The Baker County Sheriff's Office has released a statement in response to the recent statewide mandate form Governor Kate Brown that everyone must wear a mask in Oregon, both indoors and outdoors, regardless of Covid-19 vaccination status:

In light of recent questions I have received, I am reaching out to affirm that my stance on mask and vaccine mandates has not changed since the beginning of the pandemic. The Baker County Sheriff's Office has not and will not be enforcing mask or vaccine mandates. We are not responsible for enforcement of Oregon Health Authority rules.

Over the course of the pandemic, lapses in leadership at the state and national level have resulted in a certain level of distrust. I am in favor of local control, science, and common sense. We saw the benefits of local control last year when many of our small school districts were able to return to in person learning and extra-curricular activities (without negative health consequences) much sooner than larger counterparts.

As everyone knows, we are experiencing a surge in Covid-19 related sickness. This spike in cases and hospitalizations is supported by real-time local data. I believe our county health department and county physician have our best interests at heart in making recommendations and providing guidance for our community. These are our own local experts who are a reliable source of information as we make our individual health decisions.

I know that many people in our country have a very strong opinion about vaccinations, masks, the pandemic, and unfortunately, the politics of it all. As sheriff I represent everyone, and I hate to see how residents are being divided over these issues. I believe that in spite of our differing viewpoints we all want what is best for our community. We breathe the same air. We visit the same stores. Our children go to the same schools. We are still in this together. I ask that we don't attack those whose decisions may be different than ours, and to please take responsibility for staying home when you are sick. Real people around the world and in our own community have lost loved ones or are experiencing long-term health effects. My thoughts and prayers go out to them.

I am proud of the Baker County Sheriff's Office staff and their commitment to providing for the peace and safety of those in Baker County during these trying times. As your sheriff, I will uphold my oath to support the Constitution of the United States of America and the Constitution of the State of Oregon. I have and will continue to serve our community with unwavering dedication, honesty, fairness and integrity.

Bake County Sheriff Travis Ash

A good number of Oregon sheriffs have now issued similar statements on the matter.


--Staff Reports

Post Date: 2021-08-29 12:10:48

Last Update: 2021-08-30 08:38:59

The Fire Chief of Aurora Fire District in Aurora, Oregon has released a statement in response to Governor Kate Brown's recent demands that everyone in Oregon should wear face coverings, both indoors and outdoors, regardless of Covid vaccination status:

Staff, Volunteers and citizens,

I have been in the fire service for 28 years and have been so fortunate over my career that words cannot express. Over the past 28 years, I have experienced outbreaks, fires, storms, death, destruction, perseverance, and resilience. The fire service is a great occupation that has come at great sacrifice to myself and to my family, but the rewards of helping others in need has been the opportunity of a lifetime.

We have all dealt with many challenges over the past few years, whether it be fires, pandemic or ice storms. Luckily, for us in the fire service, we are always up to the challenge and we always come out on top. Today, however, is different.

Governor Kate Brown has announced that first line responders will now be required to receive a “vaccine.” Previously it was announced that those of us who chose not to get the vaccine would have the option to test. This option has now been taken away.

During the pandemic, first responders were hailed as heroes. We were the first ones to deal with patients that were suffering from issues, whether COVID or other illness or injury. We have gone from being heroes to now becoming too dangerous to employ without a “vaccine.”

This mandate is un-American, as our State government has been weaponized to the point where people are afraid to take a stand. I will no longer sit silently on the sideline and watch this happen. I love my job, I love the fire service, and more importantly, I love the people that I work with and serve. I am required to enforce this mandate by October 18th, 2021 or when the “vaccine” receives full authorization.

I will not abide by the Governor's mandate. Additionally, I will not enforce this mandate on any member of this fire district. In the old America, we used to have choices. Frankly, I do not recognize the country that I live in right now.

I recently sent out a survey to the staff and volunteers of our District. You need to be aware that 25% of the members of the Aurora Fire District have informed me that they will quit if forced to receive a “vaccine.” This survey was sent out while we still had the option to test. Now that the option to test is gone, I have reason to believe 25% of our personnel quitting is dramatically underestimated. Within these numbers, we are faced with the potential of nearly half of the career staff leaving. A decrease in membership to our already short handed cadre of staff and volunteers will have devastating results and will negatively impact our ability to respond. These staff and volunteer responders that will quit are the same ones that have been safely responding to emergencies throughout the duration of this pandemic.

Before you begin thinking I am a conspiracy theorist, or an anti vaxxer, please consider the following. I support my vaccinated and unvaccinated members equally. The “vaccine” is not the issue. Please take out the word “vaccination” and insert any other medical procedure or medication. These choices are better left between an individual and their physician.

We have policies and procedures in place that have kept our members and our public safe from COVID for the past 18 months. We have responded to many COVID patients and have never experienced an outbreak among our personnel. We have never had any of our personnel pass COVID throughout the District. We know how to keep ourselves and the public safe, we have been doing it for years. The Governor's new mandate will make our residents less safe. If she is so worried about the lack of responders now, I'll stand by and see what happens with this ridiculous and intrusive requirement.

I have asked the Aurora Fire District Board of Directors to stand up for medical freedom, and to stand up for America. I have asked the Aurora Fire District Board of Directors to support me and my decision. I want to continue working for the Aurora Fire District, but I have had it with the shifting goal posts and government overreach. I will NEVER force a member of this fire district to inject themselves with anything that they do not want.

I will never quit advocating for my people and for what is right. What is happening is wrong, and I will not enforce it. Should the Aurora Board of Directors choose, they would need to terminate me from my employment as your Fire Chief before I would enforce this intrusive requirement.

Sincerely,

Joshua L. Williams

Fire Chief

--Staff Reports

Post Date: 2021-08-28 07:20:42

Last Update: 2022-01-01 18:12:45

The Tillamook County Sheriff's Office has released a statement indicating they will not be enforcing Oregon Governor Kate Brown's recent demands that everyone in the State of Oregon should wear a mask both indoors and outdoors, regardless of Covid vaccination status:

To whom it may concern,

With the recent surge in Covid hospitalizations, I have been receiving inquires from the media and public regarding enforcement of the Governor’s mask mandate. The simple answer to that question is that the Tillamook County Sheriff’s Office will not be enforcing any mask mandate. I could easily fall back on the adage that we just don’t have the personnel to accomplish this daunting task - which is true - but that would not represent the entirety of the reason for my decision.

The fact is, I don’t believe it is the role of the Sheriff’s Office to enforce what is essentially an Oregon Health Authority directive, not a criminal one. TCSO is not the enforcement arm for OHA and my deputies will not be treating people like criminals if they choose to not wear a mask.

I believe that there is a certain amount of personal responsibility that each of us has and lately seems to be forgotten. If you are not feeling well, whether you suspect its Covid, the flu, the common cold or any other communicable disease, please contact your healthcare provider and consider staying home. Please, don’t go to work, shopping or to a function or event when you are sick. This is what I hope people were doing before Covid, and what we will do after. If you are concerned that an event or activity could potentially be a “spreader” event, then don’t attend it.

A simple remedy for the customer who finds themselves in a business that is making a choice different to their own beliefs in a way that makes them uncomfortable is to simply leave and not frequent that business any longer. If a customer is not complying with the wishes of a business, a representative from that business can ask the customer to comply or leave the premises. If the customer doesn’t comply with that request, then the business should contact law enforcement.

While we will not be enforcing the mask mandate, we will be enforcing crimes such as Harassment and Trespass. If a customer in a business located within the county refuses to leave an establishment after being asked to do so, or there is a physical altercation with another person, Deputies will respond and investigate as they do for other suspected criminal activity.

I hope this clears up any questions regarding this issue. Please stay safe.

