Nearly one-third of households in our congressional district (OR-04) have not completed their U.S. Census 2020 form. This is a good start, but we need to count everyone. The 2020 census will determine how federal funding and resources will be distributed across our communities for the next decade. Medicare Part D, federal funding for schools, and federal highway construction funds are just a few of the federal programs which use the Census to distribute funding to communities. This is an opportunity for you to get fair and accurate representation and to ensure your tax dollars are spent locally. The deadline to fill out your census form is October 31, 2020.

You can complete the 2020 Census:

• Online: 2020census.gov
• By Phone: Call 844-330-2020
• By Mail: To respond to the census by mail, you can mail back the paper questionnaire that was sent to your home earlier this year. For additional questions about completing the census by mail, visit https://2020census.gov/en/ways-to-respond/responding-by-mail.html

When you respond to the census, your answers are kept anonymous. They are used only to produce statistics.

The U.S. Census Bureau is bound by law to protect your answers and keep them strictly confidential. The law ensures that your private information is never published and that your answers cannot be used against you by any government agency or court.

For more information about the census, visit 2020census.gov

It’s not too late to fill out the census! Make sure you and your loved ones are counted, and help our communities get the funding and resources we need.

Click through to visit the website for up to date COVID-19 case numbers for Lane County.

OHA’s latest modeling report shows need to stay the course

OHA updated its bi-weekly modeling report earlier this week, showing various trajectories for COVID-19. The modeling presents three scenarios:

• If the current transmission rate continues, new daily infections would rise steadily over the next four weeks to around 1,600 infections a day by Aug. 13, with 27 hospitalizations.
• If transmission decreased by 10 percentage points from current rates, the estimated number of new infections would decrease over time to 600 infections a day by Aug. 13 with 17 hospitalizations.
• Finally, a pessimistic scenario, in which transmission increases by 10 percentage points from the current rates, shows 2,300 new daily infections by Aug. 13 with 46 hospitalizations.

OHA State Health Officer Dr. Dean Sidelinger spoke about the projections during OHA’s media availability today. Here’s what he had to say:

These projections show that we’re at a real turning point: We can start to see infections drop again if we reduce transmission through some simple steps:

• Stay six feet apart.
• Avoid larger gatherings.
• Wear a mask.

Alternatively, we can see a scenario where things get worse: Like prior models showed, cases would keep surging and we would rapidly run out of capacity to treat people who become seriously ill.

We have a choice based on these projections: Do we want to work together to get COVID-19 under control? Or do we want to keep watching numbers rise and see our state move toward uncontrolled spread?

For the health of Oregonians, the choice is easy. Let’s work together to put the virus on a path to fade out. Don’t help it gain strength and claim the lives and livelihoods of more Oregonians.

How to stay safe if you must travel

We know summertime is usually vacation season. Although long-distance recreational travel is not recommended at this time, we want to help you stay safe if you do have to hit the road. Good planning and sanitizing can help protect you and others from COVID-19.

Before you go

• Pack alcohol‐based hand sanitizer (containing 60-95% alcohol) and cleaning supplies.
• Bring a face covering to wear in public places (and pack a couple of extras).
• Prepare food and water for your trip to help limit having to go into stores along the way.
• When booking a room online, make sure you know what their COVID safety precautions are or call and ask.

Along the way

• Make sure to wear your face covering when stopping for gas, food or bathroom breaks.
• Maintain physical distancing when making stops.
• Wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after you have been in a public place, after touching surfaces frequently touched by others, after blowing your nose, coughing or sneezing, and before touching your face or eating. If soap and water aren’t available, use hand sanitizer.

When you get there

• Stay at least 6 feet apart from other people.
• Avoid crowded places.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth with unwashed hands.
• If you’re staying in a hotel, consider limiting or opting out of daily housekeeping service to reduce the number of people entering your room.

A few tips for flying

• Try to limit contact with frequently touched surfaces like kiosks, touchscreens and turnstiles, handrails, restroom surfaces and elevator buttons.
• Try to limit your exposure to others in the airport.
• Wear your mask in the airport and during the flight.
• Continue to practice good hand hygiene.

The number of COVID-19 cases in our area and across Oregon continue to rise. On Wednesday, July 22, Governor Kate Brown announced new statewide requirements that will become effective Friday, July 24:

• Face coverings are required for ages 5 and up.
• Restaurants and bars must close at 10 p.m. statewide.
• Face coverings are required when exercising indoors, plus outdoors when you can’t physically distance.
• Capacity limit for restaurants, gyms, venues (e.g. concert halls, movie theaters) is reduced to 100 people indoors, including staff.

