Social distancing doesn’t exist at grocery stores

March 23, 2020

After changing my lifestyle to accommodate social distancing, I was struck a few days ago by the difficulty of following advisory guidelines while making a necessary visit the grocery store. It’s pretty hard to stay six feet apart in an aisle that is not much wider than that. I was also struck by the huge potential for transfer of germs

Helpful hint: buy washable cotton gloves

March 23, 2020

We bought two dozen pair of cotton gloves from www.ConstructionGear.com for $5 a dozen which we wear every time we have to go out. They are porous so probably provide little in the way of immediate protection, but are very effective in keeping our hands away from our faces. We toss them in the wash after returning so there’s always

More Yachats-area restaurants close over the weekend as business plummets and to keep staff, public safe

March 22, 2020

By QUINTON SMITH and CHERYL ROMANO/YachatsNews.com Two more Yachats restaurants closed this weekend as business slumped from statewide dining restrictions, fewer Spring Break visitors and to protect staff and customers from possibly spreading the coronavirus. Ona Restaurant owner Michelle Korgan closed her business at 4 p.m. Saturday. Yachats Brewing + Farmstore announced on Facebook it would close Sunday evening.

Coronavirus concerns and few visitors leads to closure of Overleaf, Fireside and Adobe motels

March 21, 2020

By QUINTON SMITH/YachatsNews.com The three largest motels in Yachats are closing until the coronavirus outbreak subsides, laying off up to 140 employees. The 54-room Overleaf Lodge and 43-room Fireside Motel closed Saturday after the last of its guests departed. On Sunday, the 110-room Adobe Motel and Restaurant announced it would close all its operations Monday morning. Sweet Home vacation

Lincoln County emergency managers issue information bulletin, advice, online links

March 21, 2020

Dear Lincoln County Community Members, We recognize these are challenging times with continually changing information related to the global, federal, state and local response to the COVID-19 (novel coronavirus) pandemic. We feel it is important to provide information on how you can stay informed, what your local government is doing in relation to this response and what you can do

YachatsNews seeks ideas for community and personal stories during coronavirus outbreak

March 21, 2020

Dear YachatsNews readers and subscribers: I’m seeking your ideas and comments during this very unusual time. We’ve had 2-3 weeks of near constant local and state coverage of the coronavirus outbreak and it won’t stop. But I’m trying to look ahead to the upcoming weeks and seeking: Your ideas (beyond the obvious breaking news) of stories that 1-2 reporters

Oregon governor reluctant to order statewide “stay home” but new directions could come Monday

March 21, 2020

By LES ZAITZ/Oregon Capital Bureau For four million Oregonians, staying home now could save a life. State health officials expect to see a rapid increase in the number of people infected with COVID-19, the respiratory disease that is mild for most people but deadly for the vulnerable. They concede they have no idea how widespread is the disease now.

Coronavirus wipes out Spring Break on the Oregon coast, devastating businesses and threatening workers

March 19, 2020

By DANA TIMS/YachatsNews.com Shuttered restaurants. Closed gift shops and visitors’ centers. Hotel, motel and other lodging reservations cancelled by the hundreds, all over fears of a coronavirus pandemic. Welcome to spring break 2020 on the Oregon coast. Most years, spring break is the time when tourism-related businesses begin ramping up for the summer high season. The influx of travelers to

Oregon official says state is quickly running through protective equipment for hospital workers

March 19, 2020

JAKE THOMAS/Oregon Capital Bureau Health care providers in Oregon are running out of protective masks, surgical gowns and other personal protective equipment that protects them from contracting the coronavirus. “I am deeply concerned that within the next short weeks we will have providers who need to treat patients without masks, without face shields and those kinds of things,” Oregon Health

Hospital group urges “stay in place” order; governor says she’s not ready to do that

March 19, 2020

By JAKE THOMAS/Oregon Capital Bureau The Oregon Association of Hospitals and Health Systems has called on Gov. Kate Brown to issue a shelter-in-place order requiring most businesses to close and require Oregonians to hunker down in their homes during the coronavirus outbreak. “Yesterday, our board recommended that the governor take the strongest possible action when it comes to social distancing