Month: April 2020

The City of Eugene’s top priority continues to be the health and safety of the community as we move into the fifth week of our national collective emergency. We are in this for the long haul but we are in this together. There is a lot going on to keep our community safe and preserve our local hospitals’ capacities. This update provides information on the latest City activities and links to where you can find more information. For health and safety information and updates on COVID-19 please visit Lane County Public Health’s website.

In This Update:
– Economic Recovery
– Additional designated temporary shelter sites to open for unhoused in Eugene
– Help Your Community
– Using Trails and Outdoor Spaces Safely
– Resources for More Information

Economic Recovery
Eugene’s economic development staff are working hard with our partners at Lane County and Springfield to ensure our community has important information about federal and state resources. Our COVID-19 webpages includes an Info for Businesses section that is regularly updated as new information becomes available.

Eugene has conducted daily outreach to employers to understand their needs and ability to access federal resources, such as the Paycheck Protection Program and the Economic Injury Disaster Loan. We know the application process has been challenging and we are working with our regional partnerships to communicate these challenges to the federal level.

We are taking steps to help our businesses navigate this difficult time. Before the Governor ordered the closing of many businesses, the City of Eugene reached out to businesses that are recipients of the City’s loans to see how we could help. We offered to defer loan payment for two months to businesses that needed it.

We’ve also worked with restaurants in and near the downtown to create designated parking spaces so restaurant patrons can quickly access take-out services.

We are working to get businesses the resources they need so they can survive this shutdown and continue to be part of our community when things re-open.

The Eugene Area Chamber of Commerce has compiled a list of restaurants that are open for pick-up or delivery at this time, and several restaurants and businesses have started offering grocery delivery. Shopping at locally owned stores is one of the best things we can do to help our economy recover in the weeks and months to come. If you are wondering if it is safe to order take out, research has shown contracting the virus through food is unlikely. Food borne exposure to this virus is not known to be a route of transmission. It is still important to maintain physical distance from food delivery people.

Workers who are unemployed at this time can also find links to resources on our Info for Workers page, including unemployment insurance benefits, workers facing a layoff situation, and more.

Additional designated temporary shelter sites to open for unhoused in Eugene

As our region continues to respond to COVID-19, the City of Eugene, in conjunction with Lane County and White Bird, opened two designated temporary emergency sheltering sites the week of April 6 at Amazon and Hilyard community centers. This week, we mobilized a third temporary shelter site, Petersen Barn Community Center, and will provide space for up to six additional car and six tent camping sites.

The City of Eugene continues to focus on strategies that will “flatten the curve,” such as a distribution site for basic supplies, designated temporary shelter sites, outreach to unhoused individuals, and basic sanitation and hygiene. These strategies reduce the need for people to travel around the city to access basic needs and shelter. This work is consistent with CDC guidance on protecting people experiencing homelessness and the broader community from the spread of COVID-19.

Designated temporary shelter sites are locations where small groups of people (up to 10 people or six tents) can stay in tents or vehicles with appropriate physical distancing and will be supported with hygiene stations (portable restrooms and handwashing stations), food and supplies, and welfare check-ins. The locations also have privacy fencing in place to help support the security of the site. The sites are managed by White Bird and Carry It Forward, local homeless service providers.

Spaces in the sites are available by referral only. Individuals must go to the White Bird distribution site, at 341 E 12th Ave., first to be assigned to a designated temporary shelter location. The White Bird distribution site is open seven days per week from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Individuals who are already safely sheltering in place elsewhere are advised to stay where they are and access supplies through the distribution site or outreach teams rather than relocating to these sites.

Basic Sanitation and Hygiene Stations Continue – With a focus on increasing hygiene in the community to limit the spread of COVID-19, the City of Eugene has continued to add to the number of publicly available restrooms. The City’s Emergency Operations Center distributed nearly 40 portable restrooms around the city. There are also approximately 50 handwashing stations throughout Eugene. View all of the portable restrooms and handwashing station locations through our online mapping portal. According to the Centers for Disease and Control, regular handwashing is one of the best ways to remove germs, avoid getting sick, and prevent the spread of germs to others, including COVID-19.

Outreach to Support Basic Needs and Stay-In-Place – The City has been conducting outreach to unhoused individuals to ensure basic needs are being met for those experiencing homelessness, allowing them to stay in place as much as possible during this emergency.  Outreach teams are canvassing the parks and rights of way throughout Eugene and are passing out food, water, gear, hygiene supplies, and education and up-to-date information on COVID-19.

