media : Oregon Health News Blog

Newest COVID-19 modeling report shows sharply higher increases in daily cases and hospitalizations

Posted on August 2, 2021December 9, 2021 by ohacovidblogger

On July 30, OHA released its latest COVID-19 forecast, which projected sharply higher COVID-19 associated hospitalizations and daily cases through Aug. 17. According to the model, the effective reproduction rate, meaning the expected number of secondary cases that a single case generates, was estimated at 1.58 through July 14, which is more than double the 0.74 reported through mid-June. If transmission remains […]

Five Oregon counties moving to Lower Risk May 21

Posted on May 18, 2021 by ohacovidblogger

On May 18, Governor Kate Brown distributed a press release indicating that five Oregon counties would be moving to the Lower Risk level starting May 21. Those five counties are: Benton Deschutes Hood River Lincoln Washington The announcement comes in light of the Governor’s newly established criteria, which allow counties to apply for Lower Risk […]

Oregon officially establishes new masking and physical distancing guidance

Posted on May 18, 2021December 9, 2021 by ohacovidblogger

On May 18, the Oregon Health Authority (OHA) released updated guidance for masking and physical distancing throughout the state. Significant changes to the guidance include the following: Fully vaccinated individuals will no longer need to wear a mask indoors in public places where vaccination statuses of individuals are checked (masks will be required in areas […]

Fully vaccinated people can do more without wearing a face covering

Posted on May 17, 2021 by ohacovidblogger

So many of us are longing to do the things we may have taken for granted before COVID-19 disrupted our lives. Getting together with friends at a restaurant. Celebrating milestones with loved ones. Attending a sporting event. Now that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have given fully vaccinated folks the okay to […]

Oregon updates masking and physical distancing guidance for fully vaccinated

Posted on May 13, 2021 by ohacovidblogger

On May 13, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued new guidance, which no longer requires that fully vaccinated people wear a mask or physically distance in any setting, “except where required by federal, state, local, tribal, or territorial laws, rules, and regulations, including local business and workplace guidance.” Following the CDC’s recommendations, […]

Governor Brown, OHA leadership discuss vaccination goals, reopening

Posted on May 11, 2021June 10, 2021 by ohacovidblogger

On May 11, Governor Kate Brown was joined by OHA Director Patrick Allen to talk about statewide vaccination targets, the County Risk Level framework and reopening the state’s economy. Here’s what you need to know. County Risk Level framework may soon be coming to an end Late last year, Governor Brown announced the creation of […]

COVID-19 in Oregon: A moment of promise and peril

Posted on April 23, 2021April 23, 2021 by ohacovidblogger

On April 23, Governor Kate Brown was joined by Director of the Oregon Health Authority Patrick Allen and State Health Officer and State Epidemiologist Dr. Dean Sidelinger to provide an update on the COVID-19 pandemic in Oregon. At this moment, Director Allen said, Oregon faces both “promise and peril.” “The COVID-19 virus is surging and […]

OHA, CDC investigating potential adverse event following Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccination

Posted on April 22, 2021 by ohacovidblogger

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is investigating a report of an Oregon death that was submitted to the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS) on April 18. VAERS is a national vaccine safety monitoring system overseen by the CDC and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). It serves as a place for doctors, nurses, […]

New Safe + Strong videos answer vaccine questions

Posted on April 21, 2021 by ohacovidblogger

Oregon Health Authority (OHA) is working to make sure that communities who are significantly impacted by COVID-19 have easy access to vaccine information. OHA’s Safe + Strong campaign has developed several short, animated videos to answer some of the key questions that communities have about vaccination: Are the vaccines safe? Are they free? Do I need insurance? The videos, called “Vaccine Answers,” include one 60-second video that addresses all the […]

Governor Brown and the Oregon Health Authority provide an update on vaccinations in Oregon

Posted on April 16, 2021 by ohacovidblogger

On April 16, Governor Kate Brown and leadership from the Oregon Health Authority (OHA) participated in a media briefing to talk about the vaccine situation in Oregon. Equity and access OHA Director Patrick Allen was frank about vaccine distribution efforts to date. “The numbers are stark and clear. For too many people, race and income […]