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UPDATE at 12:40 p.m.

Third Polk County death announced 

State health officials announced two deaths from COVID-19 related complications, including a Polk County man.

A 95-year-old man in Polk County, who tested positive on April 27 and died on May 4 at Salem Hospital, according to the Oregon Health Authority. His death is the third COVID-19 related death in the county.

Also announced was an 88-year-old man in Multnomah County, who tested positive on April 30 and died on May 2 at Adventist Medical Center.

Both individuals had underlying medical conditions.

The statewide case count increased by 70 new confirmed cases and seven new presumptive cases. Included were 18 new cases in Marion County and seven in Polk County. 

COVID-19 by the numbers in Oregon

Here’s the most recent data from OHA, as of Wednesday, May 6:

• 115: Deaths from COVID-19
• 191: People hospitalized with confirmed or suspected COVID-19
• 20: Patients placed on ventilators
• 2,916: Cases that tested positive, or are presumptive
• 65,060: Tests that were negative
• 67,947: Total number of tests given, since Jan. 24

Health insurance companies required to offer grace period

Health insurance companies in Oregon are required to provide customers with a grace period for past-due premiums and continue paying claims for covered services during a portion of that grace period according to a new rule announced Wednesday.

The emergency order from the Oregon Department of Consumer and Business Services directs health insurance companies to offer at least a 60-day grace period and pay claims during the first 30 days.

The companies must also extend deadlines for reporting claims and other communications and provide communication options that meet social distancing standards.

The order does not apply to self-insured plans. The state is encouraging self-insured plans to follow the same guidelines.

“It is encouraging to see the state’s health insurers step up to support both their customers and health care providers during this time,” said Andrew Stolfi, state insurance commissioner. “Providing grace periods and paying claims will provide peace of mind for Oregonians and help health care providers get paid for these essential services when they need it the most.”

The order is in effect through June 3 and can be extended in 30-day increments as necessitated by the COVID-19 pandemic.

— Connor Radnovich

COVID-19 recoveries climb over 1,000

More than 1,100 Oregonians who tested positive for COVID-19 are now considered recovered, over 40 percent of surviving cases.

The state is continuing to contact each individual to determine if and when they have recovered, which is when officials say a person has been free from fever, cough, shortness of breath and diarrhea for 72 hours. Those without symptoms are considered recovered seven days following the last positive test.

The status of 687 cases is still being assessed and 821 cases have not yet recovered as of Sunday, according to the Oregon Health Authority’s weekly report.

The previous report listed 860 cases, or 38 percent, as recovered last week.

Warm Springs Reservation mandates masks, quarantine

The Warm Springs Reservation has become the first government in Oregon to require quarantine and masks under certain circumstances amid the coronavirus pandemic. The Tribal Council this week ordered any citizen or tribal employee working on the reservation to self-isolate if a healthcare professional says they should.

The move comes after a spike in positive COVID-19 tests on the reservation, where citizens were also told to wear face masks in public if they can’t maintain 6 feet of distance, Oregon Public Broadcasting reported.

The tribes’ approach to slowing the spread of disease is more drastic than in nearby counties under state authority.

In neighboring Jefferson County, officials are drafting plans to be among the first places in the state to ease restrictions, beginning May 15.

Warm Springs government buildings will stay closed until at least June 1. The reservation’s main source of revenue, Indian Head Casino, also remains closed.

The reservation is home to approximately 4,000 people, many of whom are connected to Jefferson, Wasco and Deschutes counties through work, family, shopping and school.

There were 11 confirmed positive cases of COVID-19 on the reservation as of May 4, tribal authorities said.

— Associated Press

Portland nursing home with largest COVID-19 outbreak ordered to close

State officials are ordering a Portland nursing home with the largest and most fatal coronavirus outbreak in Oregon to close.

The move comes after Department of Human Services officials found that Healthcare at Foster Creek “demonstrated a consistent inability to adhere to basic infection control standards,” The Oregonian/OregonLive reported.

The nursing homes “continued operation poses a serious danger to the public health and safety,” the agency said in a letter signed Monday. Officials said Tuesday in a statement that the department ordered an emergency suspension of the facility’s license.

“We have worked on multiple strategies to contain the COVID-19 outbreak at Healthcare at Foster Creek and have concluded that moving all residents is mandatory at this stage,” said Mike McCormick, interim director of the department’s Office of Aging and People with Disabilities, which licenses long-term care facilities.

Coronavirus: Salem man fell through COVID-19 testing cracks for weeks, ended up in coma

About 117 residents and staff at Foster Creek have fallen ill with the coronavirus and at least 28 residents have died as of Tuesday, according to state data. The facility didn’t immediately respond to a phone call from The Associated Press seeking comment.

In mid-April, Department of Human Services’ inspectors found staff violating protocols necessary to contain infections. At that time, the department created a lengthy list of requirements for the nursing home to improve practices and evacuated 20 people to local hospitals.

