Facts and frequently asked questions —

Testing:

Lane County (as of March 12 at noon)  

Lane County Public Health notified of 7 additional positive COVID-19 cases since yesterday (March 11). This makes a total of 10,015 cases. Lane County remains in the "Extreme" risk category under the state metrics of COVID-19 spread. 

• 10,444 total cases (Note: that this includes confirmed and presumptive.)

Of cases confirmed and presumptive: 

• Hospitalized: 12  
• ICU: 7 (of the 12)
• Deaths: 132  
• Infectious 83 (-7) 
• Persons being monitored: 283 
• COVID-19 cases by zip code as of March 12 — 97439: 177

For data regarding Lane County testing, patient status, case ZIP codes and more is available at www.LaneCountyOR.gov/localdata

The State of Oregon has created a COVID-19 web page with resources at http://coronavirus.oregon.gov.

Community Call Center

• Lane County has a call center to answer community questions regarding the Novel Coronavirus, also known as COVID-19. The call center, which can be reached by calling 541-682-1380, is part of the Joint Information Center (JIC) established March 9, 2020 by Lane County Health & Human Services to get the most accurate information out to community members. — Lane County Public Health

Douglas County as of March 12 at noon:

There are 13 people with new positive test results and 1 new presumptive to report since our noon case update yesterday (March 11). The total number of cases (people with positive test results and presumptives) in Douglas County is now at 2,695.  Currently, there are 12 Douglas County COVID-19 patients that are being hospitalized, 7 locally and 5 out-of-the-area. 

This week, Douglas County Public Health received 2,300 prime doses of the Moderna vaccine and 1,170 prime doses of Pfizer vaccine. This week, the county received a total of 3,470 prime doses of the COVID-19 vaccine. All vaccine doses received this week have been deployed to local approved vaccinators throughout the county. It is important to note, that in addition to the first dose vaccines that we receive from the State of Oregon on a weekly basis, the county also receives its allocation of second doses of the Moderna and Pfizer vaccines, which are paired with the first doses, and are not counted in the overall total vaccines received by the county each week. Note that the vaccine numbers do NOT include other vaccination sites like the Roseburg VA, Mercy Medical Center, EMS, Cow Creek Tribe, Pharmacies and local care facilities that have received their vaccines directly from the Federal or State Government.   

COVID-19 cases by zip code as of March 12:

97424: 355  

97426: 270 

Oregon Health Authority: (as of March 12 at noon)

There are three new COVID-19 related deaths in Oregon, raising the state’s death toll to 2,319, the Oregon Health Authority reported today. OHA reported 402 new confirmed and presumptive cases of COVID-19, bringing the state total to 159,037.

Cases:

The new confirmed and presumptive COVID-19 cases reported today are in the following counties: Baker (3), Benton (18), Clackamas (49), Clatsop (2), Columbia (2), Coos (21), Crook (1), Curry (5), Deschutes (8), Douglas (19), Grant (4), Hood River (1), Jackson (24), Jefferson (2), Josephine (25), Klamath (11), Lake (2), Lane (14), Lincoln (5), Linn (12), Malheur (1), Marion (34), Multnomah (73), Polk (8), Tillamook (5), Umatilla (3), Union (4), Washington (41) and Yamhill (5).The number of hospitalized patients with COVID-19 across Oregon is 176, which is 6 more than Feb. 18. There are 49 COVID-19 patients in intensive care unit (ICU) beds, which is three fewer than yesterday.

OHA reported that 34,613 new doses of COVID-19 vaccinations were added to the state immunization registry. Of this total, 23,075 doses were administered on March 11 and 11,538 were administered on previous days but were entered into the vaccine registry on March 11.

More information about hospital capacity can be found here.

Stay informed about COVID-19:

Oregon response: The Oregon Health Authority and Oregon Office of Emergency Management lead the state response.

To see more case and county level data, please visit the Oregon Health Authority website, which OHA updates once a day: www.healthoregon.org/coronavirus.

Links to county, state, national and global health organizations:

• Lane County Public Health: https://lanecounty.org/government/county_departments/health_and_human_services/public_health

• Oregon Health Authority’s COVID-19 page: https://www.oregon.gov/oha/PH/DISEASESCONDITIONS/DISEASESAZ/Pages/emerging-respiratory-infections.aspx

• Centers for Disease Control’s COVID-19 page: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-nCoV/index.html

• World Health Organization’s COVID-19 page: https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019

 

Community Call Center

Lane County has opened a call center to answer community questions regarding the Novel Coronavirus, also known as COVID-19.  The call center, which can be reached by calling 541-682-1380, is part of the Joint Information Center (JIC) established March 9, 2020 by Lane County Health & Human Services to get the most accurate information out to community members. — From Lane County Public Health

To see more case and county level data, please visit the Oregon Health Authority website, which OHA updates once a day: www.healthoregon.org/coronavirus.

