Yachats doctor urges continued personal precautions for COVID prevention

I am an inpatient and critical care physician at Samaritan Pacific Communities Hospital in Newport. We have not yet seen any COVID-19 patients in our hospital. That is because our community has done an excellent job at preventing the introduction and spread of the virus into our community.

Every day that I don’t see a critically ill COVID patient is a tribute to the great work you are all doing. I appreciate it, and my family appreciates it.

But, as Oregon and Lincoln County look towards opening up, please keep in mind that COVID has not gone away, and it isn’t going anywhere. It’s now a permanent part of our environment, just like Scotch broom.

The purpose of social distancing and shutting down are to slow down spread of virus, and to keep hospitals from being overwhelmed. Kinda like a long drizzly rainy season rather than a category 5 hurricane. The virus won’t really be controlled until we’re vaccinated. So don’t throw caution to the wind, and keep up the good work.