Defiant restaurants under state scrutiny
Despite new restrictions on restaurants in Deschutes and Crook counties, some businesses are ignoring the rules. Bend’s Black Bear Diner appeared to be in violation Friday.
Continue ReadingCoronavirus
Gov. Brown, health officials: COVID-19 surge should ease in 2-3 weeks as vaccinations rise
As 15 Oregon counties moved back to “Extreme Risk” COVID-19 restrictions on Friday, Gov. Kate Brown and state health officials said the latest modeling shows that this round of severe business limits should end in about three weeks, thanks to increased number of vaccinated Oregonians.
Continue ReadingOregon reports 4 more COVID-19 related deaths, including Crook County’s 20th; 990 new cases
There are four new COVID-19 related deaths in Oregon, including Crook County’s 20th death, raising the state’s death toll to 2,495, the Oregon Health Authority reported Friday.
Continue ReadingTSA extends transportation mask requirement until September 13
The Transportation Security Administration is extending the Biden-era transportation mask mandate. The rule requiring masks on all travelers in airports, airplanes, terminals, trains, buses and boats was set to expire May 11, and comes as some governors have rescinded orders or allowed mask requirements in their states to expire. The mandate now lasts until September
Continue Reading
Nearly 200 Bend Senior HS students receive COVID-19 vaccines at first clinic, despite protests by opponents
Early Thursday morning, a group of about two dozen protesters gathered outside Bend Senior High School to voice their concerns at the first of several COVID-19 vaccination clinics being held at high schools around Central Oregon. But nearly 200 students received the shots anyway, officials said.
Continue Reading
Weekly average of new Covid-19 deaths in US hits lowest point since July
The seven-day average of new Covid-19 deaths in the United States hit its lowest point since July 2020, a CNN analysis of Johns Hopkins University data found Thursday. As of Wednesday, 684 new deaths were reported, the JHU data showed, which is about an 80% drop since January. Since the beginning of 2021, the seven-day
Continue Reading
100 million US adults are now fully vaccinated, White House says
One hundred million adults in the United States are now fully vaccinated, White House coronavirus response director Jeff Zients announced Friday. “That’s a hundred million Americans with a sense of relief and peace of mind, knowing that after a long and hard year, they’re protected from the virus,” Zients told reporters at a White House
Continue Reading
City of Redmond gives out free PPE to businesses
The City of Redmond held its second free PPE pick-up event Thursday at City Hall. Business owners and representatives were encouraged to come by for free masks, hand sanitizer, disinfectant spray, thermometers, gloves, wipes, and face shields.
Continue Reading
Deschutes County offering walk-up COVID-19 vaccine appointments Saturday at Redmond clinic
For the first time, walk-up COVID-19 vaccine appointments are being offered Saturday between noon and 2 p.m. at the Mass Vaccination Clinic at the Deschutes Fair & Expo Center.
Continue Reading
Oregon reports 1 COVID-19 related death, 928 new cases; Deschutes near-record 125
There is one new COVID-19 related death in Oregon, raising the state’s death toll to 2,491, the Oregon Health Authority reported Thursday.
Continue Reading
Sisters High School, Middle School to resume classes Monday after ‘pause’ due to COVID-19 cases
Two COVID-19 cases at Sisters High School and a possible connection to Sisters Middle School closed both schools Thursday, for a return to distance learning, but contact tracing and other steps will allow in-person classes to resume Monday, Superintendent Curt Scholl said.
Continue Reading
Crook County among 15 moving to ‘Extreme Risk’; weekly vaccination clinics continue
Due to an increase in local cases in Crook County and an increase in hospitalizations across the state, Crook County has been identified as one of 15 counties across Oregon moving back up to Extreme-Risk Category starting at midnight Friday morning.
Continue Reading
Gov. Brown extends COVID-19 state of emergency for 60 days
Gov. Kate Brown on Thursday extended her declaration of a state of emergency for COVID-19 for 60 days, until June 28, unless earlier rescinded or extended.
Continue ReadingMore liberal CDC coronavirus guidelines could come soon, Fauci says
After loosening its Covid-19 prevention guidelines somewhat this week for people who are fully vaccinated, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention could soon go even further if new cases continue to decline, Dr. Anthony Fauci said. The seven-day average of new cases has dropped from about 60,000 new infections per day to “around
Continue ReadingOregon reports 2 more COVID-19 related deaths, 888 new cases
There are two new COVID-19 related deaths in Oregon, raising the state’s death toll to 2,490, the Oregon Health Authority reported Wednesday.
Continue Reading
Rosenblum hails House passage of contact tracing privacy bill
Oregon Attorney General Ellen Rosenblum praised the Oregon House Wednesday for unanimously passing HB 3284, a bill she proposed to protect personal health data related to COVID-19.
Continue Reading
700 Bend-La Pine students quarantined: Does the school district need a ‘Plan B’?
The Bend-La Pine School Board met Tuesday night to discuss the status of school reopening and reflected many of the questions — and tension — seen across the community as COVID-19 case numbers rise and Deschutes County returns to the “Extreme Risk” category..
Continue Reading
Bend Park & Rec outlines program, facility changes as ‘Extreme Risk’ guidelines return
The announcement by Gov. Brown that 15 counties will move to the Extreme Risk level, effective Friday, April 30, through at least Thursday, May 6, will impact Bend Park and Recreation District programs and facilities, the agency said.
Continue Reading
‘We’re all in this together’: Rising COVID-19 cases in community affect Bend-La Pine Schools
Schools have adapted to the pandemic and created a system that officials say has worked for safe learning. However, Deschutes County is moving into the Extreme Risk category for COVID-19. While schools operate with different guidelines, they still see the effects of rising COVID-19 numbers.
Continue Reading
C.O. residents react to CDC’s revised outdoor mask guidance
The Centers for Disease Control said Tuesday that fully vaccinated Americans no longer need to wear masks outdoors in most situations, except for large gatherings.
Continue Reading