In what appears to be a deflection of responsibilities, both State and Federal agencies have seemingly shifted ‘policing’ of proof of vaccination as well as social distancing and mask requirements onto the private sector and corporations. Businesses now are caught in a difficult situation as ambiguity within the mandates opens the ability for government agencies to arbitrarily hold private business and corporations accountable for enforcing mandates or, for their lack of enforcement.
Questions continue as businesses navigate a minefield of basic rights of privacy and privacy laws, unsure if they can be held responsible for adverse consequences by requiring employees to be vaccinated with an ‘experimental vaccination’ that has not been approved by the FDA, to work, attend school, or travel. Business owners are now forced to follow unclear requirements and are facing angry opposition from customers who believe questions regarding their health care status is a violation of their privacy and health privacy laws after the Center for Disease Control announced Wednesday May 13th, that fully vaccinated adults can safely resume activities indoors or outdoors without masks or distancing, in gatherings large or small.
On Tuesday May 12th, Governor Brown announced the economy can reopen statewide when 70% of eligible individuals have received their first vaccine dose. As vaccination numbers begin to slow among the adult population amid consumer concerns of reported adverse effects, Governor Brown began the push to vaccinate the demographic with the highest survival rate of 99.997%, those 16-18 years old, to meet her 70% vaccination mandate.
On Friday, May 21st, Governor Brown unveiled her “Take Your Shot, Oregon” campaign, encouraging Oregonians age 12 and older to get vaccinated for the chance to win money and education scholarships. There will be ONE $1 million winner. There will be FIVE $100,000 Oregon College Savings Plan education scholarship winners and there will be THIRTY-SIX $10,000 winners (one in each county). Both the University of Oregon and Oregon State University announced they now require vaccination to attend classes on campus.
As of Friday, May 21st, the state of Oregon has tested 5,005,968 individuals, 716,528 more people than the states 4,289,440 population. Of that 4,719,940 have tested negative for the novel COVID-19 virus and 286,028 have tested positive. Since the pandemic began, Oregon has recorded 3,309 new cases in the past week, now averaging 472 cases per week in the state, and 197,851 cases in the past year. Individuals hospitalized continues to slow with just 244 hospitalizations statewide in the past week, and now stands at 10,930. 31 deaths were recorded in the past week statewide, and Oregonians who have unfortunately succumbed to COVID-19 has now reached 2,613 in the entire state since the pandemic began.
Curry County’s latest numbers as reported Friday May 21st, by the Oregon Health Authority, now reports testing 12,301 individuals with 11,747 negative tests, 554 total positive COVID-19 tests and after adding 6 new cases in the last week and has recorded 658 total cases and 10 deaths since the beginning of the pandemic.
Del Norte County Department of Health and Human Services reported testing 15,052 individuals, with 13,633 negative results, after adding 21 new cases in the past week now reaching 1,419 total confirmed cases reported by Public Health, with 19 active cases, 0 current hospitalizations and 7 deaths.
Coos County to the north, reported testing 51,313 individuals last week with 48,739 negative results, adding 43 new cases in the past week with now 2,574 total positive cases and 35 deaths since the beginning of the pandemic.
Josephine County has seen significant increases in recent weeks has reported testing 81,692 individuals with 77,716 negative results, 3,976 total positive test results adding 75 new cases in the past week with now 3,408 total cases of COVID-19 and now 71 deaths.
Humboldt County, to the south of Del Norte County, which includes the Eureka area, reports 4,198 total cases after testing 91,773 individuals, 3,968 recoveries, 179 hospitalizations, and 42 deaths since the beginning of the pandemic.
Jackson County, which includes the Medford area, with a total population of 221,290, reports testing 243,136 individuals, 19,896 more people than the counties total population, with 226,378 negative test results, 16,758 positive results, and 11,068 total cases of COVID-19 with now 141 deaths as of Friday, May 21st.
Curry County:
Statewide:
