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

Newport hospital using earthquake disaster plan to guide its coronavirus response, sets up drive-through testing

March 19, 2020

By QUINTON SMITH/YachatsNews.com Samaritan Pacific Communities Hospital in Newport is using a plan developed for a giant offshore earthquake to guide preparation for what it expects to be a wave of coronavirus patients. But unlike a tsunami that would inundate the central Oregon coast without warning, Samaritan Pacific administrators and staff have used the past week to prepare as

Yachats church becomes center for community help during coronavirus outbreak

March 19, 2020

Yachats Community Presbyterian Church gave out $1,000 Friday to laid-off hospitality workers, the first day of its growing effort to help those in need. Earlier in the week the church assumed operation of the community’s food bank, which normally operates out of the Yachats Commons. The city closed that building Tuesday. The initial money for suddenly unemployed workers came from

Lincoln County schools scrambling to adapt to impact of closing schools for six weeks

March 19, 2020

Lincoln County School District administrators and staffers are scrambling to adjust to the state-ordered six-week shutdown of all schools – including how to figure out credits for graduating seniors to continuing to provide meals to its 5,500 students. Superintendent Karen Gray said Wednesday that while many issues are in flux, educators had this week received some clarification about Gov.

Oregon lawmakers hear first reports on impact of coronavirus — and it’s not good

March 18, 2020

By JAKE THOMAS/Oregon Capital Bureau As the coronavirus outbreak continues to disrupt daily life across Oregon, legislators had their first discussion Wednesday on the Legislature’s possible response to the pandemic. With some legislators attending via video chat, the Joint Special Committee on Coronavirus Response for four hour listened to a dismal outlook offered by government officials and a range of