Help Your Community

You can directly support your fellow community members by donating blood. To support social distancing, appointments are required. With thousands of blood drives cancelled during the COVID-19 pandemic, the American Red Cross is working hard to open new donation sites. In the meantime, please search 14 days out or beyond. The need for blood is constant – patients need your help. Find a blood drive near you through the American Red Cross or Bloodworks Northwest.

There are many ways to volunteer at this time. United Way of Lane County has a webpage with information about all the ways community members can volunteer their time and abilities right now.

Using Trails and Outdoor Spaces Safely

Trails and outdoor spaces are seeing major spikes in usage across the country, as individuals and families look to these assets for daily physical activity and mental respite in the wake of COVID-19. The Rails to Trails Conservancy has put together a list of resources that offer guidance on how to be safe in the outdoors. Be safe and be healthy!

If you plan to visit a park, strict adherence to physical distancing and equipment closures are mandatory. Keep the “space” in parks and open space:

• Maintain a physical distance of at least six feet between anyone not of the same household.
• Stay home if you are feeling sick.
• Avoid crowds by arriving early.
• Visit parks close to home to minimize your travel.
• Do not use any playground equipment, sports courts or skate parks.

How to handle packaging from takeout food or other items that may be delivered to you.

Getting groceries is one activity for which most of us have to leave our homes. Here are some tips for protecting your health and the health of others when you are shopping:

Resources for More Information

The City of Eugene and our partners have a significant amount of information available online. Please visit these resources for the most up to date information.

• Lane County Public Health lanecountyor.gov/coronavirus
• Lane County Call Center, open daily from 8 a.m. – 8 p.m. – 541-682-1380
• City of Eugene – eugene-or.gov/coronavirus
• Centers for Disease Control – cdc.gov/coronavirus

Multnomah, Washington and Clackamas counties have teamed up to create a Coronavirus Checker, which allows you to check your symptoms if you feel you may have the virus.

 

Topos Covid-19 Project – A multidimensional view of Covid-19s Impact in Counties across the US. Mapping the latest data on the outbreak with vulnerable populations, current policy, and health care resources.

You can view the levels of Covid-19 infections by county, throughout the country. Showing in more granular detail the areas that are hardest hit by the virus.

The weather forecast for the next several days shows that we can expect some warm, sunny weather. We all have essential reasons to go outside, like grocery shopping and taking a walk to improve our mental health.

Even as the weather continues to improve, remember that the Stay Home, Save Lives order is working to slow the spread of coronavirus. We must continue our commitment, even in nice weather. The better we do, the sooner we can get through this.

Here are a few tips and reminders about how to stay safe when it’s sunny.

New data in Oregon shows that the number of cases is not rising steeply, another reminder that the Stay Home, Save Lives effort is working and is likely to be in place at least through mid-May. For those wondering about when the executive order will be lifted, public health officials have made it clear we need to see a steady two-week decrease in case counts before the order can be reevaluated. Returning to life as it was before the pandemic will need to happen gradually, not all at once.

The Institute for Disease Modeling released updated projections over the weekend that estimate that the social gathering/physical distancing measures implemented in Oregon have prevented approximately 18,000 coronavirus cases and 500 hospitalizations. The analysis indicates statewide efforts in Oregon have reduced transmission by 55-75 percent. Nice work, everyone!

Governor Brown announced that in-person public education classes throughout Oregon are canceled through the end of the school year, thereby extending the executive order that previously was scheduled to end on April 28. She directed K-12 school districts, community colleges, and universities to complete the final weeks of the regular academic year by supporting their students through distance learning that is already underway. Oregon Department of Education have been working diligently with local school districts to implement guidelines for distance learning.

