Oregon Coronavirus Update for Friday March 27

98 new coronavirus cases announced in Oregon today for a total of 414. That is about a 30% increase in cases in the past day. Some of this is due to the natural increase in cases (they double every 4 days or so) and also increased testing that’s been taking place. The state’s 12th death linked to the illness, an 82-year-old Marion County woman who died Wednesday at Salem Hospital. There are now known coronavirus cases linked to 24 of Oregon’s 36 counties. Douglas County latest numbers: Positive Cases 4, Deaths 0 Update from DPHN: Douglas Public Health Network hosted another COVID-19 drive-through clinic today, Friday, March 27, at the Douglas County Fairgrounds. They anticipate conducting another 45 tests today. Residents that were tested were identified by their health care provider, as a patient that is symptomatic, and needed to be tested. They presented their test order at the drive- thru clinic, their specimen was collected and will be flown to a Quest Lab for processing. Results will be sent back in about a week to their physician or health care provider that ordered the test. Those tested are asked to please self-quarantine at home and continue to quarantine for 72 hours after symptoms subside. At this time, you can only get a COVID-19 test through your healthcare provider. Information has been given to providers and clinics about how to get their patients signed up for the drive-through testing process. Tests are currently being processed at the Oregon State Public Health Lab and a growing number of commercial labs, like Quest and LabCorp. There are very few outpatient clinics in Douglas County offering testing at this time. Community health partners are working very hard to make testing available to a wider number of people. The first drive thru testing site was piloted in the county on March 17. “This is the most critical time for us to continue to try to contain this with social distancing. It may seem like this is dying down but it’s actually the calm before the storm.” Dr. Bob Dannenhoffer, Douglas Public Health Officer President Signs Coronavirus Relief Bill Today, President Donald Trump signed the CARES Act (Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act), a $2 trillion coronavirus aid bill, after it passed the House this afternoon and flew through the Senate yesterday. The bill represents the largest emergency relief package in U.S. history. Click here to read the full text of the stimulus bill. This legislation will result in sweeping actions including the following: Direct payments of $1,200 to individual U.S. residents with a Social Security number who earn up to $75,000 annually, plus $500 per child. Married couples with joint incomes of up to $150,000 will receive payments of $2,400.  $350 billion in SBA loans will be available to small businesses through local banks and credit unions. Businesses applying for a loan will be eligible for an emergency grant of up to $10,000.  $100 billion in emergency assistance will go toward hospitals on the front lines of the pandemic  Unemployment benefits are expanded: Eligible workers will receive an extra $600 per week on top of their state benefit. Self- employed individuals including freelancers, gig workers and independent contractors will be newly eligible for unemployment benefits. Part-time workers will also be eligible for benefits. Benefits will be extended by 13 weeks.  Payments on student loans held by the federal government will be suspended until Sept. 30. Student loan interest will be waived during that time period. Feed it Forward Movement: Feed a family or our first responders. A local group has been working on a program with Aviva Health to help feed families in need for a few months, even before the coronavirus pandemic. They also wanted to include first responders. You can contribute online or in person. You can also contribute in person at Loggers Tap House in Roseburg, OR. Just let them know if you want it to go toward a family or a first responder. $3 feeds one person, $6 feeds 2, and $10 feeds a family of 4. Loggers is not making a profit from this activity. Contribute as little or as much as you like. As funds come in, they will work with their local community partners to find those in need. To contribute online click here: https://www.gofundme.com/f/feed-it-forward-pizza-for-families-amp-responders An excellent site to keep track of Coronavirus cases across the United States https://coronavirus.1point3acres.com/en An excellent site to keep track of Coronavirus cases across the World https://www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/