Understanding personal risk using weekly COVID-19 data

Available in Spanish Oregon Health Authority (OHA) announced last week that some data about COVID-19 will now be updated weekly rather than daily. Starting Sept. 14, weekly updates will include: Although many people relied on daily updates to assess their personal risk, weekly data still shows accurate and useful trends in how COVID-19 is spreading […]

Tips for a fun and safe summer

Available in Spanish With vacation from school and extra hours of daylight, summer provides more time and opportunities to get out, explore or get together with friends and family. Now that COVID-19 vaccinations are available for everyone age 6 months and older, families can reduce their risk of infection and illness by being up to […]

Navigating the safety of day-to-day activities in a COVID-19 world

COVID-19 is still present in Oregon, but we now have multiple tools to fight infection and slow the spread. We have widely accessible and highly effective vaccines, proven interventions like masking and distancing, and treatments that are becoming more available every day. With Oregon’s mask requirements lifting on March 12 in most public indoor spaces […]

OHA guidance reflects CDC’s new isolation changes

As Omicron COVID-19 cases increase, one of the ways we slow the spread is to stay home and away from other people for five days when we test positive, have symptoms, or have been exposed to COVID-19, and wear a well-fitting mask for an additional five days. If you are up to date on your vaccines you do not need to stay at home or miss work if you have been exposed, but you must wear a proper mask around others for 10 days.

Why snug, multi-layered masks are more effective

The best protection we have against COVID-19 continues to be vaccines plus booster shots. Early data from South Africa and the United Kingdom indicates a booster shot provides 75% effectiveness against infection with the Omicron variant. But we can’t relax our behavior when it comes to masking. COVID-19 spreads when an infected person breathes out […]

Celebrating faith safely this holiday season

While we still need to take safety precautions to protect against COVID-19, the good news is that thanks to the protection offered by vaccinations, boosters and face masks, we are better able this year to safely participate in faith traditions. Here are some ways you can protect yourself and those around you.

Governor Brown, OHSU and OHA leadership urge COVID-19 vaccinations, boosters ahead of January Omicron surge

Today, Governor Brown, Oregon Health Authority (OHA) and Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU) leadership shared information about the latest projection about the spread of COVID-19 in Oregon due to the new Omicron variant.

Oregon Choose Safe Places Program helps spread awareness about safe cleaning and disinfection with new social media toolkit

Over the past two years, we’ve heard how cleaning and disinfecting is good precaution to lower the risk of spreading COVID-19, especially in common spaces and school settings. But if not used properly, chemicals found in cleaning, sanitizing, and disinfecting products can be hazardous to health. Children are particularly vulnerable to potential health effects from chemicals in these products.