Student, Family and Educator Resources
– Distance Learning for All: Resources and Guidance
– Overview of Guidelines for Distance Learning
– A Guide for At-Home Learning (English)
– A Guide for At-Home Learning (Spanish)
– District Distance Learning Planning Tool
– Distance Learning: Sample Instructional Day (K-12 Overview)
– Graduation Pathways for Seniors (NEW)
– District-by-District Access to Meals for Students
– Mental Health and Social Support Resources for Migrant and Non-English Speaking Families
– Supporting Emergent Bilingual Students with Distance Learning
– How to Support LGBTQ+ Youth
– Resources for Youth Suicide Prevention
– How to Support Children and Teens Through Loss and Trauma
– PPS: Supporting your student’s emotions during the coronavirus crisis
– Teach From Home (Educator Resources)

Resources to support food access for kids, teens, college students and families

With schools and colleges closed, we know access to food has been interrupted for many Oregon families. Partners for a Hunger-Free Oregon has a roundup of resources to support youth, college students and families during this time, including an interactive map of where to find meals for kids.

For those seeking access to school meals from Oregon’s public schools, free meals are available to all children ages 1 to 18 to pick up “grab and go” style.

To receive a school meal:
– You do not have to attend that specific school or district to have access to these meals.
– No application or income verification is needed.
– Children do not need to be present when picking up a meal, because the USDA recently waived this requirement, but school districts will need to verify parent or guardian status.

The Oregon Department of Education is also maintaining a webpage with links to school district programs and plans for feeding kids during school closure.

The City of Eugene’s top priority continues to be the health and safety of the community. As we move into the fourth week of our national collective emergency, it is clear that we are in this for the long haul. This update provides information on current City activities and links to where you can find more information. For health and safety information and updates on COVID-19 please visit Lane County Public Health’s website.

Recommendation Regarding the Use of Cloth Face Coverings. New CDC guidelines recommend all people wear cloth face coverings in public settings where other social distancing measures are difficult to maintain such as grocery stores and pharmacies. Social distancing is still important even if you’re wearing a mask. Staying home and avoiding all non-essential contact with others continues to be the most important thing all of us can do to stay healthy and keep others healthy. Healthcare providers across the region and country are still in critical need of medical grade N-95 masks. The City of Eugene continues to request that the public reserve N-95 masks for healthcare workers and first responders. Individuals or businesses that have access to new N-95 masks or other PPE can donate them to Lane County. New PPE is being collected Monday-Friday from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. at Lane County’s warehouse (3050 N. Delta Highway, Eugene, OR 97408).

Stay Home, Save Lives. The good news is that recent data suggest social distancing is working. From the Oregon Health Authority: Updated projections from health researchers show that there is “strong evidence that measures currently in place in Oregon are reducing transmission.” The most recent data suggest that current social distancing measures could cut transmission rates between 50%-70% if Oregonians maintain these limitations on virus-spreading interactions into early May.

The public’s ability to maintain social distancing will be the most important factor in determining whether Oregon prevents local hospitals from becoming overwhelmed by COVID-19 admissions.

Wellbeing. Everyone in our community has been impacted by this healthcare and emerging financial crisis. We’ve added a Community Wellbeing section to our COVID-19 webpage. This section provides resources for mental health support, helpful articles, and “physical distancing fun.” As in any emergency, the first person to take care of is yourself. We encourage you to do so.

Economic Support. Wellbeing includes each person’s ability to pay bills and take care of basic needs. Renters, homeowners, and landlords impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic can refer to the Housing Resources page on our website for information on financial support, help understanding renter’s rights, or mediation services.

Working in collaboration, your city governments, school districts and other childcare partners have pulled together to provide emergency childcare services during the COVID-19 crisis. This service is currently only offered to first responders and essential workers. Visit YMCA to see if you qualify and to register for childcare.

Homeless Updates. Outreach teams of trained city workers are on the streets providing assistance to unhoused people in Eugene. These teams are meeting people where they are at to provide basic supplies and, when possible, addressing needs such as charging devices and bringing mail. All of these strategies are designed to help everyone in our community shelter-in-place to the maximum extent possible.

The City continues to increase the number of portable restrooms, now up to 40, and maintains 50 handwashing stations in accessible locations. See a map of the handwashing stations and portable restrooms. You can get updated information on our COVID-19 Resources for Unhoused website.

Other Vulnerable Populations. We recognize that there are many vulnerable and at-risk community members throughout the city. We are working with our community partners in the Latino and immigrant communities to understand their unique needs at this time, and we continue to translate new information and resources on the city website into Spanish.

Looking for ways to help? United Way of Lane County continues to be a great local resource for ways to give and receive help. An article in this week’s Eugene Weekly shared how people can help a local non-profit and a local business at the same time through purchasing a gift card to a favorite business and donating it to a favorite non-profit.