Multiple outbreaks linked to rise in cases could shift Columbia County back to High Risk

(Columbia County, Oregon) – Columbia County recently linked several COVID-19 cases to recent gatherings and activities in North County. If this trend continues, it could shift Columbia County back into the High Risk Category and lead to stricter capacity restrictions and gathering limits.

Residents should be advised that cases are also trending up across the state. The Oregon Health Authority (OHA) COVID-19 Weekly Report, released on Thursday, April 1, reported 2,456 new daily cases of COVID-19 during the week of Monday, March 22 through Sunday, March 28. That represents a 28% increase from the previous week.

Given the rise in new cases, Columbia County Public Health would like to remind our communities that it is important for us to continue to pull together and take the necessary precautionary measures that will help us prevent additional outbreaks and further rise in cases. Increased local spread not only endangers our vulnerable citizens, it disrupts businesses and schools. Community members can prevent further cases by continuing to wear our masks while socializing, frequent hand washing, and maintaining physical distance.  

Most importantly, we can continue to follow the recommendations of limiting the amount of people who gather socially in one place. In counties classified as Moderate Risk, indoor social and at-home gatherings should be limited to a maximum of eight people from no more than two households. Outdoor social and at-home gatherings should be limited to a maximum of ten people. 

Even for those who are already vaccinated, it is still important to follow these recommendations while in public or at work. For more information on how to protect yourself and others when you’ve been vaccinated, visit the Center for Disease Control and Prevention’s website here: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/fully-vaccinated.html

In addition to setting risk levels based on recent case counts and test positivity, residents can stay informed by reviewing the OHA’s weekly outbreak report here: https://www.oregon.gov/oha/covid19/Documents/DataReports/Weekly-Outbreak-COVID-19-Report.pdf