Columbia Gorge Community College will be delivering all instruction solely on-line beginning on April 6, when spring term begins.  Oregon Governor Kate Brown is prohibiting colleges from conducting in-person instruction through April 28, and only critical functions may continue.  All CGCC campus buildings are now closed to public access.  One exception is for students who need Internet access.  CGCC President Dr. Marta Cronin says they will have one computer lab in The Dalles for students who have limited access at home, and an employee will ensure students are adequately distanced from one another and that all equipment is wiped down after each use.  All CGCC community education classes through April are cancelled except for those on-line.   On-line library resources are available through www.cgcc.edu/library.  Tutoring is still available virtually through email, Zoom and other virtual tools.  The school will post updates at cgcc.edu.

The Gorge Community Foundation’s board of directors has announced that 2020 grants from the Joan Burchell Fund will be dedicated to addressing issues of food insecurity throughout the Columbia River Gorge exacerbated by the necessary response to the coronavirus pandemic.  Foundation Executive Director Jill Burnette says it is a one-time decision to help communities protect their most vulnerable citizens.  Organizations that provide meals or access to safe, healthy food for children, families and seniors are invited to apply for funding.  Application information is available at gorgecf.org.  Applications are due by April 15.  Total funds available in this grant cycle is $13,340 and proposals will be accepted for any amount up to that total.

The Hood River County Health Department on Sunday afternoon announced that the first COVID-19 case has been identified in a County resident.  Hood River County Health Department Director Patricia Elliott has not released many details on the case, citing adherence to national standards on personal health information, but said on Mid-Columbia Today this morning if health officials had concerns the case would raise risks for the public’s health in general, they would release more information.  She did say they have done contact investigation, and this person has been in home isolation with very minimal contact with others, who are also staying home.  Elliott said local medical providers are being very selective about who they test for COVID-19 and ruling out other diseases first, but she added more and more test results are being announced every day, noting they’ve received numbers of negative tests come back.  She also says they’ve applied for personal protective equipment from the strategic national stockpile, and it is slowly coming in and being distributed to providers based on need.  Elliott added the County is working on a process to accept donations of personal protective equipment, and more information will be available soon.  The Oregon Health Authority Monday afternoon confirmed 30 new cases of COVID-19, including the Hood River County case, to bring the statewide total to 191.

A unified COVID-19 command of government officials, first responders, and health experts has been put together to coordinate plans, supplies and resources for Wasco, Gilliam and Sherman Counties.  Wasco County Emergency Management, Wasco County Sheriff’s Department, City of The Dalles, North Central Public Health District and Mid-Columbia Fire and Rescue are the main partner, and will be working to share the most current information available.  The unified command says residents can call 211 for general information about COVID-19, and for information about efforts in Wasco, Sherman and Gilliam Counties contact their COVID-19 Joint Information Center at 541-370-1380.  For medical questions about COVID-19, call 541-464-6550 from 8:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m., seven days a week.  If you are experiencing symptoms that involve fever, cough or shortness of breath, contact your primary care provider, and only use 911 for emergencies.  Follow “Wasco County, Oregon – COVID 19 Information Center” on Facebook for the latest local information.

The Klickitat County Public Health Department on Saturday confirmed the third and fourth cases of 2019 Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19).  Klickitat County Emergency Management said in a statement that both cases are a potential for community spread in the central region of Klickitat County.  If you display symptoms of Covid-19, including fever of over 100.4 degrees, cough, or shortness of breath, please contact your healthcare provider or the Klickitat Valley Hospital Nurse Helpline at 509-773-4029.  The Klickitat County Emergency Operations Center along with the Klickitat County Health Department is working with the Washington State Department of Health, Local Medical Providers, and Emergency Management to identify and contact all those who may have come in contact with the confirmed cases.  Those individuals will be monitored for fever and respiratory symptoms.  Resources available within Klickitat County include the Skyline Hospital screening tool available on their website at myskylinehealth.org and the KVH Nurse Helpline at 509-773-4029.  Oregon reported 23 additional cases on Saturday to bring the stateide total to 137, plus a fourth death.  There have been no cases reported in Hood River, Wasco, Sherman, or Skamania counties.

