Emergency Operations Center (EOC) Situation Report NOTE: Beginning August 20, the Situation Report has shifted to a weekly schedule, with distribution each Thursday. Situation Report Number: 08.27.2020 Incident Name: COVID-19 MultCo Coordination OERS Number: 2020-0279 EOC: Incident Commanders: Activated Kim Toevs, Multnomah County Health Department Jessica Guernsey, Multnomah County Health Department Joseph Valtierra, Department of County Human Services Chris Voss, Multnomah County Emergency Management Date: Time: Situation Reports are released on Thursdays at approximately 10:00 am. 8/27/20 11:05 am All posted Situation Reports are archived on the County’s website.
To submit updates / actions to this report, email the Multnomah County EOC Situation Unit at [email protected] with the subject line: Update for COVID-19 Situation Report.
To volunteer to assist the County’s COVID-19 Emergency Response, please complete a volunteer interest form. A wide variety of people and skills are needed.
Need testing? ● Call your doctor or clinic: If you have insurance or a regular care provider, contact your doctor’s office or clinic to discuss whether you should be tested. ● If you don't have a doctor: Call 211 for help finding a clinic. They can help you even if you don't have insurance. You can also call the Health Department's Primary Care Clinics at 503-988-5558 to enroll as a new patient. ● Multnomah County community testing: no-cost testing by appointment only, for anyone with symptoms. You don't need to be a clinic or Multnomah County patient to get tested. Limited testing may be available for people without symptoms. We focus on reaching Black, Indigenous, and other People of Color communities, people without health insurance, and people without a regular health care provider. Call 503-988-8939 for an appointment. Location and hours: ○ East County Health Center (parking lot), 600 NE 8th St., Gresham, Mondays and Thursdays, 9:00 am - 3:45 pm ● Oregon Health and Sciences University (OHSU) community testing: drive-through/walk up testing sites in Portland and Hillsboro. OHSU offers testing for people with symptoms ages 2 months and older, and for people in specific risk groups. See who can be tested on OHSU’s website. Testing is walk-in or drive-through only; no appointments. There may be a long wait if demand is high. For more information, call the OHSU Coronavirus Hotline: 833-647-8222. Locations and hours: ○ Portland Expo Center, 2060 N Marine Drive, Portland, Monday-Saturday, 9:00 am - 4:00 pm
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○ Gordon Faber Recreation Center, Hillsboro Stadium, 4450 NE Century Blvd., Hillsboro, Monday-Saturday, 9:00 am - 4:00 pm ● For more information about testing sites, who should get tested, and what to expect from your COVID-19 test, see Multnomah County’s COVID-19 Testing page.
Announcements and Featured Media ● On August 21, the Oregon Health Authority released an update to its modelling report, COVID-19 Epidemic Trends and Projections in Oregon. The Oregonian/OregonLive published a story about the report, noting “New modeling by state health officials suggests that transmission of COVID-19 has flatlined in Oregon and the number of daily infections will continue at about 900 a day, with about 250 of those cases formally diagnosed.”
Multnomah County Emergency Operations Section Updates
The Multnomah County Emergency Operations Center (EOC) is a temporary incident response framework that operates within the Mission, Vision and Values of Multnomah County. The EOC develops objectives based on guidance and priorities from the Chair and Chief Operating Officer. The EOC provides support to County departments that are operating beyond their normal capacity, and creates surge capability through the incorporation of community volunteers, partner agencies and organizations, as well as staff from across all County departments. The full complement of this combined effort is directed toward helping accomplish the County’s incident objectives.
EOC Section: Public Information The Public Information Section provides accurate, coordinated, timely and accessible information with the goal of reducing the spread of COVID-19. This information is disseminated to local governments; media; the private sector; and the community through the Multnomah County COVID-19 website, social media, media outlets, call centers, and direct efforts with culturally specific communities. Particular attention is paid to the communities most affected by COVID-19 and people who may not receive information through mainstream means. Content and materials are developed for individuals with disabilities and/or access and functional needs, differing levels of literacy, and with particular care being taken to effectively meet the needs of Black, Indigenous, and People of Color communities. The Public Information Section uses an equity lens to create material which is culturally specific to the needs of the many communities represented within the county.
Multnomah County Novel Coronavirus COVID-19 website ● Updated the Transportation and Travel page. ● Updated State’s face covering mandate in effect today; County encourages adherence page. ● Added the Face Coverings: Wearing is Caring and How Face Coverings Work videos to the Traditional Chinese Language Face Coverings page.
Social media highlights - Please share widely ● Multnomah County Facebook
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○ Save the date: Join Commissioner Susheela Jayapal Friday, August 28 at 2 pm for an informal conversation over Zoom about COVID-19 and other work happening at Multnomah County. ● Multnomah County Health Department Twitter ○ Taking a trip? Don’t leave home without these #COVID19 travel essentials: non-perishable food and water, face covering, hand sanitizer, and medications. ○ Ready for kids to go back to school? Although they won’t go back to the classroom this fall, here are simple steps we can all take to lower rates of #COVID19 and keep them there. ○ Do you feel safe at work? The public is invited to comment on draft measures being considered by #OregonOSHA to help prevent the spread of #COVID19 at workplaces. EOC Section: Operations The Operations section has several operational areas, each of which report on daily metrics. Weekly metrics are reported each Wednesday.
