Sean Morgan and Scott Swanson
The effects of the coronavirus hit Sweet Home hard going into last weekend as schools and agencies shut down in-person services to the public and residents scrambled to stock up on supplies. Events were canceled and some churches decided not to meet.
Sweet Home schools are closed for the next 2 and a half weeks, and this week began with a variety of municipal services closed to public access.
During the past week, the Oregon Health Authority and the Oregon Department of Veterans Affairs reported 14 positive tests associated with the Oregon Veterans Home in Lebanon, including 13 residents and one staff member.
The Oregon Health Authority reported a eight new cases Monday morning and a total of 47 people who have been diagnosed with the COVID-19 coronavirus.
One infected person has died in Multnomah County.
Monday’s announcement included two cases each in Benton and Deschutes counties and one each in Clackamas, Marion, Multnomah and Washington counties.
As The New Era went to press, Sweet Home had no publicly confirmed cases of COVID-19.
On Friday President Trump announced a national emergency and later took the additional step of proclaiming Sunday, March 15, as a national day of prayer for those affected by the “unique challenges” of the coronavirus pandemic and “for added wisdom, comfort and strength, and we must especially pray for those who have suffered harm or who have lost loved ones.
“As your president, I ask you to pray for the health and well-being of your fellow Americans and to remember that no problem is too big for God to handle.”
Gov. Kate Brown Monday ordered a statewide cancellation of all events and gatherings larger than 25 people, with an exemption for essential locations like workplaces, grocery stores, pharmacies and retail stores.
Restaurants, bars and other establishments that offer food or beverages are restricted to carry-out and delivery only with no on-site consumption permitted, under the order. Food service at healthcare facilities, workplaces and other essential facilities will continue.
Brown urged businesses to assess their practices, implement social distancing measures and close their doors temporarily if they cannot put the new guidance into place.
The governor’s Coronavirus Economic Advisory Council was scheduled to convene Tuesday to examine ways to mitigate the adverse effects on Oregon’s economy.
The local outbreak was first reported March 11 when officials said two OVH residents had tested positive for the virus.
Kelly Fitzpatrick, director of the Oregon Veterans Department, said “several” OVH residents showed “symptoms” late Sunday, March 8, and were tested for influenza and RSV, a virus that causes cold-like symptoms. When those tests came back negative for the two veterans, they were tested for COVID-19.
Meanwhile, she said, staff continued to care for sick residents in isolation.
Dr. Bill Muth, an infectious disease and internal medicine physician who is the Linn County Health Department’s Health Officer, said that, after watching the virus pop up in other areas of the Willamette Valley, “I was not entirely surprised that cases were discovered in the Oregon Veterans Home.
“The COVID-19 pandemic is upon us.”
Six more cases among residents at OVH were reported Friday, followed by two more over the weekend.
Two more cases reported over the weekend were a resident, the ninth to be diagnosed with the disease, and an employee of the facility.
The employee was sent home when symptoms appeared and has remained in isolation ever since, in accordance with established infection prevention protocols and public health guidelines, according to the Oregon Health Authority, which is leading the state response to the coronavirus.
Oregon Department of Veterans’ Affairs is working closely with OHA to coordinate and prioritize testing for residents and staff at the Oregon Veterans’ Home in Lebanon, according to the OHA.
Monday the the Oregon Department of Veterans’ Affairs reported that four more residents tested positive.
“Protecting our dedicated staff, along with our residents, has always been the highest priority. All infectious disease control precautions were, and continue to be, taken to mitigate the spread,” Fitzpatrick said. “I cannot speak highly enough of the herculean efforts these staff members have taken to continue to provide exceptional care to our honored residents even before this outbreak. They are truly going above and beyond, and all efforts are being made by ODVA, our state agency partners, and our Linn County partners to support them in their critical work.”
The COVID-19 virus spreads like the flu, when someone who is sick coughs or sneezes close to another person (close means within about 6 feet). No group of people is more likely to get COVID-19 or spread it to others.
