Rescinding of Mask Mandate Moves One Week Closer
The Governor’s of Washington, California and Oregon have agreed to simultaneously lift their mask mandate to indoor spaces, this means that Oregon will be moving up its release from March 19th to march 12th. While the statewide mandate governing masks will be lifted, Dr. Dean Sidelinger with the Oregon Health Authority said that some communities may decide to continue mask requirements in some situations based on hospital numbers and CDC recommendations in their areas.
“And that we can confidently lift the statewide mask requirement including in k-12 schools across the entire state with some communities still seeing higher impacts in their health care system potentially making different decisions and we urge them to look at the CDC community levels in making those decisions.”
Locally in Florence the community health direction has mainly come from Lane County Public Health in the absence of a local community health agency. Overall Lane County COVID-19 numbers have been decreasing and Jason Davis with LCPH has indicated that the Florence area is seeing the same percentages of decreases. As for the K-12 recommendations, Siuslaw School Superintendent Andy Grzeskowiak said that superintendents will be meeting again with the Oregon Department of Education and the Oregon Health Authority on Wednesday as they now have to consider the updates and changes made to prepare for the March 12th date.
Sign Ordinance Sets Off Argument
There was an apparent altercation between some climate activists and City of Florence representatives on Friday February 25th. In an email chain begun by Patricia Allen she wrote that the Florence Climate Emergency Campaign, who has been protesting for several years the city’s decision not to make an official declaration recognizing the importance of Climate Change, was bullied by city employees when told they were in violation of right of way laws during their protests. Code Enforcement Officer Dan Frazier and Senior Planner Roxanne Johnston informed the group of the violation using tactics that Allen said were bullying and intimidating in nature. However a subsequent email from a member of the climate group characterized the exchange as a mutual confrontational situation exacerbated by Mike Allen a member of the group. Who, according to Marla Morine, was considerably argumentative and confrontational. According to Morine, Allen also made accusations on Facebook that Frazier was a member of a white nationalist’s organization. Assistant city Manager Megan Messmer told Coast Radio that the incident was not about Mr. Allen’s accusations or comments, but about City Code relating to signage and the blocking of public right of way. Messmer said the group was not cited, but made aware of the requirements that must be met if they continue to protest. City Code FCC 4-7-8 prohibits the erection of temporary signs on public property or in the public right of way.
Cases Continue to Reduce Across Lane County
The daily average of cases of COVID-19 per 100,000 residents in Lane County continues to plummet even after weekend number were posted yesterday. The case totals per 100,000 have fallen to 120.9 for a 7 day average and was at 99 for a single day total in Monday’s report. The daily average of COVID-19 cases for Lane County is down to 66. The numbers are the lowest they have been since before December 16th of last year. There are currently 52 individuals hospitalized in Lane County. The Florence Area has recorded 1475 total cases since the pandemic began 2 years ago. Which is 5 more cases since Friday. One of the considerations of the new numbers is the introduction of at home testing kits provided by the federal government to individuals at their homes. While the kits do recommend sharing the information with health authorities, it is a choice by individuals.
Hospitalizations Drop Below 500
OHA is reporting that the number of hospitalizations continues to drop with under 500 beds being currently utilized by COVID-19 patients across the state. Weekend totals for COVID-19 were at 1694. Vaccination rates for new shots and boosters are dropping with the state’s 7 day average under 4,000 per day.