Two Mid-Columbia counties saw their number of positive COVID-19 tests go up over the weekend.  Klickitat County reported three new tests to move its cumulative total over the past two months to 25, and Wasco County had two more to go up to 18.  In the rest of the region, Hood River County remained at 14 reported COVID-19 cases since the pandemic began, Skamania County 3, and Sherman County 1.  The Oregon Health Authority reported 73 new confirmed COVID-19 cases and 10 presumptive cases on Saturday and Sunday, bringing the state total to 3,623.  No deaths from COVID-19 were reported in Oregon over the weekend, leaving that total at 137.  The Washington State Department of Health reported the number of deaths in Washington because of the coronavirus has reached 1,001.  It listed the total number of confirmed cases at 18,433.

Mid-Columbia Medical Center officials say the Nichols Landing building in Hood River damaged by fire early Friday morning will remain closed for restoration, but they don’t know if it will be for a few weeks or several months.  The fire broke out in an adjacent business within the building and spread to MCMC’s offices before it was extinguished.  MCMC chief ambulatory operations manager Christina McMaingal said they are assessing the damage, but no one was hurt and all patient files are secure.  MCMC’s Hood River-based providers have been seeing patients in The Dalles throughout the COVID-19 pandemic and will continue to do so while the Nichols Landing building is restored.  

The Dalles-Wasco County Library started offering curbside service Monday.  Patrons can place holds online through the Sage catalog at wascocountylibrary.com, or by phone, or email.   Curbside service will be available Monday through Thursday 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Fridays and Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. at The Dalles Public Library on 722 Court Street.  Pick up service will be located at the back door of the library.  Park your car in the library parking lot and walk up to the curbside pick up location while maintaining physical distancing.   Call the library or ring the doorbell when you are outside ready for pick up.   The library’s front doors will be closed.   For more information, call 541-296-2815.  The Hood River County Library District indicated on its website that it will start curbside pickup on May 28 in Hood River and May 30 in Cascade Locks and Parkdale.

The 150,000 households in Oregon that received postcards asking them to participate in Oregon Health Sciences University’s “Key to Oregon” study of COVID-19 will be receiving follow up letters with details during the next week.  Study lead and OHSU-Portland State University School of Public Health Dean Dr. David Bangsberg says the goal is to develop a better understanding of how many Oregonians are infected with the coronavirus, where infections are and how the virus spreads.  He explains study volunteers will be asked to take their temperature and do a short symptom survey on a daily basis.  OHSU is looking for 100,000 people who have received the postcards to volunteer for the study.

The City of The Dalles is recommending owners and operators of commercial buildings flush out their building’s water system with fresh water from City mains before reopening for business.   Buildings with low or no occupancy for several weeks likely have water that has stagnated in building pipes.   Stagnant water may or may not taste different or be discolored, but long periods of low or no water use in buildings can allow bacteria to grow.  Remove aerators, pre-rinse spray valves, and showerheads before flushing stale water from the pipes.  Run cold water from all fully opened faucets in the building for at least 5 minutes.  Change all water filters, then run water coolers, drinking fountains and refrigerator taps connected to the tap water supply for at least 5 minutes.  If you have an automatic ice maker, make three batches of ice cubes and throw away all three batches.

The Dalles Unit of the Oregon Department of Forestry says open burning will be prohibited in Wasco County beginning June 1.  The move is being made in coordination with the County and its Fire Defense Board.  Low snow pack and limited spring moisture have contributed to unseasonably dry wildland fuel conditions, prompting fire managers to implement the annual burn ban a month earlier for lands in Wasco County.  The Dalles Unit Wildland Fire Supervisor Kiel Nairns says they would like to see landowners take advantage of recent rain, and more forecast precipitation, to complete any debris burning before warmer and drier weather returns.  Landowners choosing to burn in coming days are reminded to use appropriate safe burning practices.  Burning of logging slash and debris from forest operations is not allowed at this time.  For further information, call the ODF’s office in The Dalles at 541-296-4626 or go to ODFcentraloregon.com.

The Skamania County Commission, acting in its role as the County’s Board of Health, has rescinded its order closing recreational hiking.  That coincides with efforts underway by the Forest Service to relax closures of trails and recreational sites within the Gorge.  The Gifford Pinchot National Forest did open some areas on its lands on Friday, but the Forest Service currently has an administrative closure order in place for lands in the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area.  Officials say they recognize concerns relating to the influx of visitors to the county and the potential for an increase in COVID-19 cases, but also believe the ability to open sites where they can be safely opened will help immensely in distributing visitor use.    County officials also noted visitors were already helping themselves to recreational opportunities on the Pinchot regardless of current closures.  They suggest visitors come prepared with masks, water, hand sanitizer and toilet paper.  Officials say they added many portable restroom units for the public.

Oregon and Washington fishery managers announced seasons and regulations for 2020 summer and fall Columbia River fisheries.  Although sockeye and fall Chinook returns show improvement from 2019, below average projections for summer Chinook, coho, and upriver summer steelhead will require another year of reduced or closed seasons and bag limits.  The summer season will be limited to sockeye and steelhead retention.  The fall season is based on a projected return of fall Chinook that is about 12% higher than last year.  Due to the low projected returns for upriver summer steelhead, protective regulations are needed again this fall including a one steelhead daily bag limit in June and July, area-specific steelhead retention closures beginning in August, and Thermal Angling Sanctuaries associated with Eagle Creek, Herman Creek, and the Deschutes River.  For more information about upcoming Columbia River seasons, including regulation updates, visit www.myodfw.com.

Wasco, Sherman, and Gilliam counties have been approved by Oregon Governor Kate Brown to enter Phase 1 of reopening starting Friday.  Wasco County Commissioner Scott Hege posted the letter he received from the Governor on his Facebook page early this morning, and the reopening for the other two North Central Public Health District counties was confirmed on the three counties’ Unified Command Facebook page.  There has been no word on Hood River County’s Phase 1 application, with the Governor holding a press conference this morning.  In Brown’s letter to Hege, she says reopening does not come without risks, and the contact tracing, testing, and personal protective equipment requirements that were part of the conditions for opening are essential to mitigate a transmission increase of COVID-19.

Wasco County Administrator Tyler Stone announced during The Dalles City Council virtual meeting on Monday that the County’s Phase 1 Reopening Plan was sent to the Governor’s office on Monday, and it has been moved on to the Oregon Health Authority for its review.  North Central Public Health District Director Dr. Mimi McDonell said she feels confident the County is in a good position.  Even though she noted Wasco County is now at 16 positive COVID-19 tests after receiving one on Monday, she added that is a cumulative number, and the prevalence is declining.  She said with the help of Mid-Columbia Medical Center and One Community Health a testing regimen is in place along with robust contact tracing, plus isolation facilities along with sufficient health care capacity and personal protective equipment. Hood River County Administrator Jeff Hecksel said the County’s Phase 1 Reopening Plan has passed the Governor’s office, and is now headed to the Oregon Health Authority for review.  The County submitted the plan to the state on Friday, the first day counties could do so.  County Commission Chair Mike Oates says they are looking for a slow opening no matter what, and Commissioner Rich McBride noted businesses that are eligible to reopen should not feel compelled to do so unless they feel safe.  County Health Director Trish Elliott said the County has had its first hospitalization from COVID-19.  She also said they are reaching more vulnerable populations with the help of One Community Health.