Joshua Brown

Tillamook County Sheriff

--Staff Reports

Post Date: 2021-08-27 19:53:51

Last Update: 2021-08-28 03:17:05

Lindsay Berschauer, Vice-Chair of the Yamhill County Board of Commissioners, filed two separate complaints with the Oregon Secretary of State Elections Division today detailing over 50 campaign finance violations associated with the ‘Save Yamhill County’ and ‘Recall Lindsay Berschauer’ political action committees. Among the violations were a failure to declare ‘Save Yamhill County’ as the main political action committee conducting the recall effort against Commissioner Lindsay Berschauer, over 50 documented failures to lawfully report campaign contributions and expenditures in both PACs, and a failure to report expenditures associated with the campaign’s media outreach.

The complaints were filed by Eric Winters, a seasoned election law attorney, who represents Mrs. Berschauer. The complaints detailed long lists of violations with fines as high as $250 for a single violation.

“It’s disturbing to discover that Save Yamhill County has not followed Oregon campaign finance laws since they initiated the recall effort”, said Commissioner Lindsay Berschauer. “Attempting to hide campaign activity violates public trust and should alarm their contributors, whose donations will now be paying off fines. The public deserves to know the truth about this group’s unlawful actions and its attempt to overturn an election.”

The purpose of Oregon's campaign finance disclosure laws is to provide the public with accurate and timely information about election-related activities. When properly followed, these rules of disclosure also help inform voters of the activities undertaken on behalf of candidates, political committees and petition committees by those who provide financial or related in-kind support to them. Timely and accurate disclosure of campaign finance activities operates to safeguard public trust and discourage corruption. The campaign finance disclosure rules help voters keep track of what is happening, when it occurs and who is supporting specific campaigns -- in short, they help tell the stories of Oregon's political campaigns through the mandatory reporting of the related activities of political actors.

The continuing series of unreported and misreported campaign finance disclosure violations by Save Yamhill County and Recall Lindsay Berschauer may make county voters wonder how truthful this effort will be over the next couple months. What is clear is that the funding sources and activities of the recall campaign and associated PACs have been largely and illegally concealed from the public and merit a thorough investigation by Oregon Secretary of State Shemia Fagan and the Elections Division.


--Staff Reports

Post Date: 2021-08-27 15:10:56

Last Update: 2021-08-27 15:13:43

On August 24, 2021, the Washington County Board of Commissioners unanimously agreed to enact a new rule authorizing County Health and Human Services staff to enforce Oregon’s statewide mask mandates.

The County Board went on to blame the Delta variant and the un-vaccinated in their statement.

“The evidence is clear and compelling. Our community is in a dire situation and the Board has taken decisive action to ensure that all Washington County residents are protected from exposure to COVID-19 in public settings. The good news is that we have two powerful tools to fight the Delta variant surge. Mask wearing and vaccinations are absolutely the best ways to protect one another—especially our children and those with underlying health conditions that prevent them from getting the vaccine. We must all act with urgency to save lives and eliminate needless suffering,” said Washington County Board of Commissioners Chair Kathryn Harrington

Violations will be considered a Class C Civil infraction, with a maximum fine of $500 per day for businesses.

After the first complaint, a business will receive a phone call and email explaining the mask guidance; after the second complaint the business receives a letter and email.

If the County receives a third complaint staff will visit the business to verify the complaint. If the business is found to be in violation of the mandate, the County will forward the complaints and documentation to Oregon Occupational Safety and Health (OR-OHSA).

If the county receives a fourth complaint, Health and Human Services staff will issue a citation and impose fines.


--Bruce Armstrong

Post Date: 2021-08-26 22:13:51

Last Update: 2021-08-26 22:38:38

Many Oregonians have recently began to question whether the State Fair would happen at all this year, or if Governor Brown would try to shut the event down citing Coronavirus safety measures. Many people are eager to ditch the government restrictions and return to normal living after a year and a half of restrictions, lock-downs and canceled events.

It seems that the 2021 Oregon State Fair will happen, and the Oregon State Police will provide law enforcement services during the 11-day event. They apparently will also be carrying out Kate Brown's recent orders that everyone must wear a mask, both indoors and outdoors, regardless of vaccination status.

