COVID-19

Over the weekend, there were 81 new COVID-19 cases in Lane County. Meanwhile, neighboring Douglas County confirmed three new deaths from the disease.

Oregon Governor Kate Brown announced Friday that Lane County has been added to the Watch List for COVID-19 case activity. 

If you get a call from the Lane County Public Health department, officials say ‘please take it.’ This comes out of concern as non-compliance in the COVID-19 contact tracing effort continues to grow.

Lane County Public Health has added a new reporting function to better describe COVID-19 outbreaks in communities.

According to The National Human Activity Pattern, people spend nearly 90% of their lives inside buildings. Long before the novel coronavirus reached our shores, scientists have been studying how pathogens behave in the built environment. Places like homes, workplaces and schools. Now 8 months into a global pandemic, much of that research is being put to use- testing for the presence of viruses in occupied spaces-- in the hopes of stopping the spread of COVID-19.

Lane County remains on High Alert for COVID-19 transmission risks. As Public Health announced four new outbreaks Thursday, elected officials pled with community members to heed the warnings and take action toward prevention.

Lane County is on high alert for risk of transmission of COVID-19. Public Health reports 200 people are currently infectious—an all-time high for the county during the pandemic.

COVID-19 case numbers – and hospitalizations - continue to increase in Lane County. The trend directly impacts the county’s timeline for getting kids back in school.

The Holiday Farm Fire is now 10% contained, and has consumed over 170,000 acres. It’s hoped that an incoming weather front will give fire crews some help, though it could pose its own risks.  KLCC's Rachael McDonald and reporter Brian Bull discuss the latest on the fire. 

Air quality indexes range from “unhealthy” to “hazardous” across the region, as wildfires continue to burn. And homeless people remain limited in options.

Gardening supply is one business that’s done well, and even blossomed, during the pandemic. Vegetable growers and landscapers both are spending more money this year. 

After a pause, Lane County’s community plastics collection is up and running again, though many collectors have dropped out for health reasons.

Businesses across Oregon are finding ways to cope with COVID-19 safety guidelines, which require masks indoors. Eugene Family YMCA adapted their group exercise classes by taking them outside.

A new chapter at the Eugene Public Library starts Monday. Branches have been closed to the public since the start of the pandemic.

St. Alice Catholic Church in Springfield started planning last summer to turn its warming kitchen into a commercial one. While the coronavirus hasn’t changed the project’s scope, it may shift the use.

Awareness, patience and some changes to public health policy will help us get through this pandemic, and be more prepared for the next one, according to one local expert. To cap off our year-long series on resilience, KLCC’s Karen Richards spoke with Lane County’s Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Patrick Luedtke.