Washington Governor Jay Inslee announced the state’s coronavirus stay-at-home order would be extended through at least May 31 and said there will be a four-stage phase in for lifting of restrictions, starting with allowing retail curbside pickup, automobile sales and car washes by mid-May.  There will be a minimum of three weeks between each phase, though Inslee said some counties with lower numbers of cases and deaths may be able to open parts of their economy sooner if approved by the Department of Health.  Inslee has said several elements have been at play in his decision making, and that all of them need to see reduced risk: disease activity, health care system readiness, testing capacity and availability, an increase in case and contact investigations once a case is confirmed and risk to vulnerable populations, like those in assisted living facilities.  The next phase would allow camping, and new construction, as well as in-store retail purchases with restrictions. Barber shops and salons could also reopen at that time, and restaurants could reopen at half capacity and table sizes limited to five.  The third phase would expand group gatherings to 50 or less, including sports activities and would allow restaurants to increase capacity to 75 percent. Gyms and movie theaters could reopen at half capacity, but nightclubs and entertainment venues will still remain closed during this phase.  During the last phase, most public interactions would resume, with social distancing, with bars, restaurants and entertainment and sporting venues returning to their maximum capacity.  

Hood River County reported its seventh positive COVID-19 test on Friday. County Health Director Patricia Elliott says this person is the first that is associated with another identified COVID-19 case, and is self-isolating at home. Health Department officials continue the investigation of this case and contacts will be notified. The numbers of reported COVID-19 cases elsewhere in the Mid-Colulmbia remains the same with Klickitat County at 17 cases, Wasco County 13, Skamania County four, and Sherman County one. Oregon reported 69 new cases on Friday, bringing the state total to 2,579, and also one death to move that total to 104. Washington’s latest report showed the total number of positive COVID-19 cases at 14,327, and an additional 13 deaths for a total of 814.

Oregon Governor Kate Brown will hold a press conference this morning at 10:30 to introduce COVID-19 testing and contact tracing plans as part of her framework for reopening Oregon.  

The Port of Hood River will resume tolling on the Hood River-White Salmon Interstate Bridge on Friday, using an all-electronic system.  Breeze-By transponder users will pay $1 per passenger vehicle crossing.  Non Breeze-By users will be charged $2 per crossing if they pay on-line or at the Port office within seven days of crossing, or after seven days, an invoice developed with a pay-per-plate system the Port has put in place will be mailed to the vehicle’s registered owner for the $2 base toll rate plus a $3 administrative fee per crossing.  Port officials are stressing Breeze-By accounts are free to set up at portofhoodriver.com.  The Port closed toll booths on March 17 due to COVID-19 concerns.

There have been no new positive COVID-19 tests reported in the Mid-Columbia Thursday.  Klickitat County added a positive COVID-19 test to its count on Wednesday afternoon.  It was the 17th reported in the County during the pandemic, and the 15th in the central zone of the county.  Klickitat County officials say 12 of the 17 that tested positive have recovered.  Wasco County is at 13 cases, Hood River County six, Skamania County four, and Sherman County one.  Oregon reported 64 new cases on Thursday, bringing the state total to 2,510, and also two deaths to move that total to 103.  Washington’s latest report showed an increase of positive cases of 228, moving the total number to 14,070 positive COVID-19 cases, and an additional 15 deaths to a total of 801.

Hood River County’s proposed five-year local option levy for public safety is on the May 19 ballot.  The levy would be for 78-cents-per-thousand dollars of assessed property value, and it comes after two money measures to deal with the County’s budget problems failed last spring.  County Commissioner Les Perkins acknowledges the timing of the measure with the COVID-19 pandemic is not good, but the Commission felt it had to move forward with the levy.  While the funds from the levy will be dedicated to public safety uses, County officials say other services would receive more stable and dependable funding to maintain current service levels.

Proposed revisions to The Dalles City Charter will be on the May 19 ballot.  Mayor Rich Mays says one of the changes would involve removing the zone representations for City Councilors.  He notes Councilors are currently voted on by the entire City but represent a specific portion of town, and the change would eliminate the zones.  The proposed revisions would also change the term of office for Mayor from two years to four, beginning with the 2022 election.  Information on the charter revisions are available at the City of The Dalles website.

The City of The Dalles’ state of emergency has been extended for an additional two weeks to May 15.  The Dalles City Manager Julie Krueger made the announcement on Thursday.  The original emergency declaration put in place on March 17 was for one month, and the City Manager has the ability to extend it in two-week increments.  This is the second extension Krueger has put it place.  The state of emergency will be re-evaluated again the week of May 11.  City staff continue to respond to voicemails and emails as quickly as possible.

Oregon Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden, along with 44 other Senate Democrats, have introduced legislation to direct production of vital medical supplies and equipment along with oversight of its supply chain.  The Medical Supply Transparency and Delivery Act requires President Donald Trump to utilize all available authorities under the Defense Production Act to mobilize a federal response to the pandemic through an equitable and transparent process.  The bill would require publicly reported national assessments on a weekly basis to determine national critical equipment supply and requirements.  The legislation would also establish an Executive Officer position to oversee acquisition and logistics for COVID-19 equipment production and delivery.  The bill would also require a comprehensive plan for a COVID-19 vaccine and testing, including viral and antibody testing, and establish an Inspector General to oversee the implementation of the legislation.

There will be nighttime Interstate 84 ramp closures in Hood River next week.  The closures will take place between 10 p.m. and 5 a.m. Monday through Thursday nights.  Closures will occur on the eastbound I-84 exit 63 on-ramp and exit 64 off-ramp…and the westbound exit 64 on-ramp and exit 63 off-ramp.  Oregon Department of Transportation crews are completing the first phase of construction work to repair and replace bridge decks on the I-84 bridges over the Hood River.  The schedule is subject to change and weather dependent.