Governor Brown also announced that her team, in coordination with the Oregon Health Authority, is looking into further restrictions on tourists coming from states that are currently considered hotspots, and is evaluating the counties on the state’s watch list. She said announcements could becoming later this week.

While we realize these changes are difficult, it takes the entire community and state working together to make a difference and stop the spread of COVID-19.

New Face Covering Requirement

Starting Friday, July 24 face coverings including masks or face shields, are required statewide for anyone age five and up in indoor public spaces and outdoors when 6 feet of distance can’t be maintained.

Children who are three and four years old are recommended, but not required, to wear a mask, face shield or face covering as long as they’re able to remove it themselves.

Here are a few ideas to help your child feel comfortable if they feel unsure about wearing a mask or other face covering:

• Let your child choose and decorate their mask.
• Try different styles to see which is the most comfortable.
• Put a mask on a favorite stuffed toy or draw one on a favorite book character.
• Introduce the mask when everyone is relaxed but not too sleepy.
• Practice wearing the mask at home to help your child get used to it.
• Play some “let’s pretend” games with characters who wear masks.
• Point out other people wearing masks while you’re out.

If someone with a disability is unable to wear a mask or alternate face covering (like a face shield), they can request a reasonable accommodation from the business. These accommodations might look like grocery store pick-up or pharmacy delivery. Learn more about face covering requirements.

New Business Requirements

Also beginning Friday, July 24, the following requirements apply to businesses statewide:

• The maximum indoor capacity limit is capped at 100 for all venues, such as larger restaurants, bars, community centers, churches or other houses of worship, movie theaters and gyms.
• Restaurants and bars will be required to stop serving customers at 10 p.m.

COVID-19 Test Site Finder

Are you wondering where you can find a COVID-19 testing site? Oregon Health Authority has introduced a new online tool to find the nearest testing site.

1. If you are experiencing symptoms of COVID-19, such as fever, cough, or shortness of breath, please contact your healthcare provider or tele-health program to discuss whether you should be evaluated for testing.

2. Each coronavirus test provider will determine if testing is appropriate based on your symptoms, risk factors and test availability.

3. Because of an increase in demand, there may be longer than usual wait times for testing and results in certain areas.

Call the COVID-19 testing site before you go to learn about testing criteria, availability and hours. 

Lane County Public Health Hosting Frontline Worker Testing Event 

Lane County Public Health is offering free testing for frontline workers from 1:00-5:00 p.m. on Wednesday, July 29 at the Lane Events Center.  

Lane County Public Health considers frontline workers to be individuals with public-facing jobs who have worked throughout the outbreak. Examples include grocery store workers, gas station attendants, food and coffee servers or anyone who has a public-facing job but doesn’t have access to ongoing testing. This event is not designed to serve individuals who are already being regularly tested as part of their employment, such as many first responders and healthcare workers. Please bring your insurance card if you have insurance. The test is free regardless of insurance status. Learn more on Lane County’s website or call Lane County Public Health at 541-682-4041.

How You Can Help

Practice the 4 Ws 

It’s up to all of us to do our part. Help protect yourself and others:

1. Wear a face covering – indoors and out, it’s a statewide requirement.

2. Watch your distance – stay 6 feet apart from those outside your household.

3. Wash your hands – often with soap and water for 20 seconds throughout the day.

4. Wait it out – stay home if you are sick.

Answer the Call – Contact Tracing is Important to Stop the Spread 

If you get a call or voicemail from a Public Health contact tracer, please answer or return the call. Contact tracing is critical to our community’s ability to continue limiting the spread of COVID-19. People who participate in contact tracing are actively helping to keep their community safe by helping public health officials track the virus. For more information from Lane County Public Health on contact tracing please visit their contact tracing webpage. The State of Oregon’s contact tracing webpage also offers useful information and resources.

Broadway Street Closure for Expanded Streatery Supports Downtown Businesses 

Beginning July 16, the section of East Broadway between Willamette and Olive streets was closed to motor vehicle traffic to enable expanded café seating for area bars and restaurants. The Broadway Streatery is a temporary measure to support business activity, safe social gathering and community recovery in response to COVID-19. The initiative will be evaluated on an ongoing basis to determine whether it is having a positive impact for downtown Eugene and our community as whole. If it is successful, the Broadway Streatery will remain open until at least Oct. 31, 2020. The City of Eugene is working directly with the business owners on this section of Broadway, who are all supportive of this arrangement. Physical distancing and proper hand hygiene are strongly encouraged, and face coverings are required if 6 feet of distance can’t be maintained. Learn more about the Broadway Streatery and how businesses can apply for a streatery permit as part of the City of Eugene’s Streatery Program.