The department will evacuate the few remaining residents, officials said. A suspension means the nursing home could be allowed to reopen at a later time.

— Associated Press

Contract tracing uncovers ‘coronavirus parties’ in southeast Washington

Some people are intentionally flouting health recommendations by exposing themselves and others to COVID-19 in Walla Walla County, officials said.

Meghan DeBolt, director of the county’s Department of Community Health, told the Union-Bulletin this week that contact tracing has revealed that some are attending parties with the idea that it is better to get sick with the virus and get it over with.

New positive test results in the county have resulted from such gatherings, she said.

“We ask about contacts, and there are 25 people because: ‘We were at a COVID party,’” DeBolt said.

She called the parties irresponsible and unacceptable.

COVID-19 Impact: Marion, Polk county jails slash inmate populations by 30 to 75%

Walla Walla Police Chief Scott Bieber noted that disobeying Gov. Jay Inslee’s March 23 “Stay Home, Stay Healthy” order is illegal.

“We’re not going to overreact,” he said. “But we’re going to contact people who tested positive and follow up with a phone call, making them aware of the potential gross misdemeanor offense of disobeying the governor’s orders. If we find intentional violations, we will refer them to the city attorney.”

As of Monday, Walla Walla County has 94 residents, including some Tyson Fresh Meats employees, who have been diagnosed with COVID-19. One person has died of the disease, according to health officials.

— Associated Press

Limited to take-out, new Salem-area restaurants open in midst of COVID-19

There’s never more hype in the life of a restaurant than when it opens.

The first six months are a grueling time when owners work nonstop, troubleshooting while simultaneously introducing themselves and their menus. The foodies show up, snapping and sharing photos, cementing the new place in the dining community.

Coronavirus has upended this rhythm, leaving owners grappling with whether to open in a strange time and risk losing the traffic that comes with new restaurant excitement, or wait it out in the hope things return to normal before the costs of not opening become overwhelming. 

According to a National Restaurant Association survey, in the first 10 days of April Oregon restaurant operators reported an average 83 percent decline in sales, an estimated loss of $710 million over the course of the month. These losses have already resulted in the permanent closure of 4 percent of restaurants in the state with 6 percent expected to close permanently within the next month. 

Despite uncertainty and the fact they can’t offer onsite dining, several area restaurant owners have new spots ready to open and they’re not letting COVID-19 stop them.

Read the rest of the article: Limited to take-out, new Salem-area restaurants open in midst of COVID-19

— Emily Teel

Salem salon reopens in defiance of Gov. Kate Brown’s orders

Glamour Salon in downtown Salem reopened for business Tuesday morning — one client at a time — in defiance of Gov. Kate Brown’s order that such businesses must remain closed to avoid making the COVID-19 pandemic worse.

About 40 protesters waiving signs and American flags showed up at 195 Liberty St. SE to show their support for owner and stylist Lindsey Graham, who could face significant fines from the Oregon Occupational Safety and Health Division.

She and her husband own six businesses, all of which have been closed because of the virus, Graham said. This was the only business she believed she could open safely at this time. 

“I want (people) to understand I’m doing this to provide for my family,” she said. “No other reason.”

Read the rest of the article: Salem salon reopens in defiance of Gov. Kate Brown’s orders; protesters show support

— Natalie Pate

Oregon COVID-19 cases by county

Here are the number of cases, both tested positive and presumptive, and deaths as of Wednesday, May 6:

• Baker: 1 case.
• Benton: 40 cases, 5 deaths.
• Clackamas: 235 cases, 7 deaths.
• Clatsop: 17 cases.
• Columbia: 15 cases.
• Coos: 28 cases.
• Crook: 1 case.
• Curry: 4 cases.
• ​Deschutes: 81 cases.
• ​Douglas: 24 cases.
• Grant: 1 case.
• Harney: 1 case.
• Hood River: 11 cases.
• Jackson: 49 cases.
• Jefferson: 18 cases.
• Josephine: 24 cases, 1 death.
• Klamath: 39 cases.
• Lane: 57 cases, 2 deaths.
• Lincoln: 6 cases.
• ​Linn: 99 cases, 7 deaths.
• Malheur: 13 cases.
• Marion: 592 cases, 19 deaths.
• Morrow: 10 cases.
• ​Multnomah: 793 cases, 50 deaths.
• ​Polk: 75 cases, 3 deaths.
• Sherman: 1 case.
• Tillamook: 6 cases.
• ​Umatilla: 77 cases, 1 death.
• Union: 4 cases.
• Wallowa: 1 case.
• Wasco: 14 cases, 1 death.
• ​Washington: 537 cases, 12 deaths.
• Yamhill: 42 cases, 7 deaths.

Source: Oregon Health Authority

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