Lane County Public Health information

— Prevention

• Lane County Public Health is encouraging residents to practice social distancing wherever possible.
• Social distancing means:
• Cover your cough. Cover coughs and sneezes with a tissue and then throw the tissue away. If you don't have a tissue, cough into your elbow.
• Don't shake hands. Avoid unnecessary contact by not shaking hands, hugging or kissing as greetings. Find other, non-contact ways to say hello.
• Leave space. Maintain a 6-foot radius between yourself and others in public spaces. (Droplets that may carry influenza and COVID-19 can commonly travel up to 6 feet.)
• Think it through. If you would normally reconsider attending an event during flu season, reconsider it now. People over 60 and those with pre-existing respiratory, cardiac conditions, or who are immuno-compromised should avoid all large gatherings.

— Seniors and At-Risk Populations

People over 60 and those with pre-existing cardio and respiratory conditions, as well as those who are immunocompromised are urged to avoid large gatherings.

Large gatherings are those voluntary activities that do not allow people the option to maintain a distance of 6 feet from others. Large gatherings may include church services, movies, concerts and performances or similar events. We urge residents who meet the criteria above to be cautious about attending any event that brings large groups of people together in a confined area.

We encourage everyone to make use of technology (FaceTime, video calls, and other tools) to stay in touch with senior community members. Isolation can be unhealthy, especially for elderly community members who live alone. Staying in touch can help people remain connected to their loved ones and their communities.

• A list of primary immune deficiencies is available from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases.: https://www.niaid.nih.gov/diseases-conditions/types-pidds

• A list of cardiovascular conditions is available from the Centers for Disease Control:

https://www.cdc.gov/heartdisease/other_conditions.htm

Common respiratory illnesses include: asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), chronic bronchitis, emphysema, lung cancer, cystic fibrosis, pneumonia, pleural effusion. Other factors that increase risk include: smoking, allergies and other respiratory illness.

— Large Events

On March 11, 2020, Oregon.gov posted that Governor Kate Brown announced the following measures to slow the spread of COVID-19: 

1. Large gatherings: All large gatherings over 250 people will be canceled statewide effective immediately for four weeks. A gathering is defined as any event in a space in which appropriate social distancing of a minimum of three feet cannot be maintained.

2. Schools: In addition to previous guidance issued on March 8, 2020 to keep schools open, all non-essential school-associated gatherings and group activities should be canceled — such as group parent meetings, field trips, and competitions: https://www.oregon.gov/ode/students-and-family/healthsafety/Pages/COVID19.aspx

3. Workplace: Recommended implementation of distancing measures including an increased physical space between employees in offices and worksites, limited in-person meetings, limited travel, and staggered work schedules where possible.

4. Long-Term Care and Assisted Living: Strict limitations announced this week by the Oregon Health Authority and Department of Human Services remain in place: https://www.oregon.gov/oha/ERD/Pages/New-guidance-long-term-care-facilities-limit-exposure-COVID-19.aspx

Oregon Health Authority (PHA) information

— What is novel coronavirus?

Novel coronavirus is a virus strain that has only spread in people since December 2019. Health experts are concerned because little is known about the new virus. It has the potential to cause severe illness and pneumonia in some people and there is not a treatment.

How does novel coronavirus spread?

Health experts are still learning the details about how this new coronavirus spreads. Other coronaviruses spread from an infected person to others through:

• The air by coughing and sneezing
• Close personal contact, such as touching or shaking hands
• Touching an object or surface with the virus on it, then touching your mouth, nose or eyes.

— How severe is novel coronavirus?

Experts are still learning about the range of illness from novel coronavirus. Reported cases have ranged from mild illness (similar to a common cold) to severe pneumonia that requires hospitalization. So far, death have been reported mainly in older adults who had other health conditions.

— What are the symptoms?

People who have been diagnosed with novel coronavirus have reported symptoms that may appear in as few as 2 days or as long as 14 days after exposure to the virus:

Fever

Cough

Difficulty breathing

— What should I do if I have symptoms?

Call your healthcare provider to identify the safest way to receive care. Let them know if you have traveled to an affected area within the last 14 days.

— Who is at risk for novel coronavirus?

Currently the risk to the general public is low. At this time, there are a small number of individual cases in the US. To minimize the risk of spread, health officials are working with healthcare providers to promptly identify and evaluate any suspected cases.

Travelers to and from certain areas of the world may be at increased risk. See wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel for the latest travel guidance from the CDC.

— How is novel coronavirus treated?

There are no medications specifically approved for coronavirus. Most people with mild coronavirus illness will recover on their own by drinking plenty of fluids, resting and taking pain and fever medications. However, some cases develop pneumonia and require medical care of hospitalization.

— How can I prevent from getting novel coronavirus?

If you are traveling overseas (to China but also other places) follow the CDC’s guidance: wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel.

Right now, the novel coronavirus has not been spreading widely in the United States, so there are no additional precautions recommended for the general public. Steps you can take to prevent spread of flu and the common cold will also help prevent coronavirus:

• Wash hands often with soap and water. If not available, use hand sanitizer
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth with unwashed hands
• Avoid contact with people who are sick
• Stay home while you are sick and avoid close contact with others
• Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue or sleeve when coughing or sneezing
• Currently, there are no vaccines available to prevent novel coronavirus infections.