10th Douglas County Resident Dies of Covid-19; County Announces 17 New Cases

A 62-year-old Douglas County woman passed away yesterday from the Covid-19 virus. Also, 17 new cases were just announced for Douglas County today. (15 confirmed positive, 2 presumptive). Here is an update from DPHN and Dr. Bob Dannenhoffer. Before we get to a third day with a spike in local cases, we wanted to share this special announcement from Dr. Bob Dannenhoffer, our Douglas County Public Health Official: “Please stay home if you are sick, feeling sick or not fully recovered from being sick! This means not only staying home from work and school, but also staying home from all other activities and social events. Please, if you are sick, do not attend birthday parties, weddings, poker nights, prayer groups, church or go work out at the gym. What I've noticed in the last several large local outbreaks are people who were sick, and still went to school, work, poker club and dinner parties. A case in point: A local student was sick and went back to school before she was better. Had she waited a few days, she would have lost 3 or 4 days of school, but her class would not have been impacted. Unfortunately, she went to school and exposed 40 others. Now, those 40 others will need to be quarantined for 2 weeks and will miss a total of 760 days away from activity. In addition, those 40 families will need to take time away from work, school and activities to care for them. So, the economic impact of going back to school or work before you are well is enormous.” Douglas County COVID-19 Test Results: The Douglas County COVID-19 Response Team continues to focus on our local COVID-19 response. As of 12:00 pm today, Thursday, November 5, 2020, there are FIFTEEN (15) people with new positive test results, TWO new presumptives and our TENTH COVID related death since our noon case update yesterday*. The total number of cases (people with positive test results and presumptive) in Douglas County is now at 428*. Currently, there are FOUR Douglas County COVID-19 patients that are being hospitalized locally. Currently, DPHN is supporting 78 cases in isolation, as well as another 389 contacts in quarantine in Douglas County. Isolation is recommended for confirmed and presumptive cases, quarantine is recommended for contacts of confirmed or presumptive cases. Currently, staff is supporting an astonishing 467 total contacts in isolation/quarantine. This number represents a snapshot of the significant amount of work being done by our county and our public health to help control the spread of COVID-19. Tenth COVID-19 Related Death of a Douglas County Resident Our Douglas County Public Health Officer, Dr. Robert Dannenhoffer, has confirmed the death of our tenth Douglas County resident from the COVID-19 virus. Our tenth COVID related death is a 62-year-old woman who passed away yesterday, Wednesday, November 4, 2020, in Roseburg, Oregon. She tested positive for COVID-19 upon being admitted to the hospital on October 14, 2020. In the interest of privacy for the individual’s loved ones, no additional information will be released. Each death related to COVID-19 is painful for all Douglas County residents, and a reminder of the terrible impact COVID-19 has had in our local communities. The Douglas County Board of Commissioners, Dr. Dannenhoffer, DPHN staff and the DCCRT Team extend our heartfelt condolences and sympathies to all family members, friends, relatives, co-workers and community members of those who have passed after contracting this deadly virus. “We are saddened by the death of another Douglas County resident to this deadly virus. On behalf of my family, my fellow Board of Commissioners, Dr. Dannenhoffer, DPHN staff and the DCCRT team, we send our sincere condolences and prayers to all the family members and friends,” commented Commissioner Tim Freeman. “Over the last three days we have reported 38 new cases and 2 deaths. Clearly, this should be a wakeup call for all of our residents! Please, we encourage everyone to stay safe, stay home if you are sick, wash your hands, keep your distance from others and protect your friends, family, coworkers and classmates from getting sick!”