Resource Request Unit The Resource Request Unit is a group of diverse subject matter experts that represent and advocate for the needs of the communities Multnomah County serves. The team allocates critical supplies and Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) to health and community organizations in order to prevent the spread of COVID-19. When allocating PPE, the Resource Request Unit prioritizes the needs of people living in congregate (group) settings, organizations experiencing an outbreak, organizations that perform life saving operations (hospitals, clinics, etc), and organizations that serve communities of color, people ages 65 and older, and people with underlying health conditions. These priorities are part of Multnomah County’s commitment to dedicate resources to the populations most impacted by COVID-19.
Within the Resource Request Unit, the Community Resources team helps community groups such as social service organizations, food pantries, faith organizations, businesses, and many others navigate the EOC resource request and allocation process. In addition, the team provides information and answers questions about availability of supplies and which PPE is indicated for particular circumstances. The team addresses the needs of the community with a strong equity lens and trauma-informed communication, and prioritizes services to those most at risk. You can reach the Community Resources team at [email protected], or by calling 503-988-8940.
Daily Metrics: The Resource Request Unit tracks how many requests for resources it receives over a 24-hour period ending at 12:00 pm each day. The chart below shows the number of daily requests over the past two weeks.
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Note: the Resource Request Unit operates Mondays-Saturdays.
Weekly Metrics: During the week of Monday, August 17 through Sunday, August 23, the Resource Request Unit processed 41 requests. Of these, 40 requests met the county’s priorities to dedicate resources to the populations most impacted by COVID-19:
Note: In the above chart, healthcare providers and congregate housing sites include those that may specifically serve communities of color or people ages 65+. In other words, if a healthcare provider organization or congregate housing site specifically serves communities of color or people ages 65+, they are categorized as healthcare providers or congregate housing sites and not counted as an organization serving communities of color or as an organization serving people 65+.
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Call Center The EOC Call Center answers a range of questions and concerns from community members related to COVID-19. Callers are connected directly from the Multnomah County Health Department and occasionally from 211. The Multnomah County emergency response team at the EOC continually updates the Call Center script content based on questions received. The Call Center also provides information regarding the many questions related to testing and assists by supporting Multnomah County Health with contact tracing, as well as by scheduling appointments for the County’s low-barrier COVID-19 testing.
Daily Metrics: The Call Center tracks how many calls and emails it responds to each day. The chart below shows the number of calls and emails per day for the past two weeks, broken down by three topic categories.
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EOC Section: Mass Care and Shelter (Emergency Support Function 6) The Mass Care and Shelter section of the EOC is currently helping support the operation of one Physical Distancing Shelter (PDS) with a total capacity of 120 beds, and two Voluntary Isolation Motels (VIMos) with a total capacity of 120 beds. The people working in this section include all of our on-site shelter staff who continue to respond with compassionate action as increasing numbers of guests are referred into the County’s PDS site from partner shelters. Staffing and response plans that take into consideration COVID-19’s extended duration are being finalized.
Weekly Metrics: During the week of Monday, August 17 through Sunday, August 23, the Mass Care and Shelter Section housed an average of 89 people per night in the County’s Physical Distancing Shelter and 40 people per night in the County’s Voluntary Isolation Motels.
The Mass Care and Shelter section currently operates one Physical Distancing Shelter (with a total capacity of 120 beds) and two Voluntary Isolation Motels (with a total capacity of 120 beds). The charts below show the number of people housed in these shelters and motels for each day of the past week.
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EOC Section: Public Health and Medical (Emergency Support Function 8) The Public Health and Medical Section works to reduce the spread of COVID-19 in Multnomah County, and to minimize the impacts of the disease on individuals and our community. This Section contains Units that support Fatality Management, Region 1 Hospital and Health Systems, Emergency Medical Services, COVID-19 Testing, and Communicable Disease Investigations which includes Epidemiology, Case Investigation and Contact Tracing.
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Schools Blueprint The County in close collaboration with the Multnomah Education Service District is supporting local school districts and schools in their development of Operational Blueprints and other tools to guide their safe reopening during the COVID-19 pandemic. The County’s Emergency Operations Center has supported schools as they developed these blueprints, helping to ensure the inclusion of OHA-mandated communicable disease response plans including things like symptom screening, isolation space, cleaning, and other safety protocols.
Update Schools have used the most recent state guidance, Ready Schools, Safe Learners (released on August 11) to create their Operational Blueprints and are currently submitting the blueprints to the local Public Health team and to the Oregon Department of Education for review. The review teams will begin assessing plans during the week of August 24.
Epidemiology Data This is a dynamic situation. Information and case counts are changing rapidly and the incident is ongoing.
COVID-19 cases and deaths in Multnomah County and in Oregon There were 222 new confirmed and presumptive COVID-19 cases reported in Oregon on August 26. Fifty-four of these new cases are in Multnomah County. Since the pandemic began, there have been a total of 5,810 confirmed and presumptive COVID-19 cases in Multnomah County and 25,571 cases in Oregon. Multnomah County cases make up 23% of the state’s total. The chart below shows cases over the past week.
(Source: Oregon Health Authority)
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Note: The “number of cases” axis of this chart has been expanded to accommodate the growth in cases statewide during the past week.
