COVID-19 Cases in Umatilla County Jump to 56 with 11 New Cases

The number of COVID-19 or coronavirus cases in Umatilla County spiked to 56 with the report today of 11 new positive cases.

There have been 19 positive tests in the past several days in Umatilla County.

Health officials are in contact with the latest individuals and are conducting intensive contact investigations in accordance with Oregon Health Authority (OHA) investigative guidelines. Eight of these individuals have been identified as close contacts of a confirmed case. All of these individuals are self-isolating and recovering at home.

Individuals are considered recovered when they have been free from symptoms including fever, cough, shortness of breath and diarrhea for 72 hours. Two are hospitalized. There have been no reported deaths due to COVID-19 in Umatilla County.

UCo Health officials are urging residents to adhere to the “Stay Home Save Lives” order from Gov. Kate Brown. Maintain social distancing, stay home unless absolutely necessary and help fight the spread with proper hand-washing and hygiene techniques. Those individuals whose employment is considered essential to community infrastructure (healthcare, law enforcement, public safety, grocery stores, pharmacies, convenience stores, restaurants, transportation, public works, etc.) should continue reporting to work as long as they have no respiratory symptoms, including fever. If you are sick, stay home. Anyone who is exhibiting any symptoms of respiratory illness must stay home from work for 72-hours after all symptoms (fever, cough, shortness of breath, etc.) have resolved.

In conjunction with Oregon Health Authority guidance, employers are asked to support employee time off for recovery and to send visibly ill employees home.

Recently, the county released a map showing where the cases of coronavirus are occurring in Umatilla County.

Anyone who is exhibiting any symptoms of respiratory illness must stay home from work for 72 hours after all symptoms (fever, cough, shortness of breath, etc.) have resolved.

Officials say the county will continue to update its Umatilla County Public Health Facebook page as new information becomes available. County specific test result data is available on the county health website and will be updated Monday-Friday.