The Oregon Health Authority released a modeling report update today that indicates the efforts of Oregonians to stay home and practice physical distancing has helped prevent as many as 70,000 COVID-19 cases in Oregon.  The report says the epidemic would have grown exponentially and cases would have doubled every week without social distancing practices.  The interventions are estimated to have averted over 70,000 infections, including over 1,500 hospitalizations, by April 16th.  State epidemiologist Dr. Dean Sidelinger says the modeling shows the efforts are working, but they also must continue even as the state moves toward easing restrictions.  The Institute for Disease Modeling works with the OHA on the weekly reports, using Oregon outbreak data with IDM research and modeling techniques to present policy makers with projections for the trajectory of the disease.  The models are updated weekly.