The COVID-19 Unified Command for Wasco, Sherman, and Gilliam counties says there is a scam circulating in the area trying to charge workers who have lost their jobs to file an unemployment claim.  The Oregon Employment Department does not charge a fee for customers to file their claim for benefits, or to receive assistance from a representative to file a claim.  Visit the Oregon Employment Department’s website to file a claim.  The Employment Department’s Online Claim System is the fastest way to file your claim or access any other claim services.  If you have questions or need to file your claim over the phone you can call 1-877-345- 3484, but it is experiencing high call volumes, so if you are able to file your claim online it is strongly encouraged.  The Dalles WorkSource office is not accepting in-person appointments, but they continue to offer job seeker services by phone, email, and Skype.  Contact them at 541- 296-5435.

Skamania County has lifted its temporary ban on small debris burning.  All issued small debris burn permits will be valid and new small debris burn permits will be available to issue.  The Skamania County Community Development Departmtent says a current burn permit for small debris fires is required and a copy must be on site and readily available.  You can find the Small Debris Fire Burn Permits at your local fire station, the Skamania County Courthouse Annex or online at the Community Development page on skamaniacounty.org.  Be sure to follow all the conditions and restrictions listed on your permit and check all available resources regularly for potential upcoming burn ban.

The Oregon Health Authority announced that it has revised guidelines for COVID-19 testing to prioritize impacted populations and all frontline workers.  The guidelines continue to allow healthcare providers to make clinical decisions about their patients.  In addition, if supplies allow, asymptomatic people within the congregate care or group living systems can be considered for testing.  The newly revised guidelines urge clinicians to potentially increase testing for Oregonians who may be at particular risk for contracting COVID-19.  That includes those living or working in congregate care or group living facilities, underserved and marginalized populations, including racial and ethnic minority groups, and essential frontline workers, including those providing healthcare services and those serving the public, such as grocery store workers.

White Salmon officials are starting to look at what projects they can start phasing in when the state of Washington begins to loosen some of the restrictions they are operating under.  Mayor Marla Keethler says the City wants to begin to address the construction moratorium in residential zones put in place in January and to plan on how to resume work on the Jewett Boulevard renovation project.  Keethler says Klickitat County officials met with Governor Jay Inslee’s staff last week about what a phased-in approach will look like.  Keethler says the Governor’s office made it clear that coming out of the restrictions will be like turning a dial, not flipping a switch.

The Hood River County Commission has asked staff to prepare a plan to reopen County Forestlands to recreation for local residents without causing an influx of out-of-area visitors to come in.  Commissioners discussed the issue during their Monday evening online meeting, and have scheduled another session on Thursday at 4:30 to receive a plan from staff.  All members of the panel expressed a desire to get the forestlands opened again to local residents, with Bob Benton saying there was an important mental health component.  Karen Joplin noted the County appears to be in the downward trajectory for COVID-19 after participating in a meeting with Governor Kate Brown on the framework for reopening the state with an estimate of a first phase coming on May 4.  Chairman Mike Oates says time was needed to get a plan from staff and to coordinate with local support groups.  It appears a reopening of the forestland would go back to what was first attempted by the County, with staging areas and restrooms remaining closed.  Commissioners also indicated they would want to have a closure of parking on Post Canyon Road, noting that area tends to become congested, something they want to avoid in a trail reopening.

Wasco County reported a new positive test for COVID-19 on Monday evening.  It is the eleventh in Wasco County, and the first in the Mid-Columbia since Wednesday.  Klickitat County remains at 16 positive tests for COVID-19, Hood River County four, Skamania County three, and Sherman County one.  Wasco County has tallied 433 negative COVID-19 tests, Hood River County 372, Klickitat County 308, and Skamania County 77.   The Oregon Health Authority listed 46 new COVID-19 cases in an update of statewide numbers on Tuesday, moving the total to 2,002, 24 percent of which have required hospitalization.   The death count went up by three to 78.   In Washington, the latest statistics reported showed 12,085 cases of COVID-19 have been detected, with 652 deaths.   Oregon reports it has received 39,126 negative tests, while Washington has had 128,926 negative tests.

Many involved in supporting small business are waiting anxiously for a Congressional agreement to be nailed down for a fourth version of the CARES Act to inject another $250 billion into the Payroll Protection Program after the emergency loan program ran out of funds within a week of being rolled out.  The Dalles Area Chamber of Commerce CEO Lisa Farquharson says Chamber organizations are communicating with Senators and Representatives emphasizing the need for the money to get to small businesses.  ABC reported on Monday afternoon that Congressional leaders and the White House are inching closer to striking a bipartisan deal that will replenish the depleted small business loan program and provide funding to hospitals struggling under the coronavirus public health crisis — with a debate over testing emerging as one of the final areas of dispute.  

No new COVID-19 cases were reported Thursday or Friday in the Mid-Columbia.  Klickitat County remains at 16 positive tests for COVID-19, with ten listed by the County as having recovered, but the County also reported a third death from the disease in Friday’s statistics from the central part of the County.  Wasco County remained at ten positive COVID-19 tests, Hood River County four, Skamania County three, and Sherman County one.  Wasco County has tallied 380 negative COVID-19 tests, Hood River County 338, Klickitat County 285, and Skamania County 70.  The Oregon Health Authority listed 49 new COVID-19 cases in an update of statewide numbers on Friday, moving the total to 1,785, 24 percent of which have required hospitalization.  The death count went up by six to 70.  In Washington, statistics compiled at the end of Thursday showed 11,152 cases of COVID-19 have been detected, with 583 deaths.  Oregon reports it has received 34,536 negative tests, while Washington has had 117,748 negative tests.

The North Wasco County Education Foundation has launched a fundraiser to get technology and basic needs to kids in North Wasco County School District 21.  The COVID Response Special Fund has been established, with a goal of raising $20,000 in the next four weeks for more Chromebooks & internet access so all students can participate in distance learning while the schools are closed due to Stay Home orders.  The fund would also be providing food for the weekend backpack program and gas cards to needy families.  Foundation Director Rebecca Thistlewaite says those were the top needs identified by the school district and its food service director.  To donate go to www.northwascoed.org.

The City of The Dalles is piloting a new prescription medication delivery program for the City’s medically vulnerable population.  Anyone who is 65 years-old or older, or who has any serious underlying medical condition that would put them at higher risk of severe illness due to COVID-19, can contact The Dalles Police Department to arrange for prescription delivery to private residences within The Dalles city limits.  Bi-Mart, Walgreens, Safeway and Fred Meyer have agreed to participate with this program.  To request prescription delivery services, call the Police Department at 541-296-2613 between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. weekdays.  Before calling the police department, contact the pharmacy to order and pre-pay for the prescription over the phone, and advise the pharmacy a police officer will pick up the prescription in a marked vehicle and uniform.  Have a valid identification document available when the officer delivers the medication.  Officers delivering prescriptions will be in uniform and operating a marked police vehicle, wearing proper personal protective equipment, and maintaining social distancing requirements at all times.  Please allow 24 hours from the time the prescription is ready to be pick up, to when the officer will deliver the medication.