Oregon Governor Kate Brown did not give specifics as to why Hood River County is one of seven that she is requiring masks to be worn in indoor public spaces beginning on Wednesday during a press conference Thursday morning.  Hood River County was approved to move into Phase 2 reopening from the COVID-19 pandemic starting Friday.  She was asked why the counties, which along with Hood River include the three Portland metro counties, Marion, Polk, and Lincoln, whose commission Brown said requested the order, were chosen for the face mask directive, and was fairly general in her reply, citing population density and protecting vulnerable communities.  In a statement, the Oregon Health Authority explained the recommendation to move Hood River County into Phase 2 of reopening from the COVID-19 pandemic beginning Friday, saying it has had only one hospitalization in the past two weeks, and that public health officials have done follow-up for all new cases, which have fallen by half in the last week.  Brown’s face mask directive did not include any specific guidelines, with state epidemiologist Dr. Dean Sidelinger saying they would be issued early next week.  And when asked about enforcement, Brown said people would not be arrested for not wearing masks, but mainly made an emotional appeal.

The Oregon Health Authority said Hood River County had three more confirmed or presumptive cases in their Thursday counts, moving the total number in the last three-plus months to 85, and there were none in Wasco County, keeping that number at 42.  Statewide, the OHA said there were 148 new confirmed and presumptive COVID-19 cases in the state to move that total to 6,366, and four additional deaths to put that number at 187.  Klickitat County reported one more case on Wednesday to inch up to 52, and Skamania County remains at three  In Washington, statewide numbers on Wednesday show cases went up by 253 to 26,784, with 1,226 deaths.

Hood River County Commission Chair Mike Oates does not believe going to Phase 2 in the reopening process will bring more people to the area.  Oates says the businesses that have been waiting for this step to open primarily cater to local residents.  Oates is hoping with Multnomah County going into Phase 1, those residents will have options for things to do at home rather than coming into the Gorge.  He did say they need direction from the state on how the indoor public face mask requirement will work.

Mid-Columbia Medical Center announced it is permanently closing The Spa at Water’s Edge.   The Spa has been closed since mid-March as part of the statewide coronavirus shutdown.  MCMC president and CEO Dennis Knox said with recent financial losses related to the COVID-19 pandemic, they could not continue to support the spa.  He did say MCMC will continue to offer alternative therapies to inpatients as well as patients of the Celilo Cancer Center at MCMC.  With the spa closure, 15 positions at MCMC are affected.  The hospital says it is giving impacted workers priority access to apply for non-licensed job postings at MCMC.  MCMC also indicated information on The Spa gift cards will be released in the very near future.

The Dalles Area Chamber of Commerce is signing up businesses to take part in their “It’s All About The Cherry” promotion in July.  Chamber CEO Lisa Farquharson says they will be holding activities all month long.  Creation of a “Cherry Trail” with businesses providing Cherry specials, a window decorating contest, a hunt for wooden cherries, and a cherry baking contest where people send in photos of what they make are all being planned.  Farquharson says Columbia Bank has signed on to sponsor, so prizes will be purchased rather than asking businesses to donate.  Information on how to take part is available at thedalleschamber.com.

Oregon Governor Kate Brown has scheduled a press briefing at 11 a.m. on her latest announcements that include moving Hood River County into Phase 2 and making it one of seven counties where face masks will be required in indoor public settings beginning June 24.

Oregon Governor Kate Brown announced that Hood River County can move into Phase 2 of reopening on Friday, but will also be one of seven counties where mask wearing will be required in indoor public spaces beginning on June 24.  Brown made the announcement in a video statement on Wednesday. The Oregon Health Authority explained the recommendation to move Hood River County into Phase 2, saying it has had only one hospitalization in the past two weeks, and that public health officials have done follow-up for all new cases, which have fallen by half in the last week.  Brown did not offer an explanation on why Hood River County is one of the seven in the mask requirement.  Hood River and Wasco counties did not report new cases on Wednesday, with the OHA saying one case previously reported in Hood River County was determined not to be a case and removed from its count.  That leaves Hood River County with a reported 82 COVID-19 cases in the last three-plus months, and Wasco County at 42.  Klickitat County reported one more case on Wednesday to inch up to 52, and Skamania County remains at three.  Statewide, the OHA said there were 122 new confirmed and presumptive COVID-19 cases in the state to move that total to 6,218, and one additional death to put that number at 183.  In Washington, statewide numbers on Wednesday show cases went up by 253 to 26,784, with 1,226 deaths.

Local health officials say the COVID-19 outbreak in Union County reported as related to mass gatherings at a church is a warning about the importance of maintain physical distancing and wearing masks.  Hood River County Health Department Health Officer Dr. Christopher Van Tilburg said in a Facebook video Wednesday that as they try to move into Phase 2, they are concerned about virus transmission among residents gathering in groups.  He said he did not believe the primary source of the increase in COVID-19 cases in Hood River County was from tourists, seasonal workers, or workplace transmission.  North Central Public Health District Health Officer Dr. Mimi McDonell told the Wasco County Commission that research is showing people wearing masks does reduce the transmission of coronavirus. She said studies are indicating 50% of the population wearing masks can cut transmission by 80%.  The latest numbers update on Tuesday from the Oregon Health Authority showed both Hood River County and Wasco County reported just one new COVID-19 test apiece.  Hood River County is now at 83 confirmed and presumed COVID-19 cases and Wasco County is at 42.  In Washington, Klickitat County Tuesday afternoon added two more to move to 51 positive COVID-19 tests, while Skamania County remained at three.

A Washougal woman died in a single-vehicle accident on Interstate 84 in Sherman County on Tuesday afternoon.  The Oregon State Police says 52-year-old Vickie McDowell was a passenger and sustained fatal injuries in the accident.  According to the OSP, a preliminary investigation showed a van driven by 45-year-old Shannon Gatlin of Camas was westbound on I-84 near milepost 110 when it traveled into the median and rolled several times.  Gatlin was taken to Mid-Columbia Medical Center for serious injuries.  The OSP says the crash occurred at about 4:05 p.m. Tuesday.  The OSP was assisted by Sherman County Sheriff’s Office, Sherman County Ambulance, North Sherman Fire and Rescue, and the Oregon Department of Transportation.

Columbia Gorge Community College saw a bit of a downturn in enrollment during the spring, but it is trending up for summer term.  CGCC President Marta Yera-Cronin says they believe some students may have skipped spring to see how the pandemic would develop, but now they are signing up for on-line classes.  Cronin says the college has been told by the state to prepare for significantly reduced funding, but added they are receiving help through the federal CARES Act.  She notes they are trying to develop ways to save money moving forward to remain in a good spot financially.