KMUN
Clatsop County held an online press conference about COVID trends and testing. The County is bracing for an Omicron surge. By Joanne Rideout [Scroll down to listen, script below] Judy Geiger is vice president of patient care services at Columbia Memorial Hospital in Astoria. Judy Geiger: “We’ve seen an uptick in COVID but it’s staying…
Clatsop County hospitals are bracing for yet another Covid-19 surge. That’s due to the Omicron variant. KMUN’s Jacob Lewin has this report: [Scroll down to Listen:] Oregon Health Sciences University’s top forecaster is projecting that Omicron covid hospitalizations will soon surge to 17-hundred per day statewide, up from a peak of 12-hundred with the delta…
This fall, the Port of Astoria began partnering with the city on a sweeping master plan to upgrade parts of port property, encourage business and beautify the west end of town where the port sits. At a virtual meeting November 3rd, members of the public saw a presentation of the plan, which echoed the ambitious…
One lane on a section of U.S. Highway 30 east of the Bradley State Scenic Viewpoint will remain closed through the holiday weekend as the state continues to evaluate a rockslide in the area. The lane closure is not impacting traffic flow, according to a spokesperson for the Oregon Department of Transportation. The transportation…
This report today from The Washington State Department of Transportation, about a mudslide blocking an important route between Astoria and Naselle: Rocks and a mudslide on SR 401 southbound at milepost 2 has both lanes blocked by debris since 11:00 am today [Wednesday] until further notice. For reference, Route 401 is the road drivers are…
Story by KMUN Correspondent Jacob Lewin [Scroll down to listen] Astoria city officials are upbeat about compliance with the city’s covid vaccine mandate. Next Monday is the deadline and 89% of staff have been vaccinated. Others are in the process of being vaccinated or have been exempted but are working under restrictions. Fire Chief Dan…
Volunteer firefighters in Warrenton have had a change of heart. A month ago, city officials feared that most of them would resign rather than be forced to get vaccinated. Today the situation is very different. KMUN’s Jacob Lewin reports: [Scroll down to listen] The city of Warrenton has 20 volunteer firefighters, three paid staff, and…
Administrators from Clatsop County school districts weighed in at a press conference Wednesday about what seems to be a successful school year so far, as COVID-19 continues to define how adults and children interact outside of home. Joanne Rideout reports. [Scroll down to listen] “I think the community needs to understand the details that we…
Now that fall is here, the Oregon Health Authority wants Oregonians to know we could be headed into a bad flu season. The season for flu generally starts around October and can continue into the spring. The pandemic had a large impact on last year’s flu season. We were staying physically distant, wearing masks and staying home…
The Astoria School District has launched a COVID-19 data dashboard on its website that will allow the public to monitor the status of coronavirus cases in district schools. The district announced the dashboard in a press release Thursday, saying part of its purpose is to maintain transparency. The COVID dashboard will be updated on school…
Clatsop County Public Health announces that it is expanding its COVID-19 drive-thru testing program thanks to the availability of more testing supplies. Public Health, in partnership with Columbia Memorial Hospital and Providence Seaside Hospital, last month began offering regular testing at Camp Rilea in Warrenton. Testing is available by appointment Monday through Friday from 9…
The superintendents of schools in Clatsop County are all giving an upbeat assessment of the start of the school year despite the increase in COVID cases. Meanwhile new data show Clatsop with the state’s lowest COVID infection rate among kids. KMUN’s Jacob Lewin has details: [Scroll down to listen]: Despite fears that an upsurge in COVID…
US Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici, who represents Oregon District 1, announced that fire departments in Clatsop County will receive $1,3 million through the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) Program. This funding provides firefighters with improved tools and equipment. “Our firefighters and first responders work hard day in and day out to…
Health officials in Clatsop County held a press conference Wednesday, to give an update on the status of the pandemic locally. Here’s that story. On hand for the zoom meeting were Margo Lalich, Clatsop County Interim Health Director, Julie Geiger, Vice President of Patient Services at Columbia Memorial in Astoria, and Jason Plamonden, Chief Nursing…
Officials at both Columbia Memorial Hospital and Providence Seaside are worried about the impact of a state requirement that requires all health care workers to be vaccinated against COVID-19. The requirement takes effect next month. KMUN’s Jacob Lewin has details: [Scroll down to listen] At Columbia Memorial, vice president for patient services Judy Geiger says…