There were 6 new COVID-19 deaths in Oregon reported on August 26. Two of these deaths occurred in Multnomah County. A total of 113 people are known to have died of COVID-19 in Multnomah County since the pandemic started. There have been 433 known COVID-19 deaths in Oregon, statewide. Multnomah County deaths make up 26% of the state’s total. The chart below shows deaths over the past week.
(Source: Oregon Health Authority)
National and global data about COVID-19 cases and deaths are tracked in the COVID-19 Dashboard, available through Johns Hopkins University’s Coronavirus Resource Center. Race and Ethnicity Impact in Multnomah County Detailed local data, including demographics (race, sex, age, and housing status) are available in the Regional COVID-19 data dashboard hosted by Multnomah County. The dashboard also contains data on case counts, hospitalizations, symptoms and coexisting conditions, and testing. For statewide data on COVID-19 cases in Oregon by sex, age group, race, and ethnicity, consult the Oregon Health Authority’s Demographics and Disease Severity dashboard. National data on racial disparities in the COVID-19 pandemic is updated daily in the COVID Racial Data Tracker, which is a joint project of the COVID Tracking Project at The Atlantic and the Center for Antiracist Research.
The charts below show the percentage of total cumulative cases, deaths, and hospitalizations by race and ethnicity (in gray), as of August 23. Each chart also shows the proportion of Multnomah County’s total population by race/ethnicity (in orange). Instances where the percentage of cases, deaths, and hospitalizations exceeds the proportion of Multnomah County’s total population by race/ethnicity indicate the communities that are most impacted by health inequity from COVID-19. These differences may reflect the
page 9 Emergency Operations Center (EOC) inequitable distribution of the risks of being exposed to COVID-19 and the opportunities to access medical care and COVID-19 testing.
Data current as of August 23, 2020 (source: Regional COVID-19 Data Dashboard).
Data current as of August 23, 2020 (source: Regional COVID-19 Data Dashboard).
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Data current as of August 23, 2020 (source: Regional COVID-19 Data Dashboard)
EOC Section: Logistics The Logistics Section supports the response actions of all other EOC sections. Logistics focuses on procedures for activating, dispatching, distributing, allocating, tracking, and deactivating resources needed for emergency and disaster operations from government, private, or volunteer sources. For Multnomah County’s COVID-19 response, important Logistics functions include coordinating the donation of supplies, delivering resources to community partners, and coordinating volunteers.
Donations Unit Multnomah County is seeking home-made face covers and home-made cloth face coverings, which should be unused and in good condition. Multnomah County is dedicated to ensuring that these scarce resources are distributed to Black, Indigenous, and People of Color communities (BIPOC). Across the country, BIPOC communities are statistically more likely to suffer grave outcomes of COVID-19, and are therefore our donation priority. A multidisciplinary team of local municipal, county, and non-profit partners are working with community partners across the county to distribute these, and other supplies. Learn more about how you can donate or volunteer to slow the spread of COVID-19. Food Unit The Food Unit supports guests at Physical Distancing Shelters and Voluntary Isolation Motels, as well as volunteers and staff contributing to emergency response operations. This team supports a 24 hour, 7 day a week operation and organizes, sources, and delivers more than 1,400 meals each week. As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to place increased pressure on the local restaurant industry, the Food Unit prioritizes
page 11 Emergency Operations Center (EOC) agreements with Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC)-owned businesses. This is one example of the many ways County resources are being leveraged to mitigate the disproportionate impacts of COVID-19 on BIPOC communities.
Resource Deliveries The Logistics Section provides transportation for numerous response functions, including delivering supplies to community partners. The chart below shows the number of daily trips delivering resources to community organizations, County-run physical distancing shelters and voluntary isolation motels, and emergency outdoor shelters run by the City of Portland and Multnomah County’s Joint Office of Homeless Services. The chart does not represent the quantity of supplies included in these deliveries, so a single delivery could include small or large quantities of resources.
Note: Logistics operates Monday - Saturday, with on-call deliveries made on Sundays, if necessary. This chart has been altered to reflect the regular, six-day week delivery schedule of the Logistics section.
Aggregate Metrics: The Logistics Section tracks the number of items that it delivers and picks up. The table below shows these deliveries in quantities by month since the outset of the COVID-19 pandemic (April - July).
(table on next page)
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Weekly metrics: Each week, the Logistics Section tracks the number of items that it delivers and picks up. The table below shows these deliveries by week for the current month.
EOC Section: Administration The Administration Section provides targeted support to create an inclusive, positive, productive and healthy work environment across all response operations, that is responsive to the changing conditions of the COVID-19 incident. Functions include the recruitment, training and onboarding of staff and volunteers; equity and inclusion support; and human resources and labor relations consultation.
Volunteers The Joint Volunteer Information Center (JVIC) is a partnership between the City of Portland and Multnomah County for the duration of the COVID-19 response. The JVIC bolsters and sustains community response to COVID-19 in Multnomah County and the City of Portland through promoting, organizing and supporting safe
page 13 Emergency Operations Center (EOC) volunteer activities. JVIC staff centralize and process offers of volunteer help made to Multnomah County and the City of Portland. They then connect those offers to requests for help made from medical providers, nonprofit organizations, faith-based organizations, and government entities. The JVIC prioritizes services for historically underserved communities.
