Oregon has 268 known cases of the novel coronavirus as of Wednesday afternoon, according to the Oregon Health Authority. The actual number of cases is believed to be higher given the lack of tests available.
The state now has ten known deaths related to the virus. Lincoln County announced its first case Tuesday.
And, as of Wednesday evening Lane County has 7 known cases of COVID-19, including one death. Lane County spokesperson Jason Davis spoke about one of the recently identified cases at a briefing Wednesday, a 40-year-old Eugene / Springfield woman.
“At this time, she is medically stable and at her own private residence. She’s in communication with Lane County Public Health Communicable Disease Investigation team and abiding by all Public Health recommendations, including staying home.”
Davis says the woman is believed to have been exposed to the virus on March 7th during travel within Oregon. She was tested on March 21st and the positive results came in Tuesday. Later on Wednesday, the county announced 2 more cases in a press release.
"One resident is a woman in her 60s who lives in a private residence in Eugene-Springfield. She is currently at home, following all LCPH recommendations, and is medically stable. Her illness is thought to be related to domestic travel. The other is a man in his 30s who lives in Eugene-Springfield. He is currently at home, following all LCPH recommendations, and is medically stable."
Davis says Public Health is not sharing more specifics about positive cases in the county because of privacy issues. He says establishing trust with people is essential to tracking accurate information on the virus in our area.
Two local distilleries, Thinking Tree Spirits and Swallowtail Spirits have been making hand sanitizer. Davis says Lane County Public Health has purchased almost 50 gallons of hand sanitizer to try to fill the need.
“They’ve been tremendous community partners.”
Davis says the hand sanitizer is going out to first responders across Lane County.
Lane County Public Health is still taking donations of PPE, including masks, gloves, and other personal protective equipment, weekdays from 2 to 4 p.m. at the Lane County Public Works Warehouse (3050 Delta Highway in Eugene. www.LaneCountyOR.gov/PPE.
