The state of Oregon had 1,052 new and presumptive COVID-19 cases Wednesday, with 19 new deaths. Hood River County recorded 19 new cases, with a total of 801. Wasco County reports 22 new cases with a total of 894 for the pandemic with 510 recovered….that is defined as 30 days from onset of illness and in stable medical condition. Gilliam County had 2 new cases. They have 37 total with 23 recovered. There were no new cases in Sherman County, they remain at 31 total with 23 recovered. The state of Oregon overall has recorded 112,260 positive or presumptive cases and 1,468 deaths. In Klickitat County, they had 20 new cases for a total of 525 with 473 recovered. Skamania County is aligning their numbers with the Washington State Department of Health, so some categories have changed. They report 184 positive cases with 18 probable for a total of 202. Washington State had 1,484 new cases Wednesday for a pandemic total of 232,993 with 3,420 deaths.  

The Oregon Health Authority reported 713 new confirmed and presumptive cases Tuesday, along with 16 deaths. There were 5 new cases in Hood River County, with a total of 763 during the pandemic. Wasco County reported 6 new cases and has a total of 873 cases with 502 recovered, which is defined as 30 days from the onset of symptoms and in stable medical condition. Gilliam County added one case for 35 cases with 23 recovered. There were no new cases in Sherman County and they remain at 31 cases with 23 recovered. There are 527 patients hospitalized with COVID-19 across the state, which is 12 more than Monday. 119 patients are in intensive care unit beds, 6 more than Monday. The state has a total number of 111,227 COVID cases with 1,449 deaths. Skamania County had 1 new case Tuesday, increasing their number to 184, with 154 recovered. Klickitat County shows 9 new cases since last Thursday, for a total of 505 cases with 465 recovered. Washington state now has a total of 240,846 cases during the pandemic and 3,369 deaths.  

According to a recent study done by marketers TOP Data and Zenreach, restaurant spending nationwide is only down by 1% from where it was in January 2020. Many states have seen an increase in restaurant spending since the pandemic started. Washington leads the country with a 26% increase over January, followed by Utah at 24%, South Dakota a 20% increase, 19% in Alaska and Alabama shows an 18% increase. Oregon is 4% higher than January. In the opposite direction, Idaho leads in terms of less spending at restaurants with a 47% decrease, Massachusetts is #2 at 41%, Rhode Island with 34%, California with a 29% decrease and New Jersey 24%.  

The Oregon Health Authority on Monday reported 865 new or presumptive COVID-19 cases in the state. There were 3 new cases in Wasco County, bringing their total to 867 for the pandemic with 502 recovered, that’s defined as 30 days from the onset of the illness and in stable medical condition. Hood River County had 8 new cases with a pandemic total of 758. There were no new cases in Gilliam or Sherman Counties, with Gilliam at 34 cases and Sherman with 31 cases. Both counties have 23 recovered. There are 515 patients hospitalized in Oregon, 23 more than Sunday. There are 313 COVID-19 patients in intensive care unit beds, 8 more than Sunday. Overall, Oregon has 110,545 cases with deaths at 1,433. In Klickitat County, the latest report shows 496 total cases with 72 active and 421 recovered. In Skamania County, there are 183 total cases, with 154 recovered. In Washington State, they have a total of 238,672 positive or presumptive COVID-19 cases with 3,195 deaths.

The Oregon Health Authority reported 1,416 new confirmed or presumptive COVID-19 cases on Sunday. That raises the total number of cases statewide to 109,725. Six new deaths raised that total to 1,427. Hood River County reported 3 new cases for a pandemic total of 750. Wasco County reported 28 new cases with a total of 826. Gilliam County reported 1 new case and now stand at 33 total cases. There were no new cases reported in Sherman County, they remain at 31 for the pandemic. The last reports in Klickitat and Skamania Counties were Friday. Klickitat has now had 434 total cases and Skamania County with 179 for the pandemic. Washington shows a tally of 227,795 total cases for the pandemic with 3,184 deaths.

NW Natural says it has about 100 employees in the field today to finish turning on meters and relighting the remaining customers in Hood River that they were unable to restore Friday. They will also make second visits to customers that were not home when the first visit occurred.  If a customer is not home, a technician will leave a door hanger with a phone number that they can call to schedule a time that works.  Customers with questions can call NW Natural’s emergency hotline at 800-882-3377. While service restoration is expected to be fully completed today, NW Natural is still making hotel rooms available if anyone is in need. Go to NWNatural.com for information. NW Natural utility partners Avista, Cascade/Intermountain and Puget Sound Energy are providing mutual assistance. All workers will carry ID when they arrive at customer homes and will follow COVID-19 safety protocols as usual. NW Natural will continue to provide updates at www.nwnatural.com.

Hood River County Commissioners have taken another step toward establishing a parking permit program at seven different staging and day use areas, telling County staff to move forward with preparing an ordinance to establish it.  Commissioners heard a presentation from County Forester Doug Thiesies on the proposal to establish a $30 annual pass and $5 daily fee in an effort to generate $100,000 to put back into the trail program.  Thiesies noted a committee that developed the program looked for a price point that would be agreeable to the varied users of the system.  Staging areas and day-use areas that would be covered under the parking permit program would include Lower Post Canyon Road, Seven Streams, Post Flats, Family Man, Binns Hill, Kingsley Reservoir, and Pinemont.

The Dalles Mayor Rich Mays says he’s trying to step up efforts to find long-term steps for dealing with the city’s homeless issues.  Mays says he was asked by members of faith groups to take a leadership role, and he’s working on forming a nucleus group of seven to nine people to tackle the problem that would then bring in others with expertise in particular areas as needed.  Mays adds he is working closely with the new Mid-Columbia Community Action executive director Ken LaPoint on this, and the group will develop a mission statement and ground rules with an aim to do something meaningful and effective for those who are homeless.

Washington Department of Natural Resources has received the go ahead from the White Salmon City Council to pursue the first phase of a fire fuel break on the eastside of the city.  DNR representatives made a presentation to Councilors recently outlining the project, which would aim to reduce wildfire severity by reducing stem density and fuel loading and forming a north to south fuel break adjacent to Jewett Creek.   Mayor Marla Keethler says the Council agreeing to move forward is just a first step, as DNR will now to work with landowners and other stakeholders.  DNR has identified the White Salmon area as a high priority watershed for forest health restoration, and m has proposed a multiphase treatment consisting of four different shaded fuel breaks positioned around the city.  

Oregon Governor Kate Brown said at a press conference Tuesday that the two-week freeze prevented a surge in COVID-19 cases, and asked Oregonians to continue measures to stop the spread of the virus.  Brown says thanks to Oregonians making changes to their plans and respecting safety measures, the state did not see the Thanksgiving holiday spike they feared, but it needs to continue through Christmas and New Year’s Day.  Oregon Health Authority Director Patrick Allen said the state’s new COVID-19 cases dropped by 11% last week.  Brown also said Oregon’s educators and school staff members are essential workers, and should be included in “Phase 1B” of the state’s vaccine rollout, saying it “will help ensure we are making learning environments as safe as possible.”