Newly published hospitalization surveillance data from the Centers for Disease Control shows the three available COVID-19 vaccines serve as an effective shield against virus-related hospitalizations.  The data tracked hospitalized COVID-19 patients aged 65 and older between Feb. 1 and April 30 in Multnomah, Washington and Clackamas counties and covers approximately 43% of Oregon’s population.  The conclusions confirm the findings of earlier clinical vaccine trials that demonstrated a dramatically lower risk of hospitalization from COVID-19 among fully vaccinated people.  According to the vaccine effectiveness study, the two-dose Pfizer and Moderna vaccines reduced the risk of hospitalization by 96% and the single-dose Johnson & Johnson vaccine reduced the risk of hospitalization by 84% in adults 65-74 years old.  A previous study released by the CDC reported similar results.  The newly released hospital findings reflect data collected prior to the surge being fueled by the Delta variant in Oregon and in other states.  But the OHA says data collected in the United Kingdom, Canada and Israel have shown similar excellent protection against severe disease caused by the Delta variant.  

The Oregon Health Authority’s monthly update on breakthrough cases found that 81% of the 12,514 reported COVID-19 cases in the state in July were among people who were unvaccinated.  The average age of the people who contracted the virus was 51.   Of the 55 COVID-19 associated deaths reported in July, 91% were among people who were not fully vaccinated.   There have been a reported total of 4,196 COVID-19 breakthrough cases in Oregon, compared to the more than 2.3 million Oregonians who have completed their COVID-19 vaccination series.  Most of the breakthrough deaths occurred in elderly people.

One of the difficulties health officials are dealing with as they try to contain COVID-19 is combatting misinformation.  At Wednesday’s Wasco County Commission meeting, North Central Public Health District Health Officer Dr. Mimi McDonell asked people not to spread misinformation about the virus.  McDonell says if you have questions about the efficacy of the COVID-19 vaccines, get answers from a health care professional rather than on social media.

A new workforce training skills center and student residential hall are now complete on The Dalles campus of Columbia Gorge Community College.  The “Chinook Residence Hall” is named for the college’s mascot, and school officials say it will emphasize affordability.  There are 12 units with four beds each, as well as two studio apartments for residential managers who may also be students.  Each four-bed unit has a study area, bathroom and kitchenette.  There’s a common kitchen on the first floor and a student lounge on the second floor, and a laundry on each floor.  Rooms on the south side overlook the campus; those on the north overlook the Columbia Gorge.  The skills center will offer new career-technical programs to provide students with family-wage skills.  It will emphasize dual credit training for high school students as well as high-demand training for people of all ages in fields such as welding and construction.  Classes begin fall term and housing applications are open now.  Ribbon-cutting and public tours will be on September 11.

Klickitat Valley Health’s bond measure for improvements to the hospital in Goldendale dropped just below the needed 60 percent approval rate for passage after a second day of counting Tuesday’s primary vote, but more ballots remain to be counted over the next few days.  The proposal had received 59.8% of the vote, 1,545 yes to 1,039 no.  There were two school board races in Klickitat County with three candidates, with the top two primary vote getters moving on to the general election in November.  For the Lyle School Board…Barbara Mills had 275 votes and Garrett Towle 237, to 43 for Bradley Blazer.  And for the White Salmon Valley School District board…Andy Meresee had 668 votes and Peter Harkema 567 to 169 for Kara Polintan.  Klickitat County will release more vote counts on Friday, with an estimated 394 ballots left to count.  In Skamania County…Robert Muth had 125 votes and Kristy Arnett McCaskell 117 in a Stevenson City Council primary, with Kris Bennett at 85 votes.  The annexation of Mill A and Willard into Fire District 1 was being approved 163 to 19.  Skamania County will update its numbers on August 16.

The Washington State Department of Transportation says work will begin on Monday to repair and resurface a 20-mile stretch of Highway 97 between Centerville Road near Goldendale and Ski Lodge Road in Klickitat County.  WSDOT says it has been 11 years since that stretch of highway has been paved.  Crews will also pave sections along Scale House Road and along East Simcoe Drive.  Once construction begins, crews will seal cracks and perform pavement repairs.  Daytime and nighttime single lane closures are planned with flaggers and a pilot car to lead travelers through a single lane.  Delays of up to 20 minutes are expected. Bicyclists will be transported through the work zone upon request, when workers are on site.

North Central Public Health District says Wasco, Sherman and Gilliam counties had 113 COVID-19 cases in the past two weeks, which is more than any two-week span, even during the winter surge.  There were just 22 cases in the prior two weeks.  NCPHD Health Officer Dr. Mimi McDonell made a presentation to Wasco County Commissioners on Wednesday, and she said the Delta variant that is now predominant in the state and country is very good at replicating itself, leading to higher rates of transmission.  McDonell did recommend wearing a mask and keeping distance in indoor public spaces, and getting vaccinated against COVID-19.  Just short of 62 percent of Wasco County residents over the age of 18 have gotten vaccinated, under the state rate of 69 percent.

Klickitat County continues to see its COVID-19 vaccination rates lag.  County Public Health Director Erinn Quinn says the County is not in a good place, with just short of 39 percent of the population fully vaccinated, or 44 percent of those 12 and older.  Quinn says there is plenty of vaccine available from a number of providers in Klickitat County.  Quinn said July was the fourth-busiest month for COVID cases during the course of the pandemic, and County hospitals are seeing an increase in testing.

Mid-Columbia Medical Center has activated its Emergency Operations Plan.  In a statement it posted on its website, MCMC says hospitals in the Gorge and surrounding communities have seen a rapid influx of seriously ill or injured patients, while also experiencing the same shortage of nurses and support staff that is affecting hospitals across the country.  As part of the plan, when necessary, MCMC will divert ambulances, divert labor and delivery, and postpone or cancel surgical cases.  When ambulances are diverted local residents who are transported by ambulance may not be taken to the hospital nearest their home, they will be taken to the closest hospital that has the capacity to care for them at that time.  Expectant moms in labor should call the MCMC First Impressions Birthing Center at 541-296-7210 to pre-check in before coming to the hospital.  In an emergency, go straight to the closest emergency room.  Elective surgeries requiring an overnight stay are already being postponed on a case-by-case basis.  Patients are being notified if your scheduled surgery must be postponed.  MCMC emphasized it will never turn away a patient in need who arrives at the hospital, but wait times in the emergency department are much longer than usual.  MCMC is also putting up tents in the Emergency Department parking lot as a precautionary measure to do patient assessment if necessary.

Klickitat Valley Health’s bond measure for improvements to the hospital in Goldendale was just above the needed 60 percent approval rate for passage after Tuesday’s primary vote count, but ballots remain to be counted over the next few days.  The proposal had received 60.7% of the vote:  1,383 yes to 897 no.  There were two school board races in Klickitat County with three candidates, with the top two primary vote getters moving on to the general election in November.  For the Lyle School Board…Barbara Mills had 250 votes and Garrett Towle 219, to 40 for Bradley Blazer.  And for the White Salmon Valley School District board…Andy Meresee had 644 votes and Peter Harkema 534 to 161 for Kara Polintan.  In Skamania County…Robert Muth had 92 votes and Kristy Arnett McCaskell 91 in a Stevenson City Council primary, with Kris Bennett at 62 votes.  The annexation of Mill A and Willard into Fire District 1 was being approved 124 to 19.  More ballot results will be released late Wednesday afternoon.