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.

Two men died Tuesday morning in a two-vehicle accident on Highway 97 at milepost 73 about six miles south of the junction with Highway 197. According to the Oregon State Patrol, a commercial motor vehicle operated by 25-year-old Ronald Sims of Redmond was northbound when a southbound silver pickup driven by 74-year-old William Robinson of Wasilla, Alaska crossed into the northbound lanes for an unknown reason.  The two vehicles hit head-on, and both individuals sustained fatal injuries.  Highway 97 was closed for approximately 5 hours.

Fire burned a structure located off of Trout Creek Road in Stabler on Tuesday morning.  According to Skamania Fire District 1, the fire posed a threat to surrounding wildlands due to the current dry conditions, but crews were able to contain the fire to the structures and protect the perimeter from igniting.  Stevenson Fire Department, Skamania EMS and Rescue, Skamania County Sheriff’s Office and Washington State Department of Natural Resources responded to a the fire along with Skamania Fire District 1.  No injuries to occupants or firefighters were reported.

With still another couple of months to go in the fire season, it remains important to keep safety in mind with continued high fire danger in the region.  Kiel Nairns of the Oregon Department of Forestry’s The Dalles Unit says their regulated use closure remains in place, adding the fires the agency has dealt with so far have been human-caused.  Nairns says their initial attacks have been able to keep most fires small…and the addition of fire boss planes to be based in the Gorge has been helping in that effort.

Tuesday is the final day to submit ballots in the Washington primary election.  Ballots must be delivered to official drop boxes or postmarked by today.  There is a limited number of issues and offices on the primary ballot in Klickitat and Skamania counties.  The Klickitat County ballot is highlighted by Klickitat Valley Health’s bond measure for improvements to its facility in Goldendale.  There are also three-way races for school board positions in the Lyle and White Salmon Valley districts, with the top two in each advancing to the November general election.  Skamania County’s ballot includes the proposed annexation of Mill A and Willard into Fire District 1, and a three-way primary for a Stevenson City Council seat.

Temperatures continue to rise into the triple digits in the region, and the Hood River County Health Department is reminding people heat illness, or hyperthermia, is a serious and important medical issue to watch out for during these warm days.  Mild to severe symptoms of heat illness can include: nausea, vomiting, sweating or dry skin, dry mouth thirst, fever, headache, muscle cramps, abdominal cramps, fatigue/exhaustion, rapid heart rate, weakness, and diarrhea.  If experiencing those symptoms, it’s important that you move to a cooler or air-conditioned location, drink plenty of fluids, Take a cold shower or use a cool compress, and remove tight or restrictive clothing.  Heat stroke occurs when an individual has a fever of at least 104 degrees and mental status changes such as disorientation, delirium, irritability, confusion, and seizure.  If heat stroke is suspected, it’s important to call 911 immediately and move the individual to a cooler place and douse with or immerse in cold water.

Following a small round of lightning Monday afternoon, three new fires were identified on the south end of the Mt. Hood National Forest. The U.S. Forest Service says two fires are in the southeast corner of the Bull of the Woods Wilderness in the Janus Butte area with the largest of the two at approximately 50 acres.  The third appears to be outside of the wilderness boundary and is in the vicinity of Round Lake.  Two engine crews headed to the fire by Round Lake when it was reported, and worked on clearing fallen trees from the roads leading into the fire area until dark and will return this morning.  The location of the two Janus Butte fires will require firefighters to take indirect tactics to suppress, due to the lack of adequate escape routes and safety zones for firefighters.  Additional personnel and logistical support are being ordered to be able to implement that plan, but a team is already in place to coordinate.