“I know it’s difficult to learn that we are seeing more active community spread of COVID-19, but this is something we’ve been expecting,” said Dr. Dean Sidelinger, State Health Officer and epidemiologist with the OHA Public Health Division. “It’s a good reminder to take steps to protect yourself, and vulnerable friends and family members, by washing your hands, covering your coughs and sneezes, and staying home and away from others if you’re sick.”
Officials continue to urge all Oregonians to take steps to protect themselves, their families, and those who are most vulnerable to complications from COVID-19. Those considered “high risk” include adults 60 and older, or anyone with a serious health condition, including lung or heart problems, kidney disease, diabetes, or anyone who has a suppressed immune system.
People vulnerable to complications are advised to follow federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommendations to stay home as much as possible and avoid gatherings (see accompanying graphic).
The threat of the disease has had a wide-ranging impact in Sweet Home.
Linn County
The Linn County Board of Commissioners Monday declared a state of emergency.
“The declaration was for the purposes of allowing costs to agencies as a result of coronavirus to be reimbursed,” said Chairman Roger Nyquist. County facilities, including the courthouse and parks, remained open to the public Monday, but “things are evolving as we speak.”
The governor’s limits on crowds will affect the Fair and Expo Center, he said. “Policy makers at the state and federal level seem to change position by the hour, and we’re trying to keep up.”
Sweet Home City and Community Agencies
City officials announced Thursday morning they were shutting down some operations to the public.
City Hall, the Police Department and Municipal Court window remained open Monday during normal business hours. The library was closed. Public Works was closed to the public but still functioning.
Parks remain open as well. All passport photo appointments have been canceled. Court has been canceled through the end of April.
City staff, which number some 63 people, are following CDC recommended cleaning and disinfecting protocols, with a focus on the safety and well-being of community members and employees.
“With two confirmed COVID-19 cases within Linn County, the City of Sweet Home is activating our TIER II response plan,” the city said in a statement Thursday morning. “Tier II includes efforts to decrease human-to-human contact. While current reports indicate the majority of the population will be relatively unaffected, those over the age of 60 are at an increased risk if they contract the virus.
“Our focus is on the safety and well-being of our community members and employees,” the city said in a statement. “We will strive to help keep people informed on issues related to prevention, warnings and changes to city operations.
“We’re not trying to be alarmist,” said Blair Larsen, city development director, shortly after the closures were decided upon. “We’re just trying to take prudent measures to limit human contact because word is that’s best preventative measure we can take at this time. We’re still hoping to handle everyone’s needs. We’re doing as much business electronically as possible.”
The city is asking people to limit their own access to city facilities, said City Manager Ray Towry.
At this point, city staff are sanitizing facilities two to three times a day, he said.
“We are begging community members, if they have been exposed to someone who has been exposed to someone who has tested positive for coronavirus or are showing any symptoms or signs to not come to City Hall,” Towry said. He urged members of the public to “be cognizant of the people around you and the people you’ve had contact with.”
The city is attempting to restore some library service, Towry said, and staff members were working out the details Monday.
The plan is to develop a curbside service while the library is closed to allow patrons to pick up materials, Towry said, but the city wants to protect staff from exposure.
City staff are working on a way to conduct the City Council’s regular meeting on March 24 electronically, Towry said. The public will be able to log in with a computer or phone and have the ability to interact.
If the city is unable to make that work, Towry said, then staff will figure something else out.
Sweet Home Schools
Sweet Home schools continued operations on Friday, but beginning Monday, March 16, Sweet Home School District closed until April 1, following Brown’s orders on Thursday.
Both East Linn Christian Academy and Sweet Home Charter School also are closed.
In the meantime, essential staff and 12-month classified are continuing to work in Sweet Home schools. That includes administrators, 12-month secretaries, the food services crew and the facilities crew. Other secretaries are working two days this week.
The staff are busy cleaning all of the district’s facilities and buses, Yahraes said, and the district is serving lunch to students this week at the loading dock at Sweet Home High School and at Foster Elementary School.
The district provided more than 150 lunches at SHHS and 56 at Foster Monday.
The lunch menu was a peanut butter and jelly sandwich and a cheese stick with apples and carrots with ranch dressing, said Food Service Supervisor Milli Horton. The sack lunch also included breakfast for the following day, including juice, milk and yogurt.
