Health & Medicine

The director of the Oregon Department of Education has announced a new protocol which could greatly reduce the number of students who miss school due to quarantine after COVID-19 exposure.

Oregon Health Authority Director Patrick Allen acknowledged the state’s 5000th COVID-19 related death, calling it a "tragic milestone."

“This decision, which takes effect immediately, reflects the overall progress we have seen on the COVID-19 front here in Oregon,” Oregon Health Authority director Patrick Allen said in a statement. “And it is a testament to the perseverance of all Oregonians in faithfully adopting the public health interventions we know are effective in containing the spread of the disease.”

With COVID cases declining and the vaccine rate reaching 73%, many Oregonians are wondering when they can drop their face masks. Health experts say: not until early next year, if not longer.

The OHA says everyone age 18 and older is now eligible for a COVID-19 booster dose.

Recently, KLCC reported on the success of Lane County Public Health’s pediatric vaccination efforts. But not everyone is pleased with the coordinated push to vaccinate children.

Lane County Public Health officials say parents are snapping up pediatric COVID-19 vaccine appointments as they become available. Vaccinators take care with each child to reduce their fear of shots. But outside the clinics--some families are facing angry, anti-vax protesters.

The Junction City campus of Oregon’s psychiatric hospital took in 24 new patients this week. The six-year old treatment facility has never been fully budgeted until now.

Conditions continue to improve in Lane County, with a slow and steady downward trend of COVID-19 cases, according to public health officials.

COVID-19 Incident Commander Steve Adams said in the first ten days of clinics dedicated to these youngsters, things have gone well. “The numbers are pretty remarkable,” he said.