With warmer and sunnier weather arriving in Oregon, emergency officials are reminding people to keep practicing social distancing that has been helping to flatten the curve of COVID-19 infections.  Oregon Office of Emergency Management Director Andrew Phelps said it’s fine to go outside, but don’t participate in group sports or attend large social gatherings, don’t hike on crowded trails, don’t travel too far from home, and if you’re not feeling well don’t go outside.  Local, state, and federal agencies are continuing their “Do The Right Thing” campaign to prevent recreationalists from going on to closed public lands in the Columbia River Gorge.  Rachel Pawlitz of the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area said the campaign did make a big difference in overall reduction of visitors last weekend, but there also continued to be one or two cars parked at most trailheads.

Oregon’s Office of Emergency Management expects to receive 78 pallets of personal protective equipment on Wednesday.  OEM Director Andrew Phelps made the announcement during a media briefing Tuesday afternoon, saying the shipment will come from the federal agency U.S.A.I.D.  He said it will be dispersed to counties and tribes around Oregon.  Phelps said his agency has distributed over a million masks, faceshields, and gowns, and over 1.5 million gloves.  But he added that the supply still doesn’t meet the demand.

The Oregon Health Authority reported 64 new positive tests for COVID-19 on Monday, but none in the Mid-Columbia area.  The statewide number moved up to 1,132, of which 404 have required hospitalization.  Wasco County remains at seven reported cases, Hood River County two, and Sherman County at one.  Two deaths was reported by the OHA on Monday, bringing that total to 29.  They were a 93-year-old man in Washington County and a 70-year-old woman in Marion County, both with underlying health conditions.  There have been 20,669 negative tests for COVID-19 in Oregon, including 195 in Wasco County and 182 in Hood River County.  In Washington, Skamania County Monday reported its second COVID-19 case.  Klickitat County has reported eight cases during the outbreak.  The latest COVID-19 numbers in Washington show 7,984 total cases in the state, with 338 fatalities and 83,391 negative tests.  There have been 136 negative tests in Klickitat County, and 37 in Skamania County.

Public land closures in the Gorge may have dissuaded some from coming to the Gorge, but some apparently came anyway.  The Skamania County Sheriff’s Office said in a statement that despite public lands closures, visitation to those lands remained high as people converged at parks, sites, and trails.  The Sheriff’s Office says agencies in and around Skamania County contacted dozens of recreationalists over the weekend and issued citations to many of them.  Hood River County Forestry Director Doug Thiesies told County Commissioners during a virtual worksession Monday that the Commission’s closure of the County Forest on Thursday did have some effect, estimating use was reduced by 70 to 80 percent, but there were still some on the trails.  More than a dozen federal, state and local agencies in and around the Columbia River Gorge have been engaged in a social media campaign to encourage outdoor enthusiasts to “do the right thing” and comply with public health directives to stay home and reduce the spread of COVID-19.  Those agencies have temporarily closed lands and water access to adhere to state executive orders.

A measure authored by Washington 14th District State Representative Gina Mosbrucker to create a workplace domestic violence task force was among 147 bills and supplemental budget appropriations Governor Jay Inslee vetoed on Friday in an effort to save money to address COVID-19 repercussions in Washington.  The Goldendale Republican said the veto was disappointing but very understandable given the need to adjust the state budget to deal with the coronavirus.  She plans to bring back the bill in the next legislative session.  Mosbrucker did note the supplemental capital construction budget remains untouched.  That budget includes $250,000 for a new domestic violence shelter in Goldendale.

Law enforcement officials are warning of an uptick in potential scams during the COVID-19 pandemic.  Among the scams being reported:  robocalls purporting to offer respirator masks with no intent on delivery…fake Covid-19 related apps and websites that install malware or ransomware…phishing emails asking for donations or other monetary contributions allegedly going toward Covid-19 response and relief…social media scams fraudulently seeking donations or claiming to provide stimulus funds if the recipient enters their bank account information…sales of fake testing “kits”, cures, “immunity” pills and protective equipment…fraudulent offers for free Covid-19 testing in order to obtain Medicare beneficiary information which is used to submit false medical claims for unrelated, unnecessary, or fictitious testing or services…and prescription drug schemes involving the submission of medical claims for unnecessary antiretroviral treatments or other drugs that are marketed as purported cures for Covid-19  If you, or someone you know believes they are subject to a COVID-19 related scam, report it to the U.S. Department of Health 24-hour hotline at 800-HHS-TIPS or contact your local law enforcement office.

North Wasco County School District 21 is preparing to turn to virtual learning next week for its students.  D-21 Superintendent Candy Armstrong says they are prioritizing getting high school students going to meet credit requirements.  She says they are still trying to reach out to a large number of students that either they did not have a good e-mail address for or there were other barriers to communicating with them.  Armstrong says mailings are also being sent to students and their families.  If a family with a student at The Dalles High School has not received any notification from D-21 on the virtual learning plan, Armstrong says they should call the high school at 541-506-3400.

A coalition of Oregon state agencies are asking Oregonians to voluntarily refrain from conducting outdoor burning.  The Oregon Department of Environmental Quality, Oregon Department of Forestry, Oregon State Fire Marshal’s Office, Oregon Department of Agriculture, and Oregon Health Authority say they recognize that many Oregonians use fire as a necessary tool to manage their lands, but say possible effects on the wider community should be considered.  Smoke inhalation can cause upper respiratory symptoms, which could be incorrectly attributed to COVID-19, leading to unnecessary testing or self-isolation.  Exposure to smoke and other forms of air pollution can increase the risk of contracting infectious respiratory disease such as COVID-19, increase the severity of existing respiratory infections, and worsen underlying chronic respiratory conditions.  The agencies note there is a severe shortage of personal protective equipment to reduce smoke exposure at this time, and first responders and other emergency services are operating at a reduced capacity and have limited resources to respond to out-of-control burns.

Mid-Columbia Medical Center will open its immediate care center on Tuesday at Water’s Edge in The Dalles.  Immediate Care is designed expressly for patients with medical needs that are not life-threatening but cannot wait for a doctor’s visit.  It also should reduce the need for emergency room visits so that department can focus on lifesaving care.  The clinic will be staffed by healthcare professionals who are specially trained to treat a variety of illnesses and conditions.  MCMC is still asking people to call their doctor and utilize telemedicine for routine medical needs.  Those who have symptoms such as fever, cough or shortness of breath should stay home and contact your medical provider.  If you are having difficulty breathing, seek medical attention at your nearest emergency department.  MCMC Immediate Care will be open seven days a week from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Most fishing and hunting seasons remain open in Oregon, but the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife says participants should continue to comply with social distancing and other guidelines set forth in the Governor’s Stay Home, Save Lives order.  The agency says while it does not enforce regulations such as the Governor’s Order, a significant number of ODFW staff who work in the field are also monitoring recreational use at many fishing, hunting and wildlife viewing locations in the course of their regular duties.  While seasons are open, access to many areas are closed.  State Parks are closed, national forests have closed established recreation areas and some counties and cities have closed access to boat ramps or other locations.  Check the access restrictions where you are headed before going.  Salmon and steelhead fishing in the Columbia River is also closed, as that fishery is managed concurrently with the state of Washington where all hunting and fishing is closed.  Walleye and other fisheries remain open on the Columbia River.