Gov. Brown, state officials, doctor plead for Oregonians to wear masks, get vaccine
'This isn't about you (but) our entire community,' governor says
SALEM, Ore. (KTVZ) – Gov. Kate Brown, state health and school officials and the top physician at OHSU’s Doernbecher Children’s Hospital had a united message to give Tuesday as in-person school resumed for many Oregon schoolchildren: masks and vaccines are a “one-two punch” that can turn around the sharp rise in COVID-19 cases.
Amid sharp divisions, and now a lawsuit challenging the legality of the vaccine mandate that could lead to school and health care staff departures or dismissals by Oct. 18, Brown and the others stood their ground on the value of what they said has become, due to the effectiveness of the vaccine, a preventable, yet continuing pandemic.
“I would just say this to Oregonians: This isn't about you,” Brown said. “This is about the kids under 12 who can't be vaccinated. This is about your friend or neighbor struggling with cancer and for whatever reason cannot receive his or her vaccine right now.
“This is about our entire community. It's also about our health care workers that have been working day and night for weeks or months now to keep Oregonians alive," the governor said.
Brown offered some promising news about recent models showing that “we are successfully slowing the spread of the delta variant, using the two most powerful tools we have: vaccines and masks.”
“However, there’s still some challenging times ahead, and we must remain vigilant,” the governor said, telling Oregonians that “every action you take” can set the path of the latest outbreak.
She told of an “eye-opening and gut-wrenching” recent visit to the ICU at Oregon Health and Science University.
“It’s heartbreaking,” she said, since “vaccines have made hospitalization from this disease largely preventable. ... Please do not let misinformation or questions top you from protecting yourself and your family.”
Oregon Department of Education Director Colt Gill said the “good news (from last year) is, we proved school can be held in person, and we can mitigate the risk posted by COVID-19” with screening, hand-washing, ventilation and protection by wearing masks and vaccination of anyone eligible in the school setting.
But he noted that some schools already have missed in-person time or had quarantines already because of exposures.
“Please make a small, personal sacrifice to do what you can to make this school year a success,” he said.
State Epidemiologist Dr. Dean Sidelinger said, “The delta variant continues to ravage communities across Oregon,” but a hopeful sign was a slight drop in cases last week.
“This is a crisis that is being largely driven by people who have not been vaccinated against COVID-19,” Sidelinger said, and “the actions we take over the next few weeks will determine if we plunge deeper into crisis.”
Also speaking was Dr. Dana Braner, physician in chief at OHSU’s Doernbecher Children’s Hospital in Portland, who noted there's also been a “mental health crisis” affecting kids in unprecedented ways.
Braner said, “We must all do our part to slow COVID and give our kids and schools a chance."
‘Getting vaccinated is the single best thing a person can do to prevent their own sickness and death, and protect others from the virus. They are safe, effective, and they make COVID-19 a preventable illness.”
Brown said she won’t be attending this year’s Pendleton Round-Up, and when pressed by reporters why, she said, “I am certainly concerned about community spread.”
As for the controversial vaccine mandate, Brown said, “The good news is, the vast majority of health care workers and educators have gotten vaccinated.” But she also vowed that when it comes to the state workers, “We will be taking appropriate action for state employees in the Executive Branch that do not comply with the vaccine mandate.”
Regarding religious and medical exemptions, she said, “We expect employees to be honest and trustworthy in filling out these exemptions.”
News release:
Governor Kate Brown Provides COVID-19, Back-To-School Update
Urges Oregonians to get vaccinated, wear masks to save lives and help keep schools, businesses, and communities open
(Salem, OR) — In a press conference today, Governor Kate Brown provided an update on the current state of COVID-19 and the return of students to in-person learning in the classroom across Oregon. She was joined by Oregon Department of Education Director Colt Gill, State Epidemiologist Dr. Dean Sidelinger, and Dr. Dana Braner, physician-in-chief of the OHSU Doernbecher Children’s Hospital.
"Because Oregonians are masking up and continuing to get vaccinated, we have been able to cut the projected length of this surge," said Governor Brown. "However, there are still challenging times ahead. And we must remain vigilant. Every action you take impacts how this plays out. Every time you mask up you’re helping our doctors and nurses do their jobs. Every time you mask up, you’re helping our kids return to school more safely. And every time you mask up you’re helping keep our businesses and communities open.
"It is with mixed emotions that we are welcoming our kids back to school this year. I know many parents are excited for kids to return to the classroom full time, and at the same time anxious about the Delta variant. We all play a part in reducing community spread of this virus. Together we can stop the Delta variant from spreading and keep our kids safe and learning in the classroom."
For families with kids heading back to the classroom, the Oregon Department of Education has released the following five straightforward back-to-school tips:
- Make a plan to vaccinate all eligible household members
- Wear a face covering in public and in carpools
- Limit gatherings with other households
- Move any social activities outside
- Make a plan in case your child needs to miss school
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