Weekly Metrics: The JVIC tracks how many individuals complete an interest form to express interest in volunteering, the number of active volunteers, and the number of volunteer hours worked each week. The charts below show these metrics each week for the past several weeks.
As of August 25, 2020, a total of 891 individuals have completed the volunteer interest form. A total of 98 people have volunteered their time with the EOC during the COVID-19 response, and active volunteers have worked a total of 4,913.73 hours. Using the County’s job class compensation guide as a metric, the value represented by this donated labor is $122,875.
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EOC Section: Community Liaisons The Liaison Unit is made up of four Liaison Officers and five Deputies who support 47 community liaisons across 27 sectors. Liaison Officers and Deputies foster community connection and information sharing by creating spaces to problem solve, share resources, and discuss community experiences. In addition, they track and identify trends within the community and elevate them to response leadership to inform outreach and policy. Community Liaisons use their subject-matter expertise to act as a critical link between the COVID-19 response mission and the audience it affects. They answer sector specific questions, ensure understanding of local and State guidelines as it pertains to their sector, and manage communication and information sharing between sector organizations and the Multnomah County Emergency Operations Center. More than 8,500 people actively participate in the liaison program and help spread accurate information throughout our community and beyond.
Updates ● This week's themes and trending questions in the Liaison Section: ○ We continue to receive a number of clarifying questions from event venues regarding details such as gathering size, what conditions permit more than one event at a time in a building, square footage per person to physically distance, recommendations for monitoring compliance during events, and how to structure seating charts and buffet lines. ○ Over the last two weeks we fielded several questions from local movie theaters about when they can open. Movie theaters are not permitted to operate in Phase 1. If a movie theater serves food, they may operate as a restaurant, following restaurant guidance. ○ We have received a number of questions from congregate living facilities about self-isolation options for COVID-19 positive guests. ● In this week's Liaison Community Building meeting, our sectors discussed ways to maintain new relationships and collaborative efforts beyond COVID-19 incident response. Over the last six months
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our liaison structure has created a space for County and community services to connect in a more consistent and collaborative way. It is Liason’s hope that this relational work will continue to be nurtured far beyond COVID-19. ● A need for child size face-coverings was identified in the community. One of our deputy liaisons is spearheading collaboration between crafting groups and child care representation to determine need and capability, and solicit homemade face covering donations. Communications, Public Information, and the Resource Request unit will be part of this project as well. ● The Liaison team is looking for an outpatient clinic liaison. The person that fills this role does not have to be a subject matter expert, but familiarity with and connections to outpatient clinics are preferred. This person can be a volunteer or a Multnomah County employee.
General ● The Oregon Cares Fund for Black Relief + Resiliency is a grant program offering support to Black people, Black business owners, and Black-lead nonprofit organizations to help Black Oregonians bear the dual impact of financial hardship and systemic racism during the COVID-19 pandemic. To learn more and to apply, go to The Oregon Cares Fund for Black Relief + Resiliency website. This story was reported by KGW, KOIN, The Skanner and The Portland Observer. Faith-based/Community Organizations (FBCO) ● Following community feedback, the Faith Based Liaison Team reached out to Hindu temples in Multnomah County to determine needs and offer guidance. An overwhelming majority of temples were interested in more information and access to translated materials. The FBCO team is setting up a call for Hindu Temples in Multnomah County to discern guidance, answer questions, and share resources. The call is scheduled for next Friday, the time is to be determined. ● This week, our Faith Based Liaison Team is collaborating with our Culturally Specific Liaisons to engage a specific group of churches in practicing public health interventions during services.
Parks ● Portland Parks published two new water safety videos with Spanish subtitles: ○ Positions to hold a baby in the water ○ Practicing swimming arm circles
Schools (Childcare, K-12, Universities) ● OHA is hosting a public meeting of the Immunization School/Children’s Facility/College Law Advisory Committee. They will present Oregon immunization data for 2019-2020; discussion of the immunization requirements for 2020-2021; review the criteria used to make recommendations for school/children’s facility/college immunization requirements. ○ September 2, 2:00pm - 3:30pm ○ Via Zoom. For this meeting, public comment can be submitted in writing, and will be used for feedback and comments only; there will be no public comment during the meeting. Those who want to provide public comment must do so in writing by 4:00 pm Monday, August 31. Email comments to [email protected].
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Sector Contact Information and Conference Call Schedule If you have specific questions, or to attend a regularly scheduled sector conference call, please contact the sector liaison via email. Local Updates
Media and Announcements ● On August 22, OPB reported that “Portland’s food carts are hanging on during the pandemic in a way that restaurants aren’t.” ● On August 23 and 24, OPB and KGW reported on two deaths that surprised local health officials -- both younger adults with no known underlying health conditions. KGW reported, “Since May 31, five people under the age of 40 in Multnomah County have died from COVID-19.” Of these deaths, two had no known underlying health conditions. ● On August 24 The Skanner reported on the Oregon Cares Fund for Black Relief + Resiliency. This grant-funded program supports Black people, Black business owners, and Black-lead nonprofit organizations to address the economic hardships posed by the COVID-19 pandemic. This story was also reported by The Portland Observer, KGW, and KOIN. ● Clackamas County has posted a School Information website to help parents and staff track school guidance related to COVID-19. The website includes links to each school in Clackamas County and dashboard data on reopening metrics.
