Aug 3 2020 thru Aug 9 2020

VIDEO: With the high rate of infection in Malheur County, more and more people are being asked to quarantine after being exposed to someone who has contracted Covid. The Enterprise talked with Rebecca Stricker, Malheur County Health Department nursing supervisor, about what it means to quarantine and why people should stick it out if they are advised to do so.

Two weeks after a woman obtained a restraining order against Ontario City Councilor Freddy Rodriguez, he obtained one of his own. The woman contested his petition resulting in a court hearing in Vale and the judge decided Rodriguez hadn't established he faced an imminent threat.

While the total number of emergency room visits and hospitalizations for the infection are down, the county is falling behind in other crucial goals such as the number of new positive tests and the number of new cases.

Due to Gov. Kate Brown’s new guidance for reopening schools announced last week, which requires certain case and positive testing rates, most Malheur County schools will be unable to open in the fall due to current Covid numbers showing high case and positive testing rates.

Vale schools will start a week later so the district can better prepare for distance learning. Families can check out Chromebooks and equipment starting Aug. 24.

A longtime Ontario resident and president of Saint Alphonsus Medical Center Ontario, Hart announced in July he was stepping down from his position to become the chief financial officer for the area medical agency.

SUMMARY: A quick read on the top stories from the Enterprise related to the pandemic in Malheur County - your fast brief to keep up to speed.

Katy Lamb, who stepped down as city manager in March, was selected by the elected board July 31 to replace Russ Kirkpatrick, who resigned abruptly. Lamb's new role will be a temporary one until the council decides what is the next, best course of action.

Most fall sports will be pushed into a seven-week season starting February, but full-contact sports like football will still not happen unless the governor removes her restrictions.

Ironside Rural Road District, Vale Irrigation, Pioneer Nursing Home Health District, Oregon Telephone Corp., Malheur County Court

An Ontario couple experienced Covid. They lost weight, experienced isolation and gave up their vacation. Coming out of it, they have one message: wear a mask.

The Oregon Health Authority awarded community-based organizations around the state, including six in Malheur County, grants to help communities of color disproportionately affected by Covid. Those chosen in the county include Eastern Oregon Center for Independent Living, Euvalcree, Four Rivers Cultural Center, Immigrant and Refugee Community Organization, New Hope Day Shelter and Kitchen at Origins and Oregon Childhood Development Coalition.

Positions include Instructor, Test Proctor, Ranch Worker

One-third of the population of Malheur County is Hispanic. Thousands of people are bilingual, but many don’t speak English and there is no local Spanish-language news source. Local advocacy groups are ensuring that Spanish speakers have access to accurate information about Covid.

The 90-day period for chief petitioner Vernon Denison to get at least 493 signatures on his petition to recall Ontario City Councilor Freddy Rodriguez started July 28 and must be turned in by Oct. 26. However, before signatures can be gathered, Denison has to finish filling out multiple forms.

A federal program provided an additional $600 every week for people who collected unemployment insurance benefits in a four-month period. With 932 people still unemployed in Malheur County as of June, the program expired late July.

The event begins at 10 a.m. and runs until 2 p.m. Up to 200 people can get tested for free at the site.

The Oregon Health Authority reported Tuesday that Malheur County had 33 new Covid cases and two deaths. Both deaths were women over age 80.

Alliance consists of school superintendents, county commissioners, public health officials and representatives from education service districts along with state officials. The aim of the effort to give local, rural counties more flexibility regarding school reopening.

A short overview and charts reflect the latest information from county and state health authorities to provide a snapshot of the status of the Covid outbreak in Malheur County.

Jax Hale, 3, was playing with family in the water to beat the heat when the current grabbed the youth and swept him into the river.