin, Texas. “Paying our mortgage is going to be a struggle. We’re going to have to dip into what little savings we have.’’ After passing a massive financial rescue package in March, congressional Republicans and Democrats have been unable to agree on more aid. President Donald Trump signed an executive order Aug. 8 offering a strippeddown version of the expanded unemployment benefits. At least 39 states have accepted or said that they would apply for federal grants that let them increase weekly benefits by $300 or $400. Last week, nearly 608,000 people applied for jobless aid under

a new program that extends eligibility for the first time to self-employed and gig workers, up from 525,000 the previous week. That figure isn’t adjusted for seasonal trends, so it’s reported separately. Altogether, the Labor Department said that 27 million people are receiving some form of unemployment benefits, though the figure may be inflated by double-counting by states. The pandemic has had a devastating impact on the American economy. Businesses closed and Americans stayed home to avoid infection. Economic activity plummeted. From April through June, gross domestic product -- the broadest measure of economic output -- shrank at an annual rate of 31.7%, by far the worst quarter on record.

BALTIMORE (AP) — Vice President Mike Pence forcefully defended law enforcement but made no mention of the Black Americans killed by police this year as he addressed Republican convention proceedings that unfolded amid new protests against racial injustice following the latest shooting. Wednesday evening’s featured speaker, Pence argued that Democratic leaders are allowing lawlessness to prevail from coast to coast. He and others described cities wracked by violence, though protests in most locations have been largely peaceful. “The American people know we don’t have to choose between supporting law enforcement and standing with African American neighbors to improve the quality of life in our cities and towns,” he said. He assailed Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden for saying there is an “implicit bias” against people of color and “systemic racism” in the U.S. “The hard truth is ... you won’t be safe in Joe Biden’s America,” Pence said. “Let me be clear: The violence must stop — whether in Minneapolis, Portland or Kenosha.” Absent from Pence’s 37-minute speech: a direct mention of Jacob Blake, the Black man who was wounded by police on Sunday in Kenosha, Wisconsin. There was also no reference to George Floyd, Breonna Taylor or other Black people who have been killed by police this year, spurring a new nationwide protest movement. As their convention nears its conclusion on Thursday, Republicans are seeking to reconcile their depiction of President Donald Trump as a smooth, stable leader with the reality that the United States is facing a series of crises that include the demonstrations, a potentially catastrophic hurricane and a raging pandemic that is killing more than 1,000 Americans a day. The historic convergence of health, economic, environmental and social emergencies is only increasing the pressure on Trump, as he looks to reshape the contours of his lagging campaign against Biden with Election Day just 10 weeks off and early voting beginning much sooner. The convention keynote gave Pence another opportunity to demonstrate his loyalty to Trump. The vice president, who is also the chair of the White House coronavirus task force, defended the administration’s handling of the pandemic, a political liability that was otherwise largely absent from the convention program. He also delivered sober, encouraging words to Gulf Coast residents as Hurricane Laura neared.

Please see Jobless, Page 2

Please see Pence, Page 2

Amy Moss Strong, The World

The first three buildings of Coos Bay Village are nearing completion. They will be occupied by, from left: Charter Communications, Face Rock Creamery and Starbucks. Read more about Coos Bay Village and other positive stories of the South Coast in our annual South Coast Strong edition in Saturday’s print edition of The World.

FBI shifts resources to unrest in Portland

Please see Portland, Page 2

Another million Americans file for unemployment


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