We provided our last community update at the end of June, promising to email again when we had new information regarding the response to COVID-19. We feel that this week is an appropriate opportunity to touch base again as we have seen a steady climb in case numbers leading to Governor Kate Brown’s recent announcement to extend the statewide face covering requirement to include outdoor spaces and to limit the sizes of indoor gatherings beginning tomorrow, July 15.

While we remain in Phase 2, the number of active cases in our community continues to grow and the newest health modeling shows a potentially steep upward trend. Our teams continue to work closely with health experts at Lane County Public Health and the Oregon Health Authority. It will take the entire community working together to make a difference and stop the spike in cases.

Statewide Outdoor Face Covering Requirement – Effective July 15th

Starting tomorrow, Wednesday, July 15, masks, face shields and face coverings are required statewide in outdoor public spaces when physical distancing is not possible. This is in addition to the current statewide face covering requirement for indoor public spaces (for example, grocery stores, pharmacies, public transit, personal services providers, restaurants, bars, retail stores, and more). Governor Brown shared that the decision came because of the continued rise in COVID-19 cases both in urban and rural counties.

Children over the age of 2 and under the age of 12 are recommended, but not required, to wear a mask, face shield or face covering. People with a disability or medical condition may request accommodation from the business if they cannot wear a mask, face shield or face covering.

“Face coverings that cover your nose and mouth play a critical role in reducing the spread of this disease,” said Brown. “If we all wear face coverings, practice six feet of physical distancing in public, wash our hands regularly, and stay home when we’re sick, then we can avoid the worst-case scenarios that are now playing out in other states.”

Learn more about face covering requirements.

Indoor Social Gatherings Limited to 10 or Fewer

The Governor also issued a new ban on indoor gatherings of more than 10 people beginning, tomorrow, Wednesday July 15. This limit includes indoor dinner parties, birthday parties, graduations, potlucks, book clubs, etc. This new rule does not change the operation of businesses and churches at this time. Learn more from the Oregon Health Authority.

COVID-19 Cases Continue to Rise in Oregon and Lane County – How Can You Help?

Think Before You Gather – Social Gatherings are Increasing Spread
Since Oregon began reopening, the Oregon Health Authority has seen the spread of COVID-19 when people get together to celebrate with family and friends. Some examples include:

• Graduations
• Birthdays
• Weddings
• Holidays

COVID-19 is spreading more among social activities involving groups of younger people. OHA has recorded outbreaks linked to:

• Exercise classes
• Fraternity parties
• Bachelor parties

While it is difficult not to celebrate these events as we have in the past, COVID-19 is spreading in our communities and people must think hard about altering daily routines that may put people at risk.
OHA recommends that everyone:

• Limit the size of our gatherings – 10 or fewer people
• Keep our distance – at least 6 feet apart
• Cover our faces
• Find alternative ways for those who are vulnerable to participate.

Practice the 4 Ws:

1. Wear a face covering – indoor and out, it’s a statewide requirement
2. Watch your distance – stay 6-feet apart from those outside your household
3. Wash your hands – soap and water for 20 seconds, often throughout the day
4. Wait it out – Stay home if you are sick

Answer the Call – Contact Tracing is Important to Stop the Spread
If you get a call or voicemail from a Public Health contact tracer, please answer the call. Contact tracing is critical to our community’s ability to continue limiting the spread of COVID-19. People who participate in contact tracing are actively helping to keep their community safe by helping public health officials track the virus. For more information from Lane County Public Health on contact tracing please visit their contact tracing webpage.

Long Term Community Recovery Work Continues

The City of Eugene’s Long-Term Community Recovery team has been working hard to assess the unfolding damage to our community’s economy, housing, and wellbeing due to COVID-19 and to develop a comprehensive framework to address those damages. Our goal through these recovery efforts is to support community wellbeing by creating a state of comfort, happiness, and health so all individuals can thrive after the impacts of COVID 19.