Since the delta variant hit Clatsop County and deaths have increased, there’s been an understandable rise in anxiety among residents. Something that comes up frequently on social media locally when COVID deaths are announced is a sense of frustration that there isn’t more information available about a person who has died: particularly vaccination status and…
As the volume of COVID patients continues to put pressure on their health care services, Providence Health, which owns a network of hospitals in Oregon, including Providence Seaside Hospital, announced that it has brought in refrigerated morgue trucks to Providence Portland and Portland St. Vincent. National Guard personnel will also be assisting staff at their…
The Oregon Health Authority today reported 10 COVID-related deaths among Clatsop County residents. They include six women ranging in age from 67 to 95. Five died at home, and one died at a local hospital. The four men ranged in age from 44 to 95. One man died at a local hospital, two died at…
As weekly COVID-19 case counts in Clatsop County continue to surge, primarily in unvaccinated residents, Clatsop County Commissioner Courtney Bangs sent a letter to Oregon Governor Kate Brown urging her to reconsider vaccine and mask mandates, especially, she said, with regard to schools. Bangs said in the letter, quote: “While the vaccine is a valuable…
Clatsop County Public Health learned Friday of the COVID-related death of a county resident. The individual is a 52-year-old male who died at Emmanuel Hospital in Portland. No other information was available. Clatsop County has recorded a total of 12 COVID-related deaths.
The head of the Clatsop County Health Department held a news conference today with head nursing staff from hospitals in Astoria and Seaside, to talk about the renewed and escalating pandemic in the county, fueled by the delta variant. She called the rebounding crisis a “wildfire” that is beyond containment. Joanne Rideout reports. Scroll down…
OLYMPIA – COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations are accelerating across the state of Washington, demonstrating the delta variant’s potential to unravel hard-fought progress toward recovery. Unvaccinated people are being hit hardest, and public health officials continue to urge everyone who has not gotten fully vaccinated to do so immediately. The Washington State Department of Health says…
The Cedar Butte Fire continues to burn approximately 18 miles east of Tillamook off Highway 6 near Cedar Butte Road. The fire has grown from 50 to approximately 60 acres. The fire is burning largely in slash in a recent harvest unit on State Forest land and does not pose a threat to any structures. …
In response to the new surge in coronavirus infections, demand for COVID-19 testing is outstripping the capacity of local health providers. As a result, the Clatsop County Public Health Department will provide testing to the public by appointment only beginning this coming Wednesday, Aug. 18. The change is necessary to allow Public Health to focus its resources…
The City of Astoria is reporting that an individual associated with public safety functions at the Public Safety Building, has tested positive for COVID-19. The City Manager was notified that the last time this individual was in the Public Safety Building on August 4. Staff is working with Clatsop County Public Health Department to notify…
Astoria, OR – With COVID-19 cases on the unfortunate upswing both nationally and statewide, Columbia Memorial Hospital is canceling elective surgeries and converting more rooms to negative pressure environments to help ensure beds are available for those who need care. Cases in Oregon are rapidly rising, and data released by OHSU predicts that by Labor…
Oregon Health Authority yesterday reported 2,387 new confirmed and presumptive cases of COVID-19, a record number of cases per day. Nine people died. The number of hospitalized patients with COVID-19 across Oregon is 670, which is five more than yesterday. There are 177 COVID-19 patients in intensive care unit (ICU) beds, which is five more…
The Oregon Health Authority’s COVID-19 Weekly Report, released yesterday, showed continued steep increases in daily cases and hospitalizations. OHA reported 8,304 new daily cases of COVID-19 during the week of Monday, Aug. 2, through Sunday, Aug. 8. That represents a 40 percent increase over the previous week. There were 322 new COVID-19 hospitalizations, up from 256…
A wildfire burning in the Tillamook State Forest is visible from Highway 6, according to state officials. KATU in Portland reported yesterday that the Cedar Butte Fire, as it’s now called, is currently about 25 to 30 acres in scope. It’s located 18 miles east of Tillamook and north of Highway 6. Both helicopters and…
Yesterday, Governor Kate Brown reinstated the mask mandate in Oregon, citing escalating hospitalizations and a lack of local control from county commissions. What about local control in Clatsop County? Clatsop County Commission Chair Mark Kujala said in an email yesterday that the commission as of yesterday had not yet discussed a mask mandate. In a…