High Rates of COVID-19
Today was to be the day that the City of Florence celebrated the 25th anniversary of the Florence Events Center but an outdoor mask mandate from the state along with advisories about large gatherings from Lane County coupled with 78 new cases of the coronavirus in the area over the past 2 weeks scuttled it. Oregon, once a state that boasted low overall rates of infection, is now among several states that are experiencing the worst outbreaks of COVID-19. In its report yesterday the Oregon Health Authority repeated it case rate from its Monday report restating the exact same numbers. The one number it did update was the hospitalization number that grew by 63 yesterday bringing the total number to 1,000 individuals now in Oregon hospitals with COVID-19. The OHA is reporting that the “overwhelming majority of patients” in the hospital are unvaccinated. In Lane County there are 139 Covid-19 patients, 79 of those are Lane County Residents the other are from outside the region. Oregon is currently experiencing a 12.2% positivity rate for individuals tested.
Mask Mandate In Effect Friday
This Friday is the date that Governor Brown has set to put in effect a statewide mask mandate for for all outdoor public activities. The mandate includes large outdoor events where physical distancing is not possible. The order is for all individuals regardless of vaccination status. The OHA is also strongly recommending masking for outdoor gatherings at private residences when individuals from different households are present. Brown is citing the more contagious Delta Variant as the driving factor in this decision. she did say that fleeting encounters such as individuals passing by a trail or in a park do not require the donning of masks
Athletic Cancellations
Siuslaw High School Athletic Director Chris Johnson has made a decision about several upcoming athletic contests. In a short email yesterday Johnson reported the official cancelling of the season opener for Viking football against South Umpqua. Johnson also said that the Volleyball tournament scheduled for the weekend in Newport was cancelled along with the cancellation of the Country Fair Classic for Cross Country. As of 6:30 pm last night head Viking football coach, Sam Johnson said they had still not received official results from players that were retested on Monday.
Vaccinated Players Can Practice
Siuslaw School Superintendent Andy Grzeskowiak says the school will be offering a screening test for athletes in the football program that are vaccinated. Rules regarding vaccinated players and coaches allow for on-campus conditioning and other football related activities, but players must first provide proof of vaccination status and undergo a BinaxNOW Rapid COVID-19 test before resuming activities. He says vaccinated athletes do not need to isolate but should continue to monitor for symptoms over the next several days. Athletes that are unvaccinated will have to isolate for 14 days with a return to normal activities on September 3rd.
Surplus Sale: Reedsport
The City of Reedsport is planning a surplus sale on Friday, September 3rd for items like office furniture including desks and partitions along with a variety of electronic equipment and some bicycles and other miscellaneous items. The surplus sale will be at Compton Yard across from the Umpqua Discovery Center on Riverfront Way from 9am until 3pm. The city is not offering a preview of the items prior to the sale.