211 Calls ● There were 361 calls to 211 on Tuesday, August 25. ● The most common reason people called was to ask about rent/mortgage assistance. Other frequent inquiries were about utility assistance, $500 emergency checks, SNAP/food stamps, and childcare.
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Data for August 25, 2020.
Aggregated data: The chart below shows the total number of 211 contacts each day, over the last two weeks.
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Note: The axis for “number of contacts” had to be increased significantly, due to the high volume of calls on 8/19-8/21 regarding $500 emergency payments that were temporarily available to the public.
State of Oregon and Regional Updates
Media and Announcements ● On August 18, the Oregon Department of Employment released its July report on employment in Oregon. Later the same day, the Oregon Office of Economic Analysis published an analysis, stating, “July brought another good month in terms of adding jobs and unemployment declining. The recovery still looks good as of last month, even if the pace of the recovery did slow some from May and June. Even so the economy remains in a deep hole. The current state of the labor market in Oregon is about as bad as it was at the worst of the Great Recession.” This story was covered by The Oregonian/OregonLive. ● On August 20, Jefferson Public Radio reported on California’s evolving guidelines regarding in person instruction options for students with disabilities. The article notes, “At a press conference last week, Gov. Gavin Newsom hinted at allowing schools to invite children with disabilities back to the classroom in small groups.The state is expected to release detailed guidelines soon.” ● On August 21, Governor Brown held a press briefing, with Oregon Health Authority Director Patrick Allen and Oregon State Epidemiologist Dr. Dean Sidelinger. They discussed several topics, including school reopening and changes to the state’s county watch list. Governor Brown stated that Oregon’s COVID-19 data is improving, but said “Our infection rate is still too high to get our kids safely back into the classrooms in most of our schools this fall.” OPB reported this story, noting, “It would take about 200 days at the current rate of declining spread before Brown would be ready to approve the return of students to schools.” The Oregonian/OregonLive, the Portland Tribune, and Willamette Week also reported on the Governor’s press conference and school guidelines.
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● On August 21, Oregon ran out of funds for its program offering $500 emergency relief payments to Oregonians who have suffered financial hardship during the COVID-19 pandemic. The payments came from a $35 million fund allocated by state legislative leaders in July. Over the two and a half days that payments were made available, people across the state stood in line for hours at banks and credit unions to apply. The Oregonian/OregonLive expressed criticism for how the program was administered, saying “It’s clear now, though, that the process for determining who actually got the $500 was extremely haphazard. Those most plugged into the news and social networks, and with the time and ability to wait in line, fared best.” This story was also covered by Jefferson Public Radio, KATU, KOIN, KPTV, OPB, and Willamette Week. ● On August 21, Willamette Week reported that a man who was incarcerated at the Eastern Oregon Correctional Institution in Pendleton died from COVID-19, the third Oregon inmate to die of COVID-19. ● On August 21, the Associated Press reported that “A federal judge denied a proposal by three Christian schools in Oregon that wanted to reopen for in-person learning this fall, finding Gov. Kate Brown’s regulations on schools during the coronavirus constitutional.” ● On August 24, The Oregonian/OregonLive reported that Oregon is in the process of applying for additional federal unemployment funds. The article notes, “The Oregon Employment Department announced Monday that it will apply for the grant, which the state expects will cover three to five weeks of expanded benefits.” This story was also reported by KOIN, OPB, and the Associated Press.
Health System Capacity
Data as of August 25, 2020. Source: Oregon COVID-19 Update.
Note from OHA: *Every hospital in Oregon is asked to submit data twice daily to Oregon’s Hospital Capacity Web System (HOSCAP). Data are based on the most recent report from the hospitals, available as of 9:00 am. Hospital staff are asked to enter bed capacity information, by type, as well as the number of patients with suspected or confirmed COVID-19
page 20 Emergency Operations Center (EOC) illness who are currently hospitalized at the time of data entry. These data may conflict with hospitalization status in Orpheus due to case reporting and investigation lags and temporary discrepancies in case classifications.