Our whole-community planning process encompasses housing, health and social services, the economy, infrastructure, and natural and cultural resources. Equity and access are fundamental themes throughout all recommendations, particularly because impacts from COVID-19 are disproportionate for certain populations. We look forward to sharing more information with you in the coming weeks as we finalize the details of our recovery framework.

Applications for Rent Assistance for Lane County Renters Open July 15

Eligibility applications for rent assistance for Lane County renters open on Wednesday, July 15, at 9 a.m. and will close at 11:59 p.m. on Wednesday, July 22.

A total of $5.1 million is available. The funding was provided by the federal COVID-19 CARES Act.

Eligible households that complete an application will be selected for funding via a lottery for expenses acquired beginning on March 1, 2020.

See important eligibility requirements and find the online application on Lane County’s website.

Also see the City’s Housing Support web page for additional resources.

In June the State Emergency Board allocated around 5.7 million in rent assistance to Lane County.  The application process will begin this Wednesday, July 15th, at 9:00am!  Click here to seek assistance and find more details.  More people will be eligible for this round of funding than were for the last so if you did not qualify before you may still want to check.

The passage of the recent moratorium on evictions for non-payment has given us some breathing room but we need to keep pressuring all levels of government to establish more renter protections to help ensure equal rights and housing stability to all.  For more information on the moratorium here are FAQ’s in English and en Español.  Please share with those in need.

We have said it before, this does not absolve us of our duty to keep advocating for each other.  Renters are disproportionately members of vulnerable groups including people with disabilities and, of course, racial and ethnic minorities.  Housing inequality is and has historically been rampant.  As protests continue across our nation we continue to affirm the words in our mission statement that “housing rights are human rights and that affordable and accessible housing are the foundation of any strong community.”

In Solidarity,

The Springfield Eugene Tenant Association Team

The Eugene City Council, acting as the Urban Renewal Agency Board, wants to hear from community members about the Park Blocks and Farmers Market projects, at a Public Hearing on Monday, July 20th. The hearing will be an opportunity for community members to comment on whether the projects should move forward, and if so, how they should be funded.

The Downtown Urban Renewal Agency Board voted unanimously on Monday June 22nd to schedule a Public Hearing on the Park Blocks and Farmers Market projects. The council showed support for the overall designs and indicated a strong interest in prioritizing the construction of the Farmers Market portion of the project based on available funds.

The designs for Farmers Market and Park Blocks have been part of the Town Square project started in May of 2019 to re-imagine the public space at the intersection of 8th Avenue and Oak Street. With strong collaboration with the Lane County Farmers Market and Eugene Saturday Market, as well as with consultation and input from thousands of residents across Eugene, the community has shaped the design and direction of the project.

The Public Hearing, scheduled for Monday, July 20th, is the last opportunity for members of the public to formally weigh in on whether the Farmers Market and Park Block projects should move forward towards construction. Following the public hearing on July 20th, the City Council, acting as the Agency Board will hold a vote on whether to move forward with the projects at a meeting scheduled for July 27th.

Looking Ahead

At the June 22 meeting, the Agency Board also consider options for phasing the implementation of the Park Blocks and Farmers Market, particularly opportunities to construct an initial phase of the vision with currently available funds. The Agency Board voted to begin a process to amend the Urban Renewal Plan and remove the limit on funds for the Farmers Market, which will make it possible for this project to receive a larger share of the Urban Renewal dollars within the overall budget established in 2016.

Support Our Markets

Although the market season has not started the way we had planned, there are still many ways that you can support our local artists and farmers.

                   

Eugene Saturday Market 

You can click the images below for links to interactive data tables about coronavirus case counts in Oregon.

COVID-19 Signs and Symptoms

Last Wednesday’s weekly coronavirus report from the Oregon Health Authority updated the most common signs and symptoms for the virus. The top five most common are cough, headache, muscle aches, chills, and fever over 100 degrees. If you have any of these, please stay home and get tested.

Infections among Younger Adults on the Rise

As coronavirus cases have been on the rise in Oregon and around the nation, there has been an alarming increase in younger adults contracting the virus. The Oregonian has more details on this statewide trend here, and USA Today has more information here on the nationwide wave of new cases in younger Americans. The cause? Most likely increased socializing and complacency.

Here is a look at some updated age demographic data in Oregon. As you can see, Oregonians between 20-29 years old have the highest percentage of cases by age group.

We know what it takes to reduce transmission of the virus and hold things steady again. Remember the importance of the basics to stop the spread of the virus: wash your hands, wear your face covering, and watch your distance from others.