Some Businesses Succeed Despite Pandemic; Burn Ban Extended; COVID-19 Numbers Declining; Other Variants Being Observed

Some Businesses Succeed Despite Pandemic

Florence businesses are reporting a better than normal September even in the midst of a pandemic that has caused many businesses to scramble for help and for supplies.  Jay Cable at the Bridgeport market and wine shop said that September surpassed even his September of two years ago before the pandemic hit.  Scott Weiss from the beachcomber says he saw a much earlier summer rush than normal attributing to better sales all while having problems getting supplies.

“It was great to have really, really busy times after having so many challenges prior to but it created a lot of other challenges when it comes to staffing and supplier shortages.”

Weiss said they had to shut down for their breakfasts and trim the menus to only include their most popular items.  He says the supply chain broke down.

“Many of the suppliers have the same issues we have, their shorthanded with people and they don’t have the raw ingredients to make the things that we need.”

In addition to staffing and supplies many businesses had to close from time to time to battle COVID-19 infections that caused closings during peak periods over the summer.

Burn Ban Extended

Normally October 1st signifies the return to outdoor burning, but for the past several years it has been determined that it is too dry.  This year is no exception. Even with the recent rains along the coast and in the valley the Lane Regional Air Protection Agency has announced the moving of the opening to the outdoor burn season to October 15th.  the Lane County Fire Defense Board and the Oregon Department of Forestry is reporting a dryer than normal beginning to October and depending on the conditions over the next two weeks it could even be extended further.  Conditions can be monitored at lrapa.org.

COVID-19 Numbers Declining

There has been one new cases of COVID-19 reported in the Florence area as Lane County reports one of its lowest numbers in weeks.  Lane county Public Health released a number of 106 new cases.  Numbers are currently showing a downward trend in the county even as hospital numbers increase.  Statewide it is a different picture according to the Oregon Health Authority numbers.  The OHA is showing a decrease in hospitalizations across the state and new case numbers are also declining.  The OHA is even reporting positive case results have decreased by 10% over the previous week.  There were 2,011 new COVID-19 cases reported yesterday by the OHA

Other Variants Being Observed

The Delta Variant of the coronavirus is the one that is most concerning to health authorities, but it is not the only strain out there that health officials are watching.  There are currently 10 different strains that the OHA is monitoring in addition to Delta.  Currently there is not much concern over these strains and the Delta is the one that health officials consider a Variant of Concern.