National and International Updates
Media and Announcements ● On August 20, CNN reported, “People of color are being hit hardest by [COVID-19], and systemic inequities are largely to blame.” ● On August 20, the Associated Press reported on personal protective equipment shortages in nursing homes and long term care facilities. ● On August 20, the Associated Press reported on “hospital at home” care. The article notes, “[Hospital at home] programs represent a small slice of the roughly 35 million U.S. hospitalizations each year, but they are growing fast with boosts from Medicare and private health insurers.” ● On August 21, NPR reported on the challenges of identifying safe childcare during the COVID-19 pandemic. The article notes, “Pre-pandemic, about half of U.S. families reported having trouble finding care for a young child. That number jumped to nearly two-thirds this spring as daycares closed and other caretakers, such as grandparents and nannies, were told to stay home.” ● On August 21, the Associated Press reported that “As many as 215,000 more people than usual died in the U.S. during the first seven months of 2020, suggesting that the number of lives lost to the coronavirus is significantly higher than the official toll. And half the dead were people of color -- Blacks, Hispanics, Native Americans and, to a marked degree unrecognized until now, Asian Americans.” ● On August 21, NPR published a story about the effort to fight wildfires now burning in California, saying, “COVID-19 adds a new dimension of risk to the job, both on and off the front lines, and poses new threats to those seeking refuge in temporary shelter.” ● On August 21, Kaiser Health News published an article about the role of bars in spreading COVID-19 infection, noting, “From the early days of the U.S. coronavirus outbreak, states have wrestled with the best course of action for bars and nightclubs, which largely have their economic prospects tied to social gatherings in tight quarters. As the virus has pinched the industry’s lifeblood, bar owners in a handful of states are fighting in court against government orders that they stay closed. But public health experts and top health officials, including the nation’s top infectious diseases official, Dr. Anthony Fauci, have said: When bars open, infections tend to follow.” ● On August 22, the Associated Press reported that “Schools across the United States are facing shortages and long delays, of up to several months, in getting this year’s most crucial back-to-school supplies: the laptops and other equipment needed for online learning” ● On August 22, the Associated Press reported that “As more universities abandon plans to reopen and decide instead to keep classes online this fall, it’s leading to conflict between students who say they deserve tuition discounts and college leaders who insist remote learning is worth the full cost.” ● On August 22, NPR reported that “As COVID-19 continues to spread, an increasing number of rural communities in the U.S. find themselves without their hospital or on the brink of losing already cash-strapped facilities.” ● On August 22, the Associated Press reported that “In June, India began using cheaper, faster but less accurate tests to scale up testing for the coronavirus — a strategy that the United States is now
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considering. . . . But government numbers suggest some parts of the country might have become over reliant on the faster tests, which can miss infections. Experts warn that safely using them requires frequent retesting, something that isn’t always happening.” ● On August 23, the Associated Press reported on the impact of long-term funding cuts to public health departments in Florida, and the contributions these cuts have made on the shape of the COVID-19 pandemic in the state. ● On August 25, NPR reported on differences in the coronavirus that make it a more effective viral spreader than other contagions. The article notes, “. . . 40% of coronavirus transmission is taking place before a patient shows symptoms. And people may actually be most contagious the day or two before they start feeling sick.”
Stay Informed, Get Involved
COVID-19 Response ● Local response: the Multnomah County COVID-19 website is regularly updated with new information and guidance. Topics covered include: ○ Daily Living ○ Reopening & Guidance ○ Symptoms, Testing & Care ○ Outbreak Summary, including the Regional COVID-19 Data Dashboard ○ Get or Give Help During COVID-19 ○ What’s open — and what is closed — at MultCo during COVID-19 ○ Discrimination, stigma and COVID-19 ● State response: Oregon Health Authority COVID-19 website ● National response: CDC website Media For media inquiries related to COVID-19 please contact Julie Sullivan-Springhetti, Multnomah County Public Information Media Coordinator at: 503-502-2741.
Check out our list of trusted sources for current regional and national COVID-19 information.
Activated Call Centers
Call Center Phone Number Email Hours 211 Call Center 211 [email protected] Seven days a week, 8:00 am - 11:00 pm
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Mental Health Call 503-988-4888 Open 24 hours a day, seven days Center Toll-free: 800-716-9769 a week TTY: 711 Aging & Disabilities 503-988-3646 [email protected] Information and assistance to older Resource Connection people, people with disabilities, and caregivers, open 24 hours a day, seven days a week City County Information 503-823-4000 Mondays-Fridays, 8:00 am - 5:00 and Referral pm
Help and Resources ● Having symptoms? ○ C19Oregon.com is an online triage tool that helps public health officials track COVID-19 cases and allows community members to check their symptoms and receive guidance.
More questions? ● Consult the Multnomah County COVID-19 FAQs. ● Call 211. ● Still can’t find the answer you’re looking for? Submit questions about the novel coronavirus to Multnomah County.
Document Development Information Prepared By (Name & Position) Emily-Jane Dawson, Amy Honisett, Ismoon Hunter-Morton, and Melissa Walker, Situation Unit Approved By (Name & Position) Chris Voss, Director of the Office of Emergency Management Date; Time Approved 8/27/20; 10:55 hours Date of Next Situation Report Thursday, 9/3/20
Articles & Reports Cited Announcements and Featured Media ● COVID-19 Epidemic Trends and Projections in Oregon, Institute for Disease Modeling and the Oregon Health Authority, results as of 19 August 2020 at 11:00 am, released 21 August 2020, https://www.oregon.gov/oha/PH/DISEASESCONDITIONS/DISEASESAZ/Emerging%20Respitory%20Infections/O regon-COVID-19-Projections-2020-08-19.pdf. ● “New state modeling shows coronavirus spread leveling off in Oregon,” by Ted Sickinger, The Oregonian/OregonLive, 21 August 2020,
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https://www.oregonlive.com/coronavirus/2020/08/new-state-modeling-shows-coronavirus-spread-leveling-off-in-or egon.html.
Local Updates ● “Portland’s food carts show resilience during the coronavirus pandemic,” by Geoff Norcross, OPB, 22 August 2020, https://www.opb.org/article/2020/08/22/portland-oregon-food-carts-coronavirus-covid-19-pandemic/. ● “COVID-19 kills 37-year-old Multnomah County woman without preexisting conditions,” by Amelia Templeton, OPB, 23 August 2020, https://www.opb.org/article/2020/08/23/covid-19-kills-37-year-old-multnomah-county-woman-without-preexisting-c onditions/. ● “Applications open for COVID-19 relief fund for Black community,” KGW, 24 August 2020, https://www.kgw.com/article/money/business/covid-19-relief-fund-for-black-community/283-b0ab7432-53e6-4d0c- a07a-25621db91704. ● “$62M Oregon Cares Fund aims to help Black businesses, KOIN, 24 August 2020, ”https://www.koin.com/news/health/coronavirus/62m-oregon-cares-fund-aims-to-help-black-businesses/. ● “Applications are Now Live for COVID-19 Relief Fund for the Black Community,” The Skanner, 25 August 2020, https://www.theskanner.com/news/northwest/30397-applications-are-now-live-for-covid-19-relief-fund-for-the-blac k-community. ● “COVID-19 Relief Directed to Black Community,” The Portland Observer, 25 August 2020, http://portlandobserver.com/news/2020/aug/25/covid-19-relief-directed-black-community/. ● “Death of 34-year-old in Multnomah County a 'sad and stark reminder’ of COVID-19 danger,” by Devon Haskins, KGW, 24 August 2020, https://www.kgw.com/article/news/health/coronavirus/oregon-covid-19-death-34-year-old-multnomah-county/283- e62e775a-c477-4119-9d8c-7fae1e716f7f.
State of Oregon and Regional Updates ● “Oregon Job Recovery Slows in July” [press release], Oregon Department of Employment, 18 August 2020, https://www.qualityinfo.org/documents/10182/73818/Employment+in+Oregon. ● “Oregon Employment, July 2020,” by Josh Lerner, Oregon Office of Economic Analysis blog, 18 August 2020, https://oregoneconomicanalysis.com/2020/08/18/oregon-employment-july-2020/. ● “Oregon Insight: Low-paying jobs took big hit, but higher-paying gigs aren’t bouncing back,” by Mike Rogoway, The Oregonian/OregonLive, 23 August 2020, https://www.oregonlive.com/business/2020/08/oregon-insight-low-paying-jobs-took-big-hit-but-higher-paying-gigs- arent-bouncing-back.html. ● “California Students With Disabilities Could Soon Return To In-Person Schooling,” by Sammy Caiola, Jefferson Public Radio, 20 August 2020, https://www.ijpr.org/education/2020-08-20/california-students-with-disabilities-could-soon-return-to-in-person-scho oling. ● “Press Briefing with Gov. Kate Brown, August 21, 2020,” [Video], Oregon Public Health Division, 21 August 2020, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a-RoE1M0maI&feature=youtu.be. ● “Gov. Brown warns of mandatory restrictions without better compliance on COVID-19 guidelines,” by Erin Ross and David Steves, OPB, 21 August 2020, https://www.opb.org/article/2020/08/21/oregon-covid-19-warning-compliance-with-guidelines/. ● “Oregon schools won’t reopen until state sees substantial coronavirus decline, Gov. Kate Brown says,” by Eder Campuzano, The Oregonian/OregonLive, 21 August 2020, https://www.oregonlive.com/education/2020/08/oregon-schools-wont-reopen-until-state-sees-substantial-coronavir us-decline-governor-says.html.
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● “Governor threatens crackdown if coronavirus doesn't improve,” by Nick Budnick, Portland Tribune, 21 August 2020, https://pamplinmedia.com/pt/9-news/477638-386006-governor-threatens-crackdown-if-coronavirus-doesnt-improv e. ● “Oregon Gov. Kate Brown Says Schools Won’t Open for More Than 200 Days Unless She Takes Action—Document,” by Rachel Monahan, Willamette Week, 21 August 2020, https://www.wweek.com/news/state/2020/08/21/oregon-gov-kate-brown-says-schools-wont-open-for-more-than-2 00-days-unless-she-takes-action-document/. ● “Oregon exhausts its $500 payouts, which brought relief to some and frustrations for many others,” by Mike Rogoway, The Oregonian/OregonLive, 21 August 2020, https://www.oregonlive.com/business/2020/08/oregon-exhausts-its-500-payouts-which-brought-relief-to-some-and -frustrations-for-others.html. ● “Emergency Relief Payments For Distressed Oregonians Have Run Out,” by Erik Neumann, Jefferson Public Radio, 21 August 2020, https://www.ijpr.org/business-and-labor/2020-08-21/emergency-relief-checks-released-to-oregonians-during-pand emic. ● “Those left without $500 relief upset; Oregon lawmaker says more help from feds needed,” by Keaton Thomas, KATU, 21 August, 2020, https://katu.com/news/local/all-500-coronavirus-emergency-relief-checks-have-been-distributed-state-officials-say. ● “$500 emergency relief funds all allocated to 70K Oregonians,” by Lindsay Nadrich, KOIN, 21 August 2020, https://www.koin.com/news/health/coronavirus/500-emergency-relief-funds-all-allocated-to-70k-oregonians/. ● “All $500 Oregon stimulus checks for COVID-19 relief have been claimed,” by Meagan Cuthill, KPTV, 21 August 2020, https://www.kptv.com/news/all-500-oregon-stimulus-checks-for-covid-19-relief-have-been-claimed/article_43ed90 c4-e3db-11ea-9bc1-e74f712c7a7d.html. ● “Oregon runs out of $500 emergency relief payments,” by Kate Davidson, OPB, 21 August 2020, https://www.opb.org/article/2020/08/21/500-emergency-relief-checks-oregon-gone/. ● “The State Gave Away $500 Checks. Our Reporter Stood in Line but Never Made It to the Front,” by Hank Sanders, Willamette Week, 21 August 2020, https://www.wweek.com/news/2020/08/21/the-state-gave-away-500-checks-our-reporter-stood-in-line-but-never- made-it-to-the-front/. ● “Third Oregon Inmate Dies From COVID-19,” by Tess Riski, Willamette Week, 21 August 2020, https://www.wweek.com/news/courts/2020/08/21/third-oregon-inmate-dies-from-covid-19/. ● “Judge denies motion by Oregon schools to reopen in-person,” AP News, Associated Press, 21 August 2020, https://apnews.com/e0d978c34d07856411d2a50c6b0e5dad ● “Oregon will apply for Trump’s $300 unemployment bonus,” by Jamie Goldberg, The Oregonian/OregonLive, 24 August 2020, https://www.oregonlive.com/coronavirus/2020/08/oregon-will-apply-for-trumps-unemployment-bonus.html. ● “COVID: Oregon will apply for federal lost wages assistance,” by Lindsay Nadrich, KOIN, 25 August 2020, https://www.koin.com/news/health/coronavirus/covid-oregon-will-apply-for-federal-lost-wages-assistance/. ● “Oregon applies for $300 weekly unemployment boost,” by Kate Davidson, OPB, 24 August 2020, https://www.opb.org/article/2020/08/24/oregon-applies-for-300-weekly-unemployment-boost/#:~:text=Oregon%20i s%20applying%20for%20President,of%20the%20Oregon%20Employment%20Department. ● “COVID: Oregon will apply for federal lost wages assistance,” AP News, Associated Press, 24 August 2020, https://apnews.com/d21303d0e386aa3fc6fe64462cad6c3e.
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National and International Updates ● “These variables affect whether you live, die or get help during the pandemic,” by Harmeet Kaur, CNN, 20 August 2020, https://www.cnn.com/2020/08/20/us/systemic-racism-coronavirus-pandemic-trnd/index.html. ● “1 in 5 nursing homes short on PPE and staff in virus rebound,” by Ricardo Alonso-Zaldivar, AP News, Associated Press, 20 August 2020, https://apnews.com/ff2bbfb4a7431e86cdca5132042d4a0e. ● “Pandemic pushes expansion of ‘hospital-at-home’ treatment,” by Linda A. Johnson, AP News, Associated Press, 20 August 2020, https://apnews.com/37d72aeda92f3964f52c263eb8cd9fee. ● “Day Care, Grandparent, Pod Or Nanny? How To Manage The Risks Of Pandemic Child Care,” by Katherine Harmon Courage, NPR, 21 August 2020, https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2020/08/21/902613282/daycare-grandparent-pod-or-nanny-how-to-man age-the-risks-of-pandemic-child-care. ● “Mounting US deaths reveal an outsize toll on people of color,” by Anna Flagg and Damini Sharma of “The Marshall Project” and Mike Stobbe and Larry Fenn of the Associated Press, 21 August 2020, https://apnews.com/a8e3244c77bcaf31efc826bbbe4a9d19. ● “Wildfires Rage In California As Fire Crews And Evacuees Grapple With COVID-19 Risks,” by Vanessa Romo, NPR, 21 August 2020, https://www.npr.org/2020/08/21/904552759/wildfires-rage-on-in-california-as-fire-crews-and-evacuees-grapple-wit h-covid-ri. ● “Deadly Mix: How Bars Are Fueling COVID-19 Outbreaks,” by Will Stone, Kaiser Health News, 21 August 2020, https://khn.org/news/deadly-mix-how-bars-are-fueling-covid-19-outbreaks/. ● “US faces back-to-school laptop shortage,” by Jocelyn Gecker and Michael Liedtke, AP News, Associated Press, 22 August 2020, https://apnews.com/01e9302796d749b6aadc35ddc8f4c946. ● “As more colleges stay online, students demand tuition cuts,” by Collin Brinkley, AP News, Associated Press, 22 August 2020, https://apnews.com/b33f36db3569ea43ff9126a45ae5afd7. ● “Rural Hospitals Are Sinking Under COVID-19 Financial Pressures,” by Sarah Jane Tribble, NPR, 22 August 2020, https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2020/08/22/904455215/rural-hospitals-are-sinking-under-covid-19-finan cial-pressures. ● “Experts flag risks in India’s use of rapid tests for virus,” by Aniruddha Ghosal and Matthew Perrone, AP News, Associated Press, 22 August 2020, https://apnews.com/a87a33e87f50e75199ecd0c3f97130e2. ● “How starving public health fueled a COVID fire in Florida,” by Laura Ungar, Jason Dearen and Hannah Rechtap, AP News, Associated Press, 23 August 2020, https://apnews.com/042528176366efe911484e39091b7cf2. ● “Why The Coronavirus Is So 'Superspready’,” vy Pien Huang, NPR, 25 August 2020, https://www.npr.org/sections/goatsandsoda/2020/08/25/905386953/why-the-novel-coronavirus-is-so-superspread y.
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