A Veteran Becomes First in Oregon to Die from Coronavirus

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — A man in his 70s has become the first person in Oregon to die from the new coronavirus, the Oregon Health Authority said. 

The Multonomah County man who was hospitalized at the Portland Veterans Affairs Medical Center died Saturday,

"Although we knew this day would come, it does not make it any easier to learn of the first Oregonian to succumb to this illness –– an honored veteran who served his country to protect the freedoms we all hold dear," Gov. Kate Brown said.

“The loss of one life to this disease is too many. Already, thousands around the world have felt the pain that casts its shadow over one family here in Oregon.”

"Virus is in our community"

The man, who had underlying heath conditions, tested positive for COVID-19 on March 10, the authority said. He had no known contact to a confirmed case and had not traveled to a country where the virus is circulating.

“This is a sobering reminder that this virus is in our community and can be serious for older people and those with underlying conditions,” said Dr. Jennifer Vines Multnomah County Health Officer. “This loss has motivated us to continue our efforts to minimize the impact of this virus on our community.”

Oregon now has 36 confirmed cases of the coronavirus after the state health department announced six new cases earlier Saturday. The department said three of the new cases are in Washington County, two new cases are in Deschutes County and one case is in Linn County.

The Linn County case is at the veterans home in Lebanon, and one of the Deschutes County cases traveled to a country where the virus is spreading, the department said. The remaining cases are believed to be community acquired.

Schools closing

As Oregon schools close next week, child care regulators are considering whether to let some day care providers take in more children than currently allowed.

Oregon schools will close Monday and remain closed until April 1. Oregon students already have spring break for one of those weeks. Oregon has also banned all gatherings of more than 250 people statewide for four weeks.

The Office of Child Care told providers that it will process emergency requests to operate outside of licensing limits, in an attempt to address both an increased demand for care and potential staffing shortages, according to The Oregonian/OregonLive.

Child care needed

The conflicting forces are driven by the spread of coronavirus and government efforts to slow the disease.

With parents at work, the statewide school shutdown could shift children from classrooms to day care. Child care regulators have received 100 calls since Thursday about urgent child care needs, said Melanie Mesaros, a spokeswoman for the Office of Child Care.

“In a state of emergency, we are trying to balance the real needs of working families and the safety of children," she said.

Jails on lockdown; libraries closed

The Washington County Sheriff's Office announced Saturday that its jail is suspending social visits until further notice.

“We hope to keep inmates, staff, and volunteers as healthy as possible by limiting the amount people that enter the facility,” the sheriff's office said on Twitter.

Multnomah County — home to Portland, Oregon — closed its libraries on Friday and the sheriff's office ended visitation in its two jails.

Oregon Chief Justice Martha L. Walters also issued recommendations to the state's trial courts to postpone trials that are not time sensitive due to the coronavirus. Trials that are already underway and ones that are time sensitive will continue as planned.

Most people recover

For most people, the coronavirus causes only mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough. For some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness, including pneumonia. The majority of people recover within a few weeks.

More than 400 doctors from around Oregon have signed a letter to Brown demanding more resources and help to combat the spread of the new coronavirus.

New rules

The Port of Seattle has been responding to the outbreak of the new coronavirus (COVID19) with new rules on event numbers and travel. Find updates on the Port of Seattle website.

This week:

• Washington state and King County issued a health order limiting the number of people at events and mandated social distancing.
• Transportation systems are not included in the prohibition for large gatherings, but the Governor asked those transportation systems (including buses, light rail, ferries, and airports) to increase their vigilance with frequent cleaning of their facilities.
• The federal government has expanded travel restrictions: Suspending entry of foreign nationals who have been in China, Iran, Ireland, the UK or any of the 26 countries within the EU’s Schengen Area* for the last 14 days (*Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, and Switzerland.)
• Directing Americans returning to the U.S. from the European Union’s Schengen area, UK, Ireland, China, or Iran to one of 13 U.S. airports, including our airport, and directing to voluntary self-quarantine under CDC best practices.
• Screening of Americans returning from South Korea before they travel to the United States.
• The Port announced that the first two sailings of the 2020 cruise season in early April have been cancelled.
• Princess Cruise Lines announced a 60-day suspension of its global operations. Royal Caribbean and affiliated brands, as well as Norwegian Cruise Line, announced 30-day suspension of cruise operations.
• On March 13, Canada’s Transport Minister announced a suspension of cruise across Canada until July 1
• The Port is reviewing Transport Canada’s actions and evaluating the order’s impacts on the 2020 Alaska cruise season.

We will continue working with first responders, cruise lines, and local leaders, and consider current public health guidance, as well as enhanced actions by the cruise lines to determine future sailings.

More information about actions and protocols at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport