Oregon Gov. Kate Brown announced Friday a statewide two-week “freeze” that includes limiting restaurants and bars to takeout only and shuttering gyms, indoor and outdoor recreational facilities. The freeze, which will be in effect from November 18th through December 2nd, aims to limit group activities and reduce the spread of COVID-19. The state is experiencing a spike in daily case counts and reached record daily highs in confirmed cases and positivity rates in November. On Friday, Governor Brown along with California Governor Gavin Newsome and Jay Inslee of Washington issued travel advisories urging residents to avoid non-essential travel out-of-state and asking people to self-quarantine for 14 days after arriving from another state or country.
***
What effect will the Governor’s Covid 19 Pause have on area schools. Siuslaw School Superintendent Andy Grisgowiak doesn’t expect a big impact. The Siuslaw schools will be continuing forward with limited in-person instruction planning and implementation over the next few weeks. The Superintendent said The only unique piece for schools from the Governor’s press conference is the request for individuals to self-isolate after travel out of state for recreation or tourism. At preliminary entry screening, people will be on the honor system for self-reporting travel out of state and then self-isolating as per the Governor’s request. And then all of this would change if the request became an executive order or the directives broadened to include K-12 schools.
***
COVID-19 claimed 6 more lives in Oregon on Friday including a Lane County man and two more Sunday raising the state’s death toll to 761. Saturday morning the OHA reported 1,097 new cases with 868 new cases reported Sunday bringing t he state total to 56,880 cases as of yesterday. The greater Florence Area has had a total of 38 cases out of Lane County’s 3236. Lane County has now suffered 35 deaths, reports there are currently 292 infected and 15 are hospitalized.
***
The 2020 Friday the 13th Storm caused damage to power lines through out Central Lincoln PUD’s 700 square mile district. Approximately 3000 customers lost power for more than two days as crews worked around the clock to get power back on. As of last night most of the utility district’s customers had power restored with approximately 141 customers still without power in Lane County.
***
November 15th, Tax Day 2020 fell on Sunday, so property owners have an extra day to get their payments into the taxation office. Lane County’s official drop box in Florence is in front of the Florence Justice Center, the same box you dropped your ballots into two weeks ago. If you choose to make your payments in three installments the next will be due on February 15th and the final on May 15th.
***
Siuslaw Valley Fire and Rescue are collecting toys for the 3rd annual Marine Corp Toys For Tots to be held in Florence, according to Pete “Boa” Warren with Siuslaw Valley Fire and Rescue,
“ The Marines will be bringing two trucks of Toys in on December 8th. Right now I have boxes at the front door of the Siuslaw Valley Fire and Rescue, as well as, at BiMart and for the first time True Value has boxes this year.”
Because of Covid 19, Warren says the need has grown, parents and guardians will need to register in advance at the Eugene Toys For Tots website.
“They, by registering, it basically secure them a place where they can actually get the toys. It also ensures that someone can’t go and get then at a different place and get toys so it you are registered hau have one shot at it and that’s that.”
Parents and guardians must provide proof of residency in Lane County, proof the child lives with you and proof of the child’s age. Last year’s Marine Corp’s Toys for Tots campaign supplied over 30 thousand toys for Lane County Children. The Florence Toys for Tots give away will be on Tuesday December 8th at the Siuslaw Valley Fire and Rescue Main Station, 26th and Highway 101. Register online at Eugene dash OR dot Toys for Tots dot org
***
