North Central Public Health District reports a sixth person has died of COVID-19 during an outbreak at Columbia Basin Care.  The person died on August 14.  It is the 37th such death in Wasco County.  Five others at the facility died between August 4-11.  On Thursday, the facility reported it has five residents who are post-20 days COVID positive with no symptoms.  Eleven residents are still COVID positive and in varying stages of recovery.  Ten staff are still out due to positive tests.  Five have made a full recovery and are back to work.  Most of the residents and many of the staff at the facility who tested positive were vaccinated.  July breakthrough data in Oregon shows the median age for breakthrough cases was 83.  The ability to fight off infection is less robust in the elderly.

Skyline Health in White Salmon said in a statement that the current COVID-19 situation is “dire,” and is asking for the public’s help.  Noting COVID transmission and hospitalizations are at an all-time high, and the statement from Skyline says hospitals throughout the Gorge all share the same concern with staff shortages and increased COVID cases limiting bed capacity at larger hospitals, which means if someone is in need of advanced care due to a medical emergency, a bed may not be available.  Skyline is asking people to limit risky behaviors and activities…wear a mask under Washington’s statewide order going into effect today requiring masks for everyone over five years of age in most public indoor settings regardless of vaccination status, and get vaccinated.  Skyline says in Klickitat County, only 45% of eligible people have been vaccinated.

Providence hospitals, including its facility in Hood River, is restricting most visitors to hospitals beginning Monday due to recent surge of COVID-19 in Oregon.  The hospital says exceptions include one visitor while in the emergency department only, two visitors in labor and delivery through approximately 2 hours postpartum, one visitor in the mother/baby unit, two visitors in the pediatric inpatient area, and people with disabilities.  In these cases, visitors must be at least 16 years old, wear a mask fully covering their nose and mouth, and remain in the patient room unless entering or exiting the medical center.  The change comes as the highly contagious delta variant leaves Oregon with a record number of new cases and intensive care hospitalizations.

Wasco County Chief Deputy Clerk Christy Zaugg is one of five Oregonians recognized with the National Association of Secretaries of State Medallion Award.  The award honors individuals whose outstanding service and dedication further the mission of the National Association of Secretaries of State within the states.  According to the Oregon Secretary of State’s office, as both a Girl Scouts leader in The Dalles and as Wasco County’s Chief Deputy Clerk, Zaugg showed exceptional creativity and resourcefulness in the pursuit of transparency in the democratic process.  Zaugg and her two daughters Ella and Aralyn transformed their Girl Scouts elections and civics event into a video called “Path of the Ballot”.   The video, which was shot, produced, and voiced entirely by Ella and Aralyn, provided transparency on the elections process, and received rave reviews from local political parties and citizens across the county.

Powerball players will have the opportunity to start the week with a third chance to win jackpot.   A new Monday Powerball drawing debuts this week and will join the current lineup of Powerball drawings held every Wednesday and Saturday, at 7:59 p.m. PT.  All 48 Powerball lotteries will sell tickets for the Monday night Powerball drawing.  In Oregon, ticket sales from the third weekly drawing will contribute to public programs and services including public education, economic development, state parks, Outdoor School, veteran services, and watershed enhancements.  Since 1985, Oregon Lottery proceeds have helped contribute more than $13 billion.  Players can watch the new Monday night drawing live online at Powerball.com, which will also be broadcast live by participating television stations.

The four finalists for Hood River’s City Manager position have been announced.  The quartet includes Charlie Bush, who most recently was the City Manager for five-and-a-half years in Sequim, Abigail Elder, currently director of community services and engagement in Beaverton, current Sisters City Manager Cory Misley, and Olympia assistant city manager Keith Stahley.  Hood River residents will have an opportunity to meet the finalists at a community reception on September 7.   Candidate interviews will take place over the following two days, and a selection by the Hood River City Council is expected on September 10.

Oregon’s indoor face mask mandate went into effect Friday.  North Central Public Health District Health Officer Dr. Mimi McDonell says masking is most effective when it comes to protecting others from virus transmission.  She adds a mask does provide some benefit to the wearer by decreasing the amount of viral load coming in to a person.  She says the transmissibility of the Delta variant is much greater that earlier forms of the COVID-19 virus.  McDonell also says masking does not cause problems with breathing, noting medical providers routinely wear face coverings for long periods of time.

North Central Public Health District says five Wasco County residents and one Gilliam County resident have died since August 4 from COVID-19.  That brings the total deaths in Wasco County to 36 and in Gilliam County to two.  All six of the recent deaths had underlying chronic health conditions.  The NCPHD says the Wasco County residents lived at Columbia Basin Care in The Dalles, which is experiencing an outbreak that started July 14.  Thus far, 20 residents have been infected, 16 of whom are vaccinated.  Four of the five who passed away were vaccinated.  Of staff at Columbia Basin, 13 tested positive, and five were vaccinated.  Oregon’s vaccine breakthrough cases report for July showed that the majority of breakthrough deaths have occurred in the elderly, with a median age of 83. The majority of cases are still occurring in the unvaccinated, and vaccine breakthroughs remain uncommon.  Columbia Basin executive director Jasen Tennison said they have asked the Oregon Health Authority and the Oregon Department of Human Services about providing a support team for staffing help.  NCPHD says Mid-Columbia Medical Center had a record seven people hospitalized with COVID earlier this week.  Between MCMC and Providence Hood River Memorial Hospital, just two of 10 staffed ICU beds are available as of Thursday.  Of the 37 staffed non-ICU beds between the two hospitals, just 7 are available.

The Cascade Singers and Serious Theater in The Dalles have had to suspend operations due to the state’s indoor mask mandate.  The Cascade Singers Fall Broadway Concert will be rescheduled for next Spring and Serious Theater’s production of It’s a Wonderful Life will not be able to start as planned at the end of August.  Since there is no defined end to the mask mandate, the two groups say they are unable to make any firm plans for the rest of the year.  The two groups are asking for donations to help them cover on-going expenses.  Donations can be made at Zion Lutheran Church on 10^th and Union, or mail to 101 West 10^th Street, The Dalles, 97058.

Mid-Columbia Housing Authority has long-term and short-term housing assistance available for residents of Hood River, Wasco, Sherman, Klickitat and Skamania counties.  Long-term housing assistance is available through the Housing Choice Voucher Section 8 program.  MCHA’s waiting list is open to elderly, disabled, and households with children.  Short term housing assistance is also available for households that have experienced a negative impact due to COVID-19 through two programs, one for Oregon and one for Washington.  For more information or to apply for assistance, visit midcolumbiahousingauthority.org, or call 541-296-5462.