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 to help keep yourself and your family safe and healthy during these trying times.

Stay Informed:

Continue to monitor both the Lincoln County and Oregon Health Authority COVID-19 information pages.
Subscribe to the Oregon Health Authority daily COVID-19 email updates.
Review the attached Lincoln County Emergency Operations Center Public Briefing document. This briefing is intended to be a guide to access additional local, state, tribal and federal information and resources. It will be available on the county website and updated regularly.

What we are doing:

Activation of the Public Health Emergency Response Team (ERT) in late February to begin planning for a possible local COVID-19 outbreak.
Activation of the County Emergency Operations Center (EOC) in late February to begin assisting the Public Health Department and local partners with planning efforts for a possible local COVID-19 outbreak.
Declaration of Emergency by the Lincoln County Commissioners on March 18, 20120 in a pre-planning effort for a possible local COVID-19 outbreak.
Attending daily briefings, planning meetings and informational sessions with Oregon Health Authority, Office of Oregon Emergency Management, Centers for Disease Control and Protection and the Governor’s Office.
Coordinating local planning efforts with our city/tribal governments, healthcare, schools, public safety, utilities, local, state and federal agencies, private industry, community and local media partners.
Activation of our county-wide Joint Information Center (JIC) this week to collaboratively coordinate communications with our local Public Information Officers (PIOs).
Planning for and coordinating efforts for those most at risk in our communities during social distancing timeframes and for those that may be directly affected by a local outbreak.
Acting as a central resource coordination center for needed supplies and Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) for our local healthcare partners.
Advocating for local business and industry partners to gain access to state and federal resources.
Assisting County Government in the activation of their continuity of government plans for the services provided by county departments and state courts.

What you can do:

Reach out to your neighbors, friends, and family by phone or email to make sure they and their animals have the resources they need to be safe during this public health emergency.
Follow physical distancing practices of six feet.
Self-care is important; take walks, listen to music, talk on the phone with a loved one.
Continue to use proper handwashing and cleaning practices.

Respectfully submitted,

Virginia “Jenny” Demaris,

County Emergency Manager

Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office

Susan Trachsel,

Public Information Officer

Lincoln County Public Health