Cooling centers remain available for those looking to get out of the heart.  Mid-Columbia Community Action cooling centers will be located at Hood River Alliance Church on 2650 Montello and at St. Vincent DePaul on 315 West 3rd in The Dalles.  They will be open from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. through Saturday.  Transportation to and from the cooling centers will be offered by Columbia Area Transit.  The City of White Salmon has a cooling shelter at 119 NE Church Street open from 11:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. through Saturday.  And Washington Gorge Action Programs has a cooling center adjacent to the Hegewald Center at 710 SW Rock Creek Drive in Stevenson.  It is open from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. through Saturday.  

The Oregon Health Authority’s COVID-19 Weekly Report, released Wednesday, showed continued steep increases in daily cases and hospitalizations.  The OHA reported 8,304 new daily cases of COVID-19 during the week that ended Sunday, a 40% increase over the previous week.  There were 322 new COVID-19 hospitalizations, up from 256 last week.  That marked the fifth consecutive week of increases.  There were 40 reported COVID-19 related deaths, up from 25 reported the previous week.  There were 119,416 tests for COVID-19 for the week that ended Saturday.  The percentage of positive tests increased to 9.5%.

The Wasco County Fair and Rodeo will be back next week in Tygh Valley after missing last year due to the pandemic.  The Fair’s Zach Harvey is looking forward to having it back after it was cancelled in 2000.  The Fair will start next Thursday with its annual free day sponsored by The Dalles Disposal along with Kids Day activities.  The rodeo will take place Friday and Saturday, and the demolition derby will be back to finish the Fair on Sunday.  The annual 4-H/F-F-A Livestock Auction takes place at 9:30 Sunday morning.  For information, go to the Wasco County Fair and Rodeo Facebook page.

Oregon Governor Kate Brown today formally announced a statewide indoor mask requirement due to the spike in coronavirus hospitalizations and cases, warning that the state’s health care system could be overwhelmed.  Beginning Friday, everyone who is 5 years or older in Oregon — regardless of vaccination status — will be required to wear masks in indoor public spaces.  The newest coronavirus health and safety measure in Oregon applies to all indoor public spaces, including businesses, grocery stores, indoor entertainment venues and gyms. In addition, people older than two years old will be required to wear masks on public transit.  There are some mask exemptions for activities, including eating, drinking, swimming and organized sports.  In a press conference, Brown claimed she had urged county commissioners to implement their own mandates during a meeting with them, but almost none did.  On Tuesday, 635 people were hospitalized in Oregon because of coronavirus, surpassing the state’s previous record of 622 during November’s surge when vaccine doses were not yet available.  Health officials warned that, without new health and safety interventions in place, coronavirus hospitalizations would far exceed Oregon’s health system capacity in the next several weeks.

During the Governor’s press conference announcing indoor mask mandates, Oregon State Epidemiologist Dr. Dean Sidelinger termed the pandemic as having reached a “dire stage” with daily infections and hospitalizations reaching record highs, adding most of those getting sick are unvaccinated.  Sidelinger said spread of the COVID-19 Delta variant have exceeded previous worst case projections, and there is no immediate sign that will subside without immediate action.  His plea is for everyone to get vaccinated.  Oregon Health Authority Executive Director Patrick Allen did say the number of people getting vaccinated has begun to pick up over the last two weeks, but with spread of the Delta variant, more people need to get vaccinated now.

North Central Public Health District and Mid-Columbia Medical Center issued a statement today that with COVID-19 cases in Wasco County rising rapidly, they are urging all residents to protect themselves — and one another.  They are asking people to wear a mask whenever out in public doing things like grocery and retail shopping, practice social distancing, and to get a COVID-19 shot if they haven’t already.  The statement says area hospitals are seeing an influx of patients who require hospitalization due to COVID-19.  They note getting vaccinated is any easy way to keep yourself, and others, out of the hospital.

The Hood River County Health Department is making a push to get eligible students vaccinated before the school year starts.  Those 12 years of age or older can receive Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine, but it is a two-dose vaccine, and Hood River County COVID-19 Coordinator Daron Ryan says now is the time to for school-age youth to get the series started.  Ryan adds the encouragement to get vaccinated goes beyond COVID-19 to other shots for children before the school year begins.  

Wonderworks Children’s Museum in The Dalles will reopen on Friday after 16 months of limited operations.  In a statement, the museum said it has refreshed the space and are ready for children to explore and play.  Wonderworks will be open six days a week, Monday through Saturday from 8 a.m. to noon and 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.   It will be closed for cleaning and disinfecting from noon to 1 p.m.  Wonderworks has received a grant from Oregon Community Foundation that will allow free admission during the month of August, a free school supply giveaway starting August 23, and free programming for kids and their families in September.  Those who were members as of March 2020 have been extended to June 2022.  Annual memberships are $120 for a family and $200 for a childcare provider.

North Wasco County School District 21 Board will host a “listening session” on Thursday at The Dalles Middle School.  New D-21 Superintendent Dr. Carolyn Bernal says the session will allow families, staff, and community members to comment on the reopening of schools to full-time in-person learning.  The “listening session” will be an in-person meeting beginning at 6 p.m. at The Dalles Middle School, and it will be live streamed through the D-21 Facebook page and YouTube channel.

Mid-Columbia Community Action Council is partnering with a number of agencies to offer cooling centers options this week for community members in need of a place to get out of the heat.  The cooling centers will be located at Hood River Alliance Church on 2650 Montello and at St. Vincent DePaul on 315 West 3rd in The Dalles.  They will be open from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. from Wednesday through Saturday.  Guests of the cooling centers will be required to comply with COVID-19 guidelines and face covering requirements.  Transportation to and from the cooling centers will be offered by Columbia Area Transit.