On April 28 the City of Eugene released an update on the local operations concerning COVID-19.
The first objective: “stay the course.”
“We cannot emphasize enough that to successfully transition from emergency response into long-term community recovery we must continue following the latest public health guidelines,” according to the press release.
The health guidelines that the City of Eugene recommends are to practice physical distancing when you must leave the house for essential goods; they also ask for masks to be worn if possible. More information on the masks can be found here.
The press release also brings attention to marginalized communities. “The city is working with regional partners, nonprofits and businesses to share its COVID-19 information and resources with local immigrant communities.”
One way they plan to reach these communities is through this web page that caters to those who speak Spanish. The city is also releasing information on social media in Spanish.
Another expansion of their website is to provide a list of resources and how to access them. The newest addition to the list provides safe ways to stay active. This list shows upcoming community events such as virtual family fitness challenges, online gaming tournaments, and the Mile a Day in May challenge by the City of Eugene Athletics program.
Testing and Mortality
In a press conference on April 29, Lane County’s public information officer, Jason Davis, gave further details on local testing.
“We do need to be doing more testing now,” Davis said.
Davis expressed his appreciation of the local doctors and physicians for conserving resources but is now asking them to increase testing. “We have entered into a phase in which we can process more tests.”
Currently, Davis stated that Lane County has tested at least 3,272 patients with 50 confirmed cases and two confirmed deaths. “Of our confirmed cases, we have no one in the hospital. We have 30 individuals recovered so that means we have 18 people we are monitoring for recovery,” Davis said.
Now feeling confident that the county has the capacity to handle testing Davis encourages providers to test mild cases.
“Folks with mild symptoms, you know, who previously have been told to stay at home and then wait for 72 hours after your fever drops or your cough ceases without the aid of medication, that those individuals now should call their provider and have that conversation about testing knowing that we do have resources in our community to get them tested,” Davis said.
Davis closed his remarks stating that the goal is to reach 500 tests being processed per day for the entire community.