“Tomorrow, it’ll be a little different,” Horton said. “We’re set. We can do this. We’re ready to feed kids. Bring it on.”
The food services crew will continue providing lunch throughout the closure.
“I am working with regional superintendents and the Department of Education to gain additional guidance regarding how we proceed through the rest of the year,” Yahraes said. At this point, students will miss five instructional days. That’s just a little more than the number snow days in the past couple of years.
A relatively normal school year “is achievable” at this point, Yahraes said. “However, if this gets protracted, we’re getting into new territory.”
If the governor keeps schools closed longer, the district will need to start looking at distance learning, Yahraes said.
On March 25 and March 26, the governor is supposed to do another assessment of school closures, Yahraes said.
During the closure, all athletics and activities are canceled.
“Schools are critical institutions that provide important services for all our students, but especially our most vulnerable, and during this crisis I have worked hard to ensure those critical services continue,” Brown said in a public announcement Thursday morning. “So many of our families depend on school in order for parents to go to their jobs, and for students to access health care and receive nutrition assistance.”
She acknowledged that the steps she ordered would not stop the virus.
“I want to be very clear,” the governor said. “Sending Oregon children home will not stop the spread of the coronavirus. While children are home, when at all possible, they should not be in the care of older adults or those with underlying health issues that are most at-risk from COVID-19.
“This is a trying time for our community and I am reluctant to increase the burden on families who are already struggling to adapt to and stay healthy during this crisis. However, we are left with little choice in light of school districts’ staff capacity and operational concerns. I want to thank all of the teachers and school employees who have worked hard to keep our schools open until now.
“I have heard from superintendents, school board members, teachers, parents and students that it has now become impossible to functionally operate schools due to workforce issues and student absences. Schools are experiencing critical shortages in staff, and superintendents are concerned for school personnel who are at elevated risk such as those over age 60 and those with underlying medical issues.”
Yahraes said he appreciated the spirit of cooperation he’s seen from the district personnel and the public.
“I wish to thank students, parents, staff, and community members for your support and patience in these quickly changing times,” he said. “In following the guidance from the Oregon Health Authority, these measures are intended to help protect the most vulnerable populations and keep our students, families, and staff as safe and healthy as possible.”
How long the closures last will depend on what happens in coming weeks, officials said.
“We are in close communication with school districts across the state, and they will be communicating regularly with their school communities throughout the closure period,” said Colt Gill, director of the Oregon Department of Education. “Due to the evolving nature of this crisis, these timelines will be reevaluated in late March in consultation with school administrators.”
During the closure, Brown said, school districts are directed to develop plans for returning to school that accommodate ongoing impacts of coronavirus. Staff should utilize the final two days of March to finalize plans for operating schools under updated measures, with students expected to return on April 1.
Districts are tasked with developing plans to continue nutrition services during the closure.
The Oregon Department of Education will examine the impact the closure will have on instructional time.
School districts will ensure adequate cleaning supplies for increased cleaning protocols following the closure.
The Early Learning Division will support child care programs and will work to identify resources to support child care needs for the most vulnerable families, as well as health care professionals and first responders.
Chamber Banquet Postponed
The Chamber of Commerce announced Thursday morning that its awards banquet, scheduled for Saturday, March 14, was being postponed indefinitely.
Chamber President George Medellin said officials were pondering their options when the city made its move.
He said the banquet will be rescheduled “once this thing dies down.”
“I have no idea,” he said of when that might be. “We will see what happens on the city and state level. We will try to schedule it with enough notice so we can have as many people there as possible.”
Sweet Home Senior Center/
Meals on Wheels
Senior Center Director Ken Bronson said that facility is also being shut down until further notice, although meals will be prepared on Wednesdays and distributed on a take-out basis.
Meals on Wheels, which are normally served at the Senior Center on Mondays, Tuesdays and Fridays, as well as delivered by volunteers throughout the community, will be delivered; but the dining room will be closed.
Those who regularly dine at one of its neighborhood dining sites were provided a take-home meal when they arrived on Friday. Diners are able now to return to regular meal sites between 11 a.m. and noon to pick up “to-go” meals.
MOW home hand-to-hand deliveries have been suspended and volunteers and clients are asked to keep a six-foot distance from each other, according to the Cascade West Council of Governments, which runs the program.
Volunteers who have a cough or have symptoms of the flu are asked to stay at home rather than risk exposing homebound seniors.
“We want to ensure the safety of our employees, participants, and our volunteers,” said MOW Program Supervisor Anita Lengacher. “Because we work with a population that is more vulnerable to the effects of the coronavirus, we are being especially vigilant in light of the current environment.”
College and Universities
Universities and colleges, including Oregon State University, the University of Oregon, COMP-Northwest medical school, and across the state suspended in-class final exams and switched to distance learning, which will continue into April.
Linn-Benton Community College announced that all LBCC locations and facilities will remain open, but that finals week exams and activities would be “delivered remotely, where possible.”
Where remote testing is not possible, maximum “social distancing” measures – maintaining a distance of at least 3 feet from others – would be utilitzed. Exams that must be held in-person would be relocated, if possible, to locations where room capacity is three times the number of people registered to take that test, LBCC said.
For the first two weeks of the spring term, all credit courses, labs, and exams will be delivered remotely, where possible, when possible at the time they were originally scheduled. Where remote teaching, coursework and testing is not possible, maximum social distancing measures will be utilized.
The school ended non-essential travel and events involving 50 or more people through April 10.
The college is postponing all community education classes, and adult skills classes will begin April 13.
Rio Theatre
Owner Thomas Baham was attempting to keep the Rio Theatre open this week and planning how to do that Monday.
He said he cannot afford to shut down for what he thinks could be three months. If he did, the Rio would close for good.
The theater has the space to allow up to 50 people to sit spread out, and the recliners at the Roxy screen allow social distancing already.
He said there is an exemption to restrictions on crowds if there is enough space to spread out.
The Rio staff will be on the lookout for and ask people if they’ve had symptoms prior to purchasing tickets. If so, the Rio will ask them not to enter.
“The city has been reaching out trying to figure out what they can do to help me,” Baham said. The truth is, it’s just “cold, hard cash” that the business needs.
“We bailed out the banks a few years back,” Baham said. “Let the banks bail us out.”
For at least the next three months, he suggested they suspend payments and interest accrual for businesses affected by the coronavirus. He thinks the same should apply for homeowners and renters who cannot work thanks to restrictions.
While the Rio attempts to remain open, Baham said it is showing “Onward” and “I Still Believe.” No new movies are being released at this point, so he will likely bring back older films the Rio has not had yet.
Eateries
With the governor’s order closing on-site meals, The Point Restaurant owner Mike Hall said his business would remain open Monday, but starting Tuesday, the restaurant would begin providing food to go and delivering, he said. He was still working out the details Monday and advised people to watch social media for updates.
A&W planned to make to-go orders and deliver beginning Tuesday.
“The last weekend was off about 30 percent,” said owner Josh Hankins. “Without all of the events (like ball games) going on to get people out and about, we definitely noticed.”
Hankins said he was watching the governor closely Sunday evening when she started talking about closing restaurants then backed off before deciding to move forward with the closures.
“We can still do to-go orders,” Hankins said. “That works out fairly well.”
Other Impacts
– Some local churches, including Community Chapel, Elm Street Baptist Church and Hope Church did not hold services at their physical locations Sunday, though some offered online ministry links. Churches that did meet included Cornerstone, which also streamed its services, the Evangelical Church, Hillside Fellowship, Holley Christian, Sweet Home Christian Church and St. Helen Catholic.
– Hours at Sweet Home Liquor store have been halved, from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Saturday, due to the coronavirus, owner James Risinger said.
He said the shortened hours of operation will “limit the person-to-person spread of the virus to our customers” and will protect staff, increasing the chances the store will remain open.
“If we get sick or quarantined, then this store must close completely,” Risinger said. “That’s a situation I really, really want to avoid.”
In addition, he said, staff will wear masks and gloves as precautionary measures, and counters, cooler and entry doors, and credit machine surfaces every 30 minutes.
