First Coronavirus Case Identified in Douglas County

DOUGLAS COUNTY, Ore. - Health officials in Douglas County have identified a presumptive positive case of the novel coronavirus, COVID-19. Dr. Bob Dannenhoffer, the County’s Public Health Officer says the affected individual, a resident of Douglas County, is medically stable. It is believed that the Douglas County case was from community spread. Oregon announced 7 new cases Statewide Sunday morning including 5 new cases in Washington County, 1 in Marion County and 1 in Douglas County. Gov Kate Brown also declared a State of Emergency. This increases the identified cases in Oregon to 14 cases. The Douglas Public Health Network and the Douglas County Board of Commissioners have been engaged with multiple partners for the past month and will continue to work collaboratively. These partners include the Douglas County Emergency Manager, local hospitals, healthcare workers, emergency medical services, the Oregon Health Authority and Oregon Office of Emergency Management. Residents can take everyday precautions to prevent the spread of many respiratory illnesses, including COVID-19 and influenza by taking note of the following: Stay home while you are sick. Never visit a hospital or long-term-care facility if you have a fever or cough illness. Cover your coughs and sneezes with a tissue and then throw the tissue in the trash. Wash your hands often with soap and water for 20 seconds. If soap and water are not readily available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol. Avoid close contact with people who are sick. Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth with unwashed hands. Clean and disinfect surfaces that are often touched. Take care of your health overall. Staying current on your vaccinations, including flu vaccine, eating well and exercising all help your body stay resilient. Consult CDC’s travel website for any travel advisories and steps to protect yourself if you plan to travel outside of the US. Residents who would like more information on COVID-19 can call 211 or visit the Oregon Health Authority www.oregon.gov/oha or the Center for Disease Control www.cdc.gov