Malheur County
In coming weeks, most of Malheur Countyâs health care workers, as well as long-term care facility employees and residents, will have had an opportunity to be vaccinated against COVID-19. As more vaccine becomes available, health care workers will be followed by our communityâs other essential workers and people age 75 and older. The general population is expected to have access to the vaccine sometime in spring 2021.
The Malheur County Health Department is working with community partners to ensure that everyone in our community who wants the vaccine will be able to get it. Distribution plans are under way, and we are confident that widespread vaccination will ultimately enable us to return to our normal way of life.
ONTARIO
Public Health Administrators from six eastern and central Oregon counties have asked the Oregon Health Authority to relax some of the restrictions regarding COVID-19 impacting rural businesses, some which have gone out of business.
In a joint letter, heath administrators from Malheur, Baker, Grant, Harney, Klamath and Lake counties have submitted a joint letter to Rachel Banks, with Oregon Public Health Authority, proposed to change the top risk factor, as determined by the state from extreme risk to high risk and to allow the local health authorities to determine capacity and to put the âextreme riskâ framework in effect when appropriate.
Schools get ready for full return; public health leader to meet with school leaders Thursday argusobserver.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from argusobserver.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
ONTARIO
Gov. Kate Brownâs mandates surrounding stopping the spread of COVID-19 have included the total shuttering of certain businesses more than once this year, or the lack to operate at full capacity. Small businesses across the state are being negatively impacted by these moves and are facing major challenges to stay in business. Some have already seen their experience ratings for workers compensation insurance go higher (as much as triple), due to layoffs that were beyond their control.
In Malheur County, some businesses are taking matters into their own hands by making the difficult decision to open for business or potentially close for good.
MALHEUR COUNTY
Following are Malheur County COVID-19 outbreaks as reported in the latest Weekly Outbreak Report on Dec. 18 by Oregon Health Authority. Find more statewide reports on the OHA COVID-19 website.
Active outbreaks in care facilities
This includes care facilities, senior living communities and congregate living settings with three or more confirmed cases or one or more COVID-related deaths:
⢠Pioneer Place: 5 cases, 0 deaths
⢠Sunset Estates, 24 cases, 2 deaths
Resolved outbreaks in care facilities
⢠Brookdale Assisted Living Ontario: 37 cases, 5 deaths
⢠Dorian Place Assisted Living: 23 cases, 3 deaths
⢠Pioneer Place: 39 cases, 2 deaths
⢠Riverside Manor: 3 cases, 1 death
⢠Nyssa Gardens: 9 cases, 0 deaths
⢠Wellsprings Assisted Living: 6 cases, 1 death