This week we’re bringing you an Oregon Covid-19 update and tips for getting ready for winter holidays during the pandemic. As the spread of Covid-19 rises in Oregon, please do not hesitate to reach out to our team for assistance.
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Save the date! CNSCOS will host a second flu shot and Covid-19 test drive through event on Sunday, November 22 at the Mittleman Jewish Community Center.
More details to come soon.
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OHA reported a new record daily case count on Saturday. Oregon has now reached 51,155 positive or presumptive cases and 734 deaths as of November 9.
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OHA reported on 11/4 that Oregon has seen a 34% spike in cases over a week. That week was the second consecutive week that daily case counts set a record high.
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At a press conference Friday November 6, Governor Kate Brown announced new measures for pausing social activities to slow the spread of Covid-19. The measures apply for a two week period from Nov. 11 through Nov. 25 in Malheur, Marion, Multnomah, Jackson, and Umatilla counties and include the following:
- Limiting social gatherings to your household, or no more than six people if the gathering includes those from outside your household.
- Pausing long-term care facility visits that take place indoors to protect staff and residents.
- Reducing maximum indoor capacity for restaurants and other businesses
- Urging all businesses to mandate work from home to the greatest extent possible.
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Social gatherings are driving Covid-19 cases. For example, a Halloween party led to at least 14 cases and a workplace outbreak.
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Key takeaway for Oregon — more people are spending time indoors with people outside their household, without masks. It’s imperative that we continue to follow precautions. Gather outside, and if you can’t, wear masks indoors. Although masks can’t fully stop Covid-19 from spreading in a poorly ventilated space, case studies suggest that they reduce the severity of an infection.
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As Covid-19 cases spike across the country, it’s best to stay home for the holidays. You can create a pod with another household or attend zoom dinners with friends and family. OHA shares tips for safe holiday celebrations.
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Don’t travel if you are sick.
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Before you travel, check whether your destination has requirements or restrictions for travelers, and how much Covid-19 is spreading there. The more cases at your destination, the more likely you are to get infected during travel and spread the virus to others when you return.
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Consider getting tested for Covid-19, especially if your travel involves higher risk activities like being in an area experiencing high levels of Covid, going to large social gatherings, or being in crowds. Remember that a negative test is NOT a free pass to ignore precautions. Some tests, like the rapid test, have a higher likelihood of giving you a false negative result.
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If you’re planning to fly, there are ways you can reduce your risk. Experts generally agree that the airplane itself isn’t the worst place because of airplane air filtration systems — it’s the chaotic airport, where it can take just one unmasked person to infect people around them. Always wear a mask when in the airport (and on the plane), use hand sanitizer or wash your hands after touching high-touch surfaces like door handles, and try to stay away from crowded areas.
Here are some ways to stay safe on the airplane itself:
- Wear a mask unless eating or drinking (and use a straw under your mask while drinking). Droplets from breathing or speaking can spread in the air in the plane. Try to eat a large meal before the flight, to avoid the need to remove your mask to eat.
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Pick an airline that keeps middle seats free. Airplanes have better air filtration systems than most bars or restaurants, but it’s hard to keep a distance from other passengers.
- Disinfect your seat area. Airlines have upped the frequency of cleaning, but not necessarily before each flight.
- Wash your hands and don’t touch your face.
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It’s never been more important to give back. Willamette Week’s Give Guide highlights local nonprofits that could use your support, and offers prizes for those who donate between November 1 and December 31.
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Do you need a face mask? CNSCOS has a supply of KN95 masks from Oregon Health Authority, and we’re excited to distribute them across our community as long as supplies last.
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N95 means the mask has been rated to filter at least 95 percent of airborne particles it encounters and has been manufactured to form a seal on the wearer’s face. The difference between an N95 and a KN95 mask is where the mask is certified. N95 is certified in the United States and KN95 is certified in China.
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If you would like to receive a KN95 mask, please fill out this request form.
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Did you miss our Q&A with OPB journalist?
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On October 14, we hosted a Covid-19 Q&A with OPB's lead Covid-19 reporter and former scientist, Erin Ross. Ross answered questions about what we can expect for schools in the next few months, how to safely form a quarantine-safe "pod," how to navigate public transportation during a pandemic, and more. Click the video thumbnail below to watch.
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CNSCOS is here to help anyone in the Washington, Multnomah, or Clackamas County Jewish community who has been affected by Covid-19. Our available services differ based on whether or not you have been tested positive for the virus.
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If you’ve been exposed to the virus or tested positive and are quarantining, we can assist with and cover costs for things like grocery shopping, finding housing, childcare, or transportation.
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If you have been affected in an indirect way, we can still help you find/apply for financial resources, with errands, or just calling to talk if you’re feeling lonely.
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Please do not hesitate to reach out at covid19@nevehshalom.org or call 971-990-5652! And please share this information with anyone who might need help!
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We want to know how to best serve you. What questions do you have about Covid-19? What are your biggest concerns? What kind of resources are you looking for?
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