Oregon Health Authority statistics on Friday added two new COVID-19 cases in Wasco County and one in Hood River County.  That puts Wasco County at 303 total cases for the pandemic, with 200 recovered based on a metric of 30 days from the onset of the disease plus being in stable medical condition.  Hood River County is at 253 total, but the County also added three to its released from isolation statistics, putting that number at 251.  Sherman and Gilliam counties had no new cases reported on Friday.  The Oregon Health Authority says the state has 314 new confirmed or presumed COVID cases in its Friday report, which moves Oregon’s pandemic total to 34,163.  Three deaths were reported, moving that number to 563.  In Washington, Skamania County reported no new COVID cases on Thursday, leaving its pandemic total to 65, and its number of active cases dropped from five to one.  Klickitat County on Thursday added one active case, putting the total number at two.  The County’s pandemic total is 208.  The Washington Department of Health listed 594 new cases on Thursday to move the pandemic total to 88,118 cases, and added six deaths to move that number at 2,132.

Travelers who use Wind River Road to access Carson from Highway 14 should plan ahead for daytime delays beginning next week.  On Monday contractor crews working for the Washington State Department of Transportation will be performing pavement repairs and installing drainage features within the roundabout between Wind River Road, the town of Carson and Highway 14.  On Monday and Tuesday travelers going both directions on Highway 14 near the intersection with Wind River Road will alternate intermittently through a single lane with flaggers from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., and then from Wednesday through Friday it will take place around the clock.  Travelers should use caution and reduce speeds through the work zone, and expect delays of up to 20-minutes.

There will be traffic impacts at various locations in Hood River over the next two weeks as paving work takes place in the wake of NW Natural’s completing a pipeline reinforcement project.  Work will take place between 7 a.m. and 6 p.m. on Monday through Wednesday of next week, plus October 12 and 13.  The work will take place in an area from near 18th and May Streets northeast through town, finishing at 6th and Cascade.  Roadways to be impacted included 17th to Sherman Street…13th between Sherman and State…State from 13th to 9th…9th from State to Cascade…and Cascade from 9th to 6th.

North Central Public Health District Health Officer Dr. Mimi McDonell says the recent COVID-19 outbreak at a senior living facility in The Dalles shows how contagious the virus is.  McDonell points out COVID is more easily spread than influenza, and can be spread by carriers who show no symptoms.  McDonell does ask people if they are diagnosed with COVID or are a contact of someone who has it to follow instructions and go into isolation, even if you don’t have symptoms.  She says cases will continue to crop up, but how far they spread will depend on our actions.  McDonell adds COVID testing is available in Wasco County seven days a week, and contact the health district for help if necessary.  The health district announced on Wednesday a fourth death resulting from the outbreak at Flagstone Senior Living.

October is once again Gorge Happiness Month.  Emily Reed says it’s the fifth year Happiness Month has been observed, and it revolves around three habits science has shown can help make us happier and healthier, gratitudes, acts of kindness, and moments of silence.  Like many other events, Happiness Month has been forced to move online.  A virtual kickoff is set for Thursday night at 7 p.m., with a set of online events planned throughout the month.  For information on all of it, along with a calendar with suggestions for small steps to take to promote happiness every day, go to gorgehappiness.org.

The Oregon Health Authority says the state has 220 new confirmed or presumed COVID cases in its Wednesday report, which moves Oregon’s pandemic total to 33,509.  Four deaths that occurred between August 25 and Monday were reported, moving that number at 559.  The OHA’s weekly report was released Wednesday, showing that for the week that ended on Sunday, 1,999 new cases of COVID-19 infection were recorded—up 32% from the previous week’s tally of 1,511.  The number of Oregonians newly tested rose 29%, to 24,243, while the percentage of tests that were positive was unchanged from last week’s report at 6.2%.  143 Oregonians were hospitalized, up from 116 in the previous week.

Oregon and Washington fishery managers are liberalizing the bag limit for adult salmon on the Columbia River. Beginning Thursday, the daily adult bag limit of two salmon may include up to two Chinook.  The change applies to the ongoing recreational fishery open through Dec. 31 in the Columbia River from Buoy 10 to the Highway 395 Bridge near Pasco, WA.  All coho retained downstream of the Hood River Bridge must be hatchery-origin.  All other regulations remain in effect including those specific to retention of jacks, previously adopted steelhead retention closures and bag limits, and the use of barbless hooks only.  For the latest on Columbia River regulations, visit myodfw.com.

North Central Public Health District Heath Officer Dr. Mimi McDonell confirmed Wednesday a fourth death resulting from the COVID-19 outbreak at Flagstone Senior Living in The Dalles.  It is the seventh confirmed COVID fatality in Wasco County since the pandemic began.  McDonell says there have been a total of 48 COVID cases linked to the outbreak that started with a positive test on September 13, involving facility residents, staff, and household contacts of the staff.  McDonell said it is tough to tell if they will have more cases result from this outbreak, even though she does not expect to see large numbers of them.  She adds the outbreak underlines how contagious COVID-19 can be.  McDonell says this outbreak also illustrates the need for people to follow quarantine instructions when they are involved in a COVID case, even if they don’t have symptoms.  She also recognized workers at Flagstone and with Hearts of Hospice that are working long hours to deal with impacts of the outbreak.

North Central Public Health District confirmed today two deaths resulting from the COVID-19 outbreak at Flagstone Senior Living.  They are the fourth and fifth confirmed COVID fatalities in Wasco County since the pandemic began, and the first in a number of weeks.  There have been a total of nine COVID-19-related deaths in Mid-Columbia counties.  Last week, the District said there had been 30 positive COVID-19 cases at Flagstone.  There has been no update issued on whether any more cases have been found related to that facility.

Hood River City Manager Rachael Fuller told Councilors on Monday evening she will allow the City’s COVID-19 emergency declaration in place since March to expire on Wednesday rather than renewing it.  While emphasizing COVID remains a crisis in the community, she doesn’t believe the powers in the declaration are necessary at this point.  She explains if issues come up, City Council can deal with them under their standard procedures.  City officials noted Children’s Park remains closed at the recommendation of the Hood River County Health Department.