The City of Hood River is ordering all tourism lodging stays to cease immediately.  A statement from the City indicates Mayor Kate McBride made the decision in the wake of visitors flocking to the Columbia River Gorge last weekend despite statewide restrictions on public gatherings.  The order calls for property owners and managers to terminate reasonable steps to have tourist guests vacate by 1 p.m. Thursday.  All short-term rentals are prohibited until the declared emergency officially ends.  There are exceptions for current registered guests who will stay for a minimum of 30 consecutive days, essential personnel, individuals deemed vulnerable by the Hood River County Health Department, and other individuals authorized by the health department.

A National Guard convoy will be travelling the Interstate 84 corridor to La Grande to deliver 150 cots and blankets to a potential COVID-19 shelter.  Guard members are playing an important role assisting the State and Governor Brown to supply provisions and provide logistics to the response effort.  The North Central Unified Incident Command also said there is no truth to rumors about a closure of The Dalles Bridge.  ODOT Project Manager Cari Charlton told the command team that there are no scheduled closures due to COVID 19 or construction projects in 2020.  The Dalles Bridge will remain open to motor vehicle traffic.  For more information, visit Wasco County, Oregon – COVID 19 Information Center’s Facebook page or call 211.

North Central Public Health District is now asking all of its clinic clients to call first before coming.  Many services can be provided over the phone.  The clinic is still open to provide some services, but clients are asked to call 541-506-2600 and ask to talk to a nurse, who can determine whether an in-person visit is needed.  The “phone first” request applies to both the walk-in clinic and those with appointments.  Earlier, North Central Public Health had switched to providing home visiting and WIC appointments by phone.

Skamania County has closed recreational hiking in the County.  Undersheriff Pat Bond says that is in response to an influx of non-residents over the weekend that disregarded social distancing mesures.  Bond added that the Skamania County Sheriff’s Office is taking an educational approach to Governor Jay Inslee’s “Stay Home, Stay Healthy” proclamation on Monday, saying they will look to educate violators of the order and use appropriate social distancing to gain voluntary compliance.  Skamania County has established an Incident Command Center for the COVID-19 pandemic to ensure continuity of services, re-supply of critical equipment to first responders, and maintain open lines of communication and up to date information.  There have been no COVID-19 cases reported in Skamania County.

The Hood River County Forestry Department is closing all recreational staging areas and their restroom facilities until further notice.  The closure includes Post Flats, Family Man, Binns Hill, and Pinemont Drive staging areas.  County officials say the closure is being done to promote social distancing and reduce the spread of the COVID–19 virus.  The trail system will remain open at this time.  Users are asked to take inclement weather conditions into consideration to limit damage to trails.  County officials say they recognize the trail system provides an opportunity for users to foster a healthy mental and physical state.  The goal is to keep everyone healthy and safe by adhering to the practice of social distancing and dispersed recreation on the tree farm.  For more information about specific staging areas in the County’s forest, please contact the Forestry Office at 541-387-6888.

Klickitat County Commissioner Jim Sizemore is urging property taxpayers to consider paying them in full in the month of April, rather than wait to pay half in October.  Sizemore says by doing that, it would ease concerns for the various junior taxing districts in County that rely on property taxes for their operating funds.  Sizemore says emergency medical services, the County’s two public hospitals, and fire districts all rely on those property taxes to maintain operations.

The United Way of the Columbia Gorge and the Healthy Gorge Initiative have launched the COVID-19 Gorge Community Response Fund to address the immediate needs faced by nonprofit organizations and their clients in Wasco, Hood River, Sherman, Klickitat, and Skamania counties  PacificSource Community Solutions has donated $25,000 and the Columbia Gorge Health Council matched that to start the fund.  Collective Impact Health Specialist Paul Lindberg says the non-profit sector has been impacted in a similar way as for-profit business have been, while dealing with community needs that will continue to need to be dealt with.  Those who would like to donate can do so at unitedwaycolumbiagorge.org/give.  To apply for funding, a simple grant application process to expedite funding to nonprofits providing essential services and experiencing the greatest impact is underway.  Application information is available at gorgeimpact.com.

Klickitat County Emergency Operations Center and the County’s Public Health Department confirmed their sixth case of COVID-19 on Tuesday night.  According to Klickitat County Emergency Management, there are now five cases in Klickitat County’s “Central Zone,” and one in the County’s “Western Zone.”  Klickitat County is using its burn ban zones as identifiers of the general area of where County COVID-19 cases are being discovered.  The Klickitat County Public Health Department says it anticipates an increased level of community spread and more confirmed cases in the coming days and weeks.  The County continues to emphasize the importance of physical distancing and prohibiting all social gatherings to prevent the spread of the virus.  Each potential exposure stresses the healthcare system and places higher demands on personal protective equipment and healthcare workers.  Hood River County has reported one COVID-19 case…while Skamania, Wasco, Sherman, and Gilliam counties have not reported a positive test.

The City of White Salmon’s Jewett Water Main Improvement project will be shut down at the end of Thursday, and work suspended until June 24.  City officials say the suspension could be shortened or lengthened depending on health risk assessments.  In addition building inspections will not take place at this time to comply with Governor Jay Inslee’s executive order on Monday, so all city building permits are on a temporary hold, and construction should not be occurring in the White Salmon city limits.  If there is an emergency such as a leaking roof or plumbing, the City will issue the necessary permits for repairs and make arrangements for inspections.  Call 509-493-1133, extension 209 to make those arrangements.  Garbage and recycling pickup are expected to continue on regularly scheduled days, but Republic Services will not pick up any items that are not in container or bagged.  The next White Salmon City Council meeting on April 1 will take place by teleconference.

A point person has been designated for Hood River County community members to make donations of personal protective equipment for those responding to the COVID-19 epidemic.  County Emergency officials say Dr. Chris Swisher is the contact person, his number is 909-499-1062.  Call Swisher to find out how and when you can donate.  The Hood River County Administration Building will be used as a collection point, but people should not just drop off donations.  They need to call Swisher and find out the time each day to donate.  Personal protective equipment that is unused, unopened, and in original packaging will be accepted.  At this time donations of made-at-home PPE are not being accepted.