The Oregon State Police has a temporary command center at the fair, which includes a dispatch console. This command center gives OSP Troopers the ability to quickly facilitate remedies to a wide variety of incidents that can come up at the State Fair. The Oregon State Fair starts this Friday and runs through September 6, 2021.

An OSP Trooper will be stationed at each entrance greeting every visitor who comes to the fair.

They also will be encouraging parents to utilize the “if lost” bracelets that the fair provides. Parents or guardians will be asked to write their cell phone number on the inside of a bright yellow “if lost” bracelet and place it on their child’s wrist. If the child is separated, Troopers can easily reunite the child by calling the cell phone. It is beneficial; to have a same-day photograph of your child should they become separated from adult supervision. A height display will be positioned at each pedestrian entrance, which provides the appropriate backdrop, if needed, for law enforcement. By taking these safety precautions, OSP says Troopers will have the needed information to quickly reunite families.

OSP says Troopers are always looking for fair patrons to be vigilant with their surroundings.

“We ask anyone who witnesses criminal or disruptive activities to quickly report any incidents by calling OSP at *OSP from a mobile or 503-375-3555,” encourages Lt. Zohner.

The Oregon State Police says that masks will be required to be worn by all guests ages 5 and up, exhibitors, employees, and volunteers while on the Oregon State Fairgrounds, in both indoor and outdoor locations.


--Bruce Armstrong

Post Date: 2021-08-26 18:48:47

Last Update: 2021-08-26 19:12:46

Jeanette Schade is becoming a national recognized name for what she is doing to restore the Oregon education system. Her journey started when she ran for Beaverton School Board, but as soon as she started campaigning against critical race theory (CRT) and comprehensive sexual education the union came out against her. She counts her loss as a blessing because she can more effectively campaign for better education without the restraints of a school board position. However, she is not totally convinced she lost and is looking into anomalies in the election.

School boards across the state are buying into critical race theory motivated her to organize a PAC, Build Back Basics in Education. When the Beaverton School Board scheduled a CRT retreat, she knew it was time for action. Opposed to the board’s direction coupled with not listening to parents, when the school board again shut out parents from the August 30 meeting, Schade took it as a challenge. She has scheduled a Beaverton Parent/Community School Board Meeting and Rally at the same time at the district office starting at 5:30 pm with an American Flag wave. It will be livestreamed on YouTube and parents are invited to bring their comments and be heard.

Schade says the agenda will include: “two naturopathic Doctors: Robin Sielaff and Julie Glass who will talk on masks and vaccines regarding kids. Two lawyers: Paul Janzen and Bob Snee will talk on the mandates and what to do. The rest will come from parents and community members who will get 3 minutes to speak on a topic regarding schools that they so choose.” She is also encouraging people to write the school board.

Schade says, “I talk to people all over the state almost daily as they email or call me. Most of what I do is local in the tri-county area. I do a lot of public record's requests to see what the district is doing and how they are spending taxpayer dollars. I also speak at various groups who invite me, and I talk about how CRT is in our schools and how to combat it.” She is also a scheduled speaker at the Western Liberty Network annual conference in February, 2022.

“What’s happening in this district is happening statewide,” and she hopes to get parents activated.


--Donna Bleiler

Post Date: 2021-08-25 18:34:09

Last Update: 2021-08-26 09:36:21

The Office of Economic Analysis has presented the quarterly revenue forecast, which is the final forecast for the fiscal biennium. It confirmed that Oregon taxpayers will receive a $1.9 billion Kicker -- the largest kicker in the history of the kicker. The money will be returned to taxpayers in the form of a tax credit on the next state tax filing.

The median taxpayer can expect to receive a credit of $420, while the average is estimated to be $850.The corporate Kicker will send an additional $850 million to K-12 schools. The state budget will also have an ending fund balance of $699 million.

The strong revenue growth seen during the 2019-21 biennium put a cap on a decade of unprecedented expansion in Oregon’s General Fund revenues. Over the past decade, General Fund revenues have almost doubled from around $12 billion per year to around $24 billion. Over the decade as a whole, kicker payments amounted to $2.6 billion, reducing cumulative General Fund resources by 2.6 percent. Last biