The latest news stories in the Klamath Basin and around the state of Oregon from Wynne Broadcasting’s KFLS News/Talk 1450AM/102.5FM, BasinLife.com and The Herald & News.
FRIDAY, MAY 1, 2020
Klamath Basin Weather
Saturday A slight chance of rain, then showers and possibly a thunderstorm after noon. High near 60 with gusty winds to 25 mph at times. Chance of precipitation is 90%. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms. Saturday night a 50% chance of showers and thunderstorms before midnight with a low around 33.
Sunday Mostly sunny, with a high near 57.
Monday Sunny, with a high near 65.
Tuesday Sunny, with a high near 69.
Wednesday Sunny, with a high near 67.
Today’s Headlines
The Oregon Health Authority reported two new COVID-19 deaths Thursday, along with 64 new cases statewide.
As of Thursday morning, 103 people have died in Oregon from the coronavirus. The latest deaths were a 69-year-old man in Multnomah County who tested positive on April 7 and died Sunday at the hospital and a 77-year-old man in Marion County who tested positive on Saturday and died the same day at his home.
Each patient had prior underlying medical conditions, according to OHA.
Klamath County Public Health reported two newly confirmed cases in the county on Thursday, bringing the countywide total number of confirmed cases to 39. Importantly, County officials also reported that 31 of those cases have recovered and are no longer active.
The County says that 2,038 total tests have been processed — giving Klamath the highest testing ratio to population in the state of Oregon, a slot previously held by Jackson County.
Based on the County’s demographic data, 25 of the confirmed cases are women, and 14 are men. Five of the 37 cases have been hospitalized for the virus. Seven cases have been between the ages of 20-29, nine in the 30-39 age group, six in 40-49, nine 50-59, six 60-69, one 70-79, and one in the 80 or older group.
Meanwhile, Jackson County Public Health in the Rogue Valley said that it had received no new positive test results for COVID-19, leaving the countywide total at 49 cases. The last confirmed case was announced on Friday last week.
Of the 49 total cases, Jackson County says that 38 have fully recovered. 11 cases are still being monitored by public health staff. Over the past week, at least 421 people in the County have been tested for the virus and returned negative results. There have been 4,104 negative results in the county since testing began.
One new case is being reported for Josephine County in the Grants Pass area, that has tested positive for COVID-19, bringing the county’s total number of confirmed cases to 21.
Josephine County Public Health is investigating all cases to identify contacts and exposures and to isolate and monitor all individuals relevant to the cases. Public Health will reach out to anyone suspected of exposure to COVID-19. A total of 1,203 COVID-19 tests from Josephine County have been reported to the Oregon Health Authority, and a total of 21 tests have been positive. Ten individuals have recovered and one individual has died from complications relating to a COVID-19 infection. More samples have been sent to approved labs, but results have not yet been returned.
On Friday morning, Governor Kate Brown joined health experts in outlining the state’s plans for coronavirus testing and contract tracing as it gradually moves toward loosening restrictions put in place to reduce the spread of COVID-19.
Brown outlined three major goals — having testing available for anyone showing known COVID-19 symptoms, for vulnerable groups such as those in group-living facilities, and ongoing randomized testing throughout the state.
Reopening the state will be hinged upon a robust system for contact tracing and testing. Since then, state officials have been working with health care providers and business owners to develop more specific plans, including a potential county-by-county rollback of restrictions.
According to the Governor, some rural counties that have seen fewer impacts could begin to reopen as soon as May 15. Brown said she will be meeting with the leaders of those counties via Zoom to go over their testing capabilities and have more to say on Monday. later in the day on Friday.
Gov. Brown’s office has posted draft guidelines for how businesses might be able to resume operations during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The guidelines include maintaining strict social distancing and potentially recording customers’ IDs in case health officials need to trace who came in contact with someone infected with the coronavirus.
The draft offers this suggested language for what to tell customers: “This business is collecting basic information to share with public health in the event a COVID-19 case is identified associated with this business,” Restaurants and bars would have to limit seating. Patrons might wait in their vehicles until told their table was ready. Video lottery could resume but with six feet of social distancing required.
Restaurants, bars, breweries, wineries and similar establishments would have to ensure that parties stayed six feet apart when approaching or leaving tables as well as when seated. A party could consist of up to 10 people. Because they chose to congregate together, individuals in the same party would not have to remain six feet apart from one another.
Oregonians would be asked not to travel more than 50 miles from home unless necessary to obtain essential services.
Given the recent plant closures across the U.S. and some in Oregon, the Oregon Health Authority and the Oregon Department of Agriculture want to assure Oregonians there is no evidence that human or animal food—or food packaging is associated with the transmission of COVID-19.
Food products do not need to be withdrawn or recalled from the market if someone on the farm or in the processing plant tests positive. ODA and OHA, in partnership with the Centers for Disease Control and Protection and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, are working together offering guidance to employers as they work to ensure the health and safety of their employees and the food and agricultural workforce that help keep the food supply chain strong.
Workers are the backbone of this critical infrastructure. Grocery stores, food processors and distributors have been provided guidance on how to protect their workforce and consumers from COVID-19. This includes several recommendations, including: Enforcing physical distancing in lines, separate customers and employees by six feet whenever possible.
Last week, the Oregon Employment Department received 28,500 initial claims for unemployment benefits. Since public health and safety measures began the week starting March 15, Oregon has received more than 362,200 initial claims for unemployment insurance.
The Employment Department has processed three out of every four initial claims received between March 15 and April 25, and continues expanding its processing ability. The agency now has 610 employees dedicated to processing unemployment claims. A new contact center is expected to open in May. Current contact centers have expanded call hours from 7:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. on weekdays, are giving call-backs to those with unprocessed claims, and employees continue processing claims seven days per week.
After starting up the Pandemic Unemployment Compensation program and the newly created Pandemic Unemployment Assistance program for self-employed, contract, and gig workers, the Employment Department is now working towards implementing the third piece of the CARES Act.
The Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation program extends benefits for up to 13 weeks for those who have run out of benefits and remain out of work due to COVID-19 closures.
The city of Klamath Falls streets Division crews will be performing paint striping work on bike lanes with the Klamath County Roads Department during the hours of 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.
Work next week will be concentrated in N. Eldorado Blvd. – Oregon Ave – N 9th St. areas. Streets staff would like to thank our citizens in advance for proceeding with caution in areas where crews are working. Work may be delayed due to weather, equipment break-down or unexpected emergencies.
The downtown Klamath Falls library has reopened, with limitations in place to ensure six feet of social distancing and keep people safe from COVID-19.
The other Klamath County libraries will be accessible by appointment only beginning next week, according to library director Nathalie Johnston, because they are smaller in size and staff. The Klamath Falls library will be for browsing only for the time being and Johnston said they will remove the seating and tables from the library except for the computers.
The computers will be limited to schoolwork for children and by appointment for adults so that staff can sanitize keyboards and mice. There will be no public restrooms and no food or drink allowed inside.
There will be hand sanitizer available at the door to the library and staff will limit the number of people in the building at one time.
…For complete details on these and other stories see today’s Herald & News. Wynne Broadcasting and the Herald and News…stronger together to keep you informed.
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