No Booster…Yet
If you are fully vaccinated against the coronavirus the Oregon Health Authority says it is too early to know if a booster shot is needed for the Delta Variant of the virus. The OHA is joining the CDC and the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices and recommending that the current guidelines are sufficient to protect individuals from the new strain. Currently the OHA is reporting that 5% of new cases are the Delta Variant and there were two confirmed cases for Lane County in this week’s report. After several weeks of decline the OHA is reporting that last week showed a sharp increase in cases and hospitalizations while deaths reported declined. Last week’s case numbers were 11% higher than the previous week and hospitalizations rose almost 60%. The positive test rate was .5% higher than the previous week to 3.4%. Health Authorities are closely watching the trend as other states are showing signs of a possible 4th wave of the virus. New cases for Lane County were 11 yesterday and no new cases reported for the Florence area.
IRC Needs Volunteers
Lane County’s Independent Redistricting Committee (IRC) is still looking for applications. Only six applications have been submitted for a 15-member committee plus three alternates. The deadline is coming up this Friday, July 16. Lane County is required to evaluate and update the boundaries for Lane County commissioner districts every 10 years, according to its Home Rule Charter. Each commissioner selects one committee member and the five members select the remaining ten members. The IRC is responsible for submitting between two and four redistricting options to the Board of County Commissioners before the end of October. The last redistricting effort was completed in 2011. Applications are available at www.LaneCountyOR.gov/IRC.
Jack Fire Update
In communities east of Glide the Douglas County Sheriff’s department is reporting significant progress against the Jack Fire burning there. Sgt. Brad Odell says threat levels to homes in the area have diminished but residents in the area are encouraged to keep monitoring media sources in the area. The fire has been burning for the last 10 days and is currently 20% contained. According to the Oregon Department of Forestry the land involved in the fire is 100% Forest Service Managed Land.
Lane County Fair
In the Wake of the COVID-19 pandemic the Lane County Fair will go on as scheduled. The Fair begins on Wednesday July 21st and the fair has announced a concert line up which begins on Wednesday with the Marshall Tucker Band, Big and rich on Thursday and Jefferson Starship on Friday. Saturday’s Nelly concert is already reportedly sold out. Sunday finishes the fair and the concert lineup with Carly Pearce.
