North Central Public Health District has made changes to how it provides some services due to COVID-19.  The walk-in clinic is still open and walk-in services and scheduled appointments are still available.  However, if the service doesn’t require a physical visit, such as for birth control refills and emergency contraception, people are encouraged to call instead to 541-506-2600.  The health district asks that only the client who is receiving services enters the building.  Services to WIC clients and home nursing visits are being offered over the phone.  For environmental health services, such as restaurant and food cart licensing, septic systems or drinking water, please call 541-506-2629 for questions or guidance before coming into the office.  At this time North Central Public Health District is not testing for COVID-19.   Contact your physician for guidance.

Mt. Hood Meadows has decided to suspend operations for the season.  In a statement on its website, Meadows officials indicated that it is in best interest of guests, employees, and the community to stop operating.  They indicated that several options for continued operations were considered, and it is possible they could implement a limited operation before the end of the season.  In their statement, Meadows officials said they are paying seasonal team members through March 27.  Timberline and Mt. Hood Ski Bowl have also suspended operations.

The Klickitat County Department of Health today announced it has confirmed a second case of  2019 Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) within the County.  According to a statement from Klickitat County Emergency Management, this second patient is not considered to be a high risk for community transmission, and is self-quarantined and self-isolated at home.  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 case.  Those individuals will be monitored for fever and respiratory symptoms.  Klickitat County identified its first coronavirus case on Saturday, and there have been no other cases reported in Columbia Gorge counties.  Klickitat Valley Health has implemented a COVID-19 nurse helpline to assist with the screening of patients that are experiencing symptoms.

The Dalles Area Chamber of Commerce announced the Northwest Cherry Festival will be pushed back from the fourth weekend in April to the July 4th weekend.  Chamber Events Coordinator Katie McClintock said in a statement that even with precautionary measures to ensure adequate sanitation and airflow, the risk is too great to hold the festival at this time.  But Chamber CEO Lisa Farquharson adds it’s important for the community for the Festival to happen this summer.  The move will allow the Cherry Festival to partner with the Fort Dalles Fourth event that weekend.

Hood River County Public Health Officer Dr. Christopher Van Tilburg announced Thursday that all skilled nursing facilities will have a no-visitor policy except for unusual circumstances as approved by the medical director of the facility.  Under the order, all residents of long-term living homes and facilities including but not limited to group homes, retirement homes, assisted living facilities, and other living situation of more than ten people that are not immediate or extended family members shall employ strict social distancing measures as outlined by Oregon Governor Kate Brown.  That will include limiting groups in indoor public areas to five or less, keeping 6 feet apart, taking meals separately or six feet apart, limiting visitors to two per resident preferably in non-public areas, avoiding all physical contact, limiting entrance and exits to one at a time, six feet apart, and avoiding all indoor public areas as much as possible.  Van Tilburg acknowledged the move is a hardship, but is necessary to protect health care workers and group living facility employees.

Both The Link and Columbia Area Transit have both adjusted their transportation services due to COVID-19.  Jessica Metta of Mid-Columbia Economic Development District says The Link is limiting their rides to only essential trips.  The Link has also reduced hours of operation to 7 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. weekdays, and will not be operating on Saturdays. Columbia Area Transit has reduced service to peak hour and Dial-A-Ride service.

The Hood River City Council ratified the declaration of a State of Emergency that City Manager Rachel Fuller put in place earlier this week.  All City offices are now closed to the public, but operations continue and staff can be reached by phone, email, or online.  Public Works, Police, and Fire and EMS personnel remain on normal hours and availability while taking necessary precautions interacting with the public.  Water shut-offs and late payment fees, penalties, and interest is suspended.  Fuller told the Council it’s important they show up for those citizens that need help.  The emergency declaration is until April 14, but Fuller said that can be extended if needed.  The declaration allows the City to apply for state and federal funds to deal with the emergency as necessary.

A bi-state working group has been formed to collaboratively address issues and take necessary steps to keep the Hood River-White Salmon Interstate bridge replacement project moving forward as the required environmental studies progress toward expected completion in late 2021.  Port of Hood River Commissioner John Everitt says there is pent up demand to begin working as a region on very important issues that will need to be addressed when the environmental studies are done.  The six-member working group has already written joint letters of support for a federal Department of Transportation grant aimed at funding engineering and design work that will follow the engineering process.  The group also signed a joint letter stating their combined interest in jointly moving forward with the bridge replacement and have engaged a financing consultant to explore and evaluate potential governance and ownership structures for the future bridge.  The Preliminary Cost Estimate for a new bridge is about $300 million, but more engineering is required to determine more accurate costs.

Mid-Columbia Medical Center says visitors will no longer be allowed in any of their facilities as the hospital continues to take steps to mitigate exposure to coronavirus.  Patients and their loved ones are encouraged to communicate by phone or video calls.  Staff members will communicate with caregivers to coordinate instructions and patient pick-up.  Minimal exceptions are in place for end of life patients, laboring mothers, pediatric patients, and trauma and critically ill emergency room patients.  Patients with respiratory symptoms like fever, cough, or shortness of breath should call their primary care provider’s office, but as a precautionary measure people with those symptoms will be seen at MCMC Family Medicine on 1620 East 12 in The Dalles.  All wellness visits are being moved to either MCMC Internal Medicine or Pediatrics.  In addition, MCMC is postponing elective procedures, surgeries, and some diagnostic imaging procedures.  Urgent and emergency surgeries and imaging will continue as needed.

The Port of Hood River Commission has approved a seven day suspension of all tolls on the Hood River-White Salmon Interstate Bridge beginning at 12:01 a.m. this Friday until March 27 while Port staff works to implement safety measures to enable continued operations at the toll booth.   The Port stopped accepting cash payments in the toll booth Tuesday as a temporary emergency measure to stop person-to-person contact at the toll booth and potentially reduce the risk of coronavirus transmission in the community and to staff.   Port officials say they will consult with environmental health specialists to assess the cash-pay toll area and implement measures to mitigate risks.  BreezeBy customer accounts will not be charged for tolls during this period.  All vehicle traffic will be directed through the BreezeBy lanes at the toll plaza located on the Oregon side of the bridge.