PUBLIC HEALTH ENDORSES NEW STATE, FEDERAL MASK GUIDANCE
Clatsop County Public Health is asking the public to observe new state and federal recommendations to wear face masks indoors to help control the spread of COVID-19.
On Tuesday the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, in response to a nationwide surge in cases, issued guidelines recommending mask-wearing in public indoor spaces in the nation’s hardest hit areas. The Oregon Health Authority followed with its own guidance mirroring the CDC announcement but covering the entire state. The recommendation applies to both vaccinated and unvaccinated individuals.
Oregon and the country are seeing a dramatic increase in new COVID-19 infections and hospitalizations driven by the highly contagious Delta variant.
Public Health reminds residents that vaccines are the best method of protection against the virus and minimizing the chance of serious illness or death. The department is offering vaccinations four days a week at its Astoria office, and local hospitals, clinics and pharmacies are also administering vaccines. Go to the county website, www.co.clatsop.or.us for more information.
Public Health is also offering to arrange workplace vaccination events for interested business owners. Go to website for more information.
The large majority of new COVID-19 cases seen locally and nationwide are among unvaccinated individuals. Out of 66 cases recorded in Clatsop County between June 18 and July 23, 54 involved unvaccinated individuals. Of the remaining 12, seven were fully vaccinated, three partially vaccinated and two had unknown vaccine status.
While vaccines are not 100 percent effective, data shows that vaccinated people contract the virus at a far lower rate, and those who do experience less serious symptoms. According to the CDC, however, vaccinated people who become infected can still spread the virus to others.