– The SamCare Mobile Medicine unit has been diverted to another location for at least the remainder of March and will not make bi-weekly stops in Sweet Home.
The mobile health clinic typically visits every other Tuesday during the Manna Meals program at Sweet Home United Methodist Church. It operates as a walk-in clinic and treating people on a first-come, first-served basis, staffed by Samaritan health care providers who can offer patients much of what they would find in a standard brick-and-mortar clinic. It also has been providing mental health care once a month, on the last Friday of the month.
– The Sweet Home Rotary Club’s Speech Contest, which would have been held Tuesday, March 17, has been canceled.
“This is very unfortunate,” said organizer Larry Horton Friday evening. “I know the two students, Meagan Baham and Andra Gordon, have spent a great deal of time preparing for this competition. I just received notification this morning from our Rotary district governor that the entire district conference, scheduled for May 2, has also been canceled. This was where the final speech competition would have been held. With that and the closure of all schools until April, it does not make sense nor is it prudent to hold the speech contest this year.”
– The Oregon Jamboree’s Mystery Concert, originally scheduled for April 2 at Oregon State University’s LaSells Stewart Center, has been rescheduled to June 17, Jamboree officials announced Friday.
– Sunshine Industries announced Friday it “will be aligning operations with the statewide school closures,” anticipating reopening on April 1. The organization serves disabled adults with job opportunities and education.
– The Willamette Valley Concert Band’s spring concert has been canceled due to the “venue being closed due to the coronavirus,” the band announced last week. The concert had been scheduled for March 21 at the Russell Tripp Performance Center at Linn-Benton Community College.
High School Sports Canceled Through March 31
The Oregon School Activities Association, which governs high school sports in the state, announced Thursday that it was suspending athletic contests immediately – and canceling the girls and boys basketball state tournaments, which were in progress. Dance/drill state championships scheduled for this weekend, which included Sweet Home’s Huskiettes, were canceled as well.
Then the OSAA announced Friday it was suspending all practices and contests for sports and activities for all member schools through March 31.
“During this suspension we will evaluate this evolving public health situation with the Oregon Health Authority, the Oregon Department of Education, the OSAA Executive Board, the OSAA Sports Medicine Advisory Committee and member school administrators from throughout the state to determine when, or if, to resume the spring season,” the OSAA said in a statement.
Sweet Home High School Athletic Director Nate Tyler said he’s told coaches they can’t have any contact with athletes, per OSAA’s instructions.
He said Oregon West Conference athletic directors were planning to meet Tuesday to discuss their options.
“We’ll start putting a plan in place if we can come back on the 1st or come back later,” Tyler said. “We’ll try to figure that stuff out.”
Given the NCAA’s decision to end winter athletic seasons – without playoffs, in some cases such as men’s and women’s basketball, Tyler said it’s been “tough” for sports fans.
“This is the best time of the year for a sports fan,” he said. “March Madness and everything – gone.
“The (Sweet Home) athletes I’ve talked to are pretty frustrated. They understand the severity and the concerns, but they’re pretty aware. When they hear it’s not really affecting the younger populations, or if it does, it’s pretty mild, they wonder about that. It’s tough, that balance.”
Tyler said he and his Oregon West colleagues are planning to have a season at this point.
“We have athletes ready when we get the go-ahead.”
Coronavirus Defense Basics
Here are basic steps you can take to to protect yourself and those most at risk from contracting the COVID-19 coronavirus:
– Never visit a hospital or long-term-care facility if you have a fever or cough.
Cover your mouth and nose when you cough or sneeze.
– Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. Soap acts as a surfactant, a substance that helps release bacteria’s grip on your hands when water is added. Only a small amount of soap is necessary to do the job.
– Regularly clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces like bathrooms, desks, countertops, doorknobs, computer keyboards, faucet handles, toys and cell phones.
Avoid touching your eyes, nose, or mouth with unwashed hands.
Stay home and away from others if you are ill.
– After someone contracts COVID-19, illness usually develops within 14 days. Symptoms mirror those of the flu, including fever, cough, runny nose, headache, sore throat and general feelings of illness.
Information taken from: Oregon Health Authority