A number of school districts in the area will continue to provide meals for children ages 1-to-18 while schools are closed during the coronavirus crisis.  North Wasco County School District 21 will continue to provide meals as a grab and go option from 11 a.m. to noon Mondays through Fridays at Chenowith Elementary School and The Dalles Middle School, including during next week’s originally scheduled spring vacation period.

 

The Hood River County School District and the City of Hood River announced there will be free to-go meals for children ages 1-to-18 this week, during what would have been spring break for schools.  Meals will be available at Mid-Valley and May Street elementary schools Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to noon.  They will also be distributed at 330 Cascade Avenue at Hood River Mobile Manor from 9:45 a.m. to 10 a.m., at 1823 Cascade behind El Rinconcito Taqueria from 10:15 a.m. to 10:30 a.m., and 955 Sieverkropp across the street from Sieverkropp Apartments from 10:45 a.m. to 11 a.m.  Local Rhoots and Riverside at Hood River Inn are partnering with the City and the school district in this effort.

 

The Hood River County School District will serve grab and go breakfasts and lunches at outside entrances to Cascade Locks, May Street, Mid-Valley, and Parkdale elementary schools and Hood River Valley High School from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. from March 30 to April 28.  Drop sites are also being added at Hood River Mobile Manor on 3300 Cascade from 9:45 a.m. to 10 a.m., at 1823 Cascade behind El Riconcito Taqueria from 10:15 a.m. to 10:30 a.m., and at 955 Sieverkropp across from the Sierverkropp Apartments from 10:45 a.m. to 11 a.m.

           

The Stevenson-Carson School District is delivering meals via school bus routes or for pickup at its schools between 10 a.m. and noon.

           

The White Salmon Valley School District will be offering breakfasts and lunch for pickup on weekdays through April 24 from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. at Whitson Elementary School and Columbia High School…and at all bus stops district-wide with deliveries at the two-hour late start pickup time.

Hood River County Commissioners decided unanimously to keep the County’s proposed public safety levy measure on the May 19 ballot.  Commissioners held an emergency meeting on Thursday to discuss whether the economic impact of the COVID-19 crisis and whether property taxpayers could afford the levy of 78 cents per thousand dollars of assessed property value.  But Commission Chair Mike Oates says the current situation illustrates the need to keep the County’s public safety and emergency services properly funded.  Oates added the measure would help stabilize the County’s health department by taking some of the pressure off the general fund.

The Dalles City Council approved its emergency declaration Friday during a virtual meeting.   City Manager Julie Krueger says it mirrors what other cities have done in the state of Oregon, which puts the City in line to receive financial reimbursements from federal and state governments.  During the COVID-19 event city offices will be closed to the public during normal business hours.  Staff will be available via email, telephone and online service.

 

The Oregon Employment Department has enacted temporary rules to provide unemployment benefits to COVID-19 affected workers.  Department communications director Gail Krumenauer says those who have experienced an employment disruption related to COVID-19 should go online to oregon.gov/employ to start their initial unemployment insurance claim, and there is also a resource guide available to help guide those with questions.  Claims can also be filed by phone to 877-FILE-4-UI.  Krumenauer noted employers looking to retain workers may want to take advantage of the state’s workshare program to reduce hours and give partial unemployment insurance benefits to affected employees.

Public Works departments are asking people not to flush used disposable wipes down the toilet.  Wipes can clog sewer pipes and pumping systems, leading to backups and costly damage to homes and businesses and health hazards due to sewage overflow.  Removing clogs in a building’s sewer pipe is the owner’s responsibility.  Throw used disposable wipes in the trash instead of flushing them down the toilet.