A decrease in COVID-19 cases and better testing capacity are necessary before social distancing restrictions can be relaxed.
That’s the message from Lane County Senior Public Health Officer Doctor Patrick Leudtke Tuesday. He says Lane County is seeing a couple new cases of COVID-19 per day. He thinks the region’s hit a plateau, but in order to ease restrictions, case rates need to drop.
“We really need to see a sustained decrease in cases over the course of roughly 2 incubation periods.” Leudtke says, “And, two incubation periods is 28 days. Each incubation period is 14. And the second is we need better testing capability locally.”
Leudtke says if there were a relaxation in restrictions and a second wave of outbreaks hit, officials would need to be able to respond with testing. Leudtke says sufficient personal protective equipment is also needed statewide, as well as a blueprint for the public to show what relaxed restrictions would look like.
As of Monday morning, there are 42 known cases of COVID-19 in Lane County. Six individuals are hospitalized. 12 have recovered from the virus. And one person has died.
There were 7 new cases announced in Lane County over the weekend. Three are connected with senior homes, including one staff member at River Grove Memory Care Facility.
Another is involved with Good Samaritan Retirement and Care Facility. And the third is an employee of Garden Way Retirement home.
Lane County is conducting contact investigations. The 4 other newly announced cases are people listed as medically stable and recovering at home.
The Oregon Department of Agriculture is now taking complaints about improper social or physical distancing at grocery stores. Their email address is in the business information tab on Lane County’s COVID-19 website.
