Following a steady decline in COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations, the Umatilla County Health Department today announced it is transitioning from a pandemic response phase to an endemic response phase regarding the COVID-19 virus.
In a press release issued today, the health department said the transition is “due to the monumental efforts of medical professionals, vaccine scientists, front line workers and the tireless efforts of the countless others who have supported them, including those in our community.”
An endemic phase virus status means that the virus is not causing the hospitalizations of the pandemic phase and that there is enough immunity in our population so that infection with the virus is kept to low levels.
The health department also announced that the Regional COVID-19 Dashboard will receive weekly updates on Wednesdays of each week rather than daily updates. If cases rise above 80 per week, the county will shift back to daily updates.
