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PRESS RELEASE

The Governor’s office announced Baker County is returning to the high risk category beginning today, April 23. Between April 3-17, Baker County had 79 cases reported and a test positivity rate of over 8.8%. Classification in the high risk category shows there is substantial spread of COVID-19 in a county.

The high risk category imposes additional limitations on businesses, including limiting eating and drinking establishments to an indoor dining capacity to 25% of maximum occupancy and an 11:00 PM closing time, and reducing indoor fitness or entertainment establishments to 25% occupancy.

As of April 22, 283 COVID-19 patients are hospitalized in Oregon. During a press conference today, Governor Brown discussed the surge in COVID-19 hospitalizations statewide and the corresponding shortage of key healthcare equipment. She announced if Oregon reaches the threshold of 300 COVID-19 patients hospitalized, all counties with case numbers and test positivity rates that qualify them for extreme risk will move to the extreme category on Friday, April 30. Baker County case numbers need to drop significantly to avoid returning to extreme risk next week.

County Commissioner Mark Bennett said, “The spike in cases we’ve experienced over the last four weeks has sickened and quarantined many people, and will also hurt our businesses- especially the restaurants. I hate to see us go back to high risk, and I’m concerned it will be worse next week. Thank you to the Health Department staff for their tireless work to provide good information to those who have come down with symptoms or been exposed, and to keep providing vaccines. If you haven’t been vaccinated yet, a drive through clinic will be offered this Saturday at the fairgrounds, no appointment needed. We’re trying to make getting vaccinated as easy as possible.”

The drive through clinic will be held at the fairgrounds on April 24 from 8 AM to 1 PM, and is open for anyone 18 and over. No appointment is required. Forms and more information are available at www.bakercountycovid19.com.

Specific guidance for each risk level is available on the Oregon Health Authority’s website.

PRESS RELEASE

The Oregon Health Authority announced the fourteenth COVID-19 related death of a Baker County resident today. Health Department Director Nancy Staten says, “This loss weighs heavy on all of us. The Health Department staff all sends our condolences to those who knew her.”

The Oregon Health Authority reported, “Oregon’s 2,451st COVID-19 death is a 71-year-old woman in Baker County who tested positive on April 7 and died on April 14 at Saint Alphonsus Regional Medical Center. She had underlying conditions.”

To protect the privacy and well-being of the family, and to maintain compliance with health information privacy regulations, no further information about the individual will be released by the County. We encourage everyone to be respectful as a family in our community grieves.

PRESS RELEASE

The Oregon Health Authority has asked health care providers to pause use of the Johnson and Johnson vaccine after a joint statement released this morning by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Federal Drug Administration. The pause is out of an abundance of caution to provide the agencies time to further review data involving six reported cases of a rare and severe blood clot. The release says, “Right now, these adverse events appear to be extremely rare. COVID-19 vaccine safety is a top priority for the federal government, and we take all reports of health problems following COVID-19 vaccination very seriously.”

No adverse effects from the Johnson and Johnson vaccine have been reported in Baker County.

The Baker County Health Department has been providing doses of the Johnson and Johnson vaccine, but will pause until clearance is given. The Health Department will continue to offer the Moderna vaccine. Both the Moderna and Pfizer vaccines are still available for use; however, the Health Department has not been carrying doses of the Pfizer vaccine because of the requirements for ultra-cold storage. General information about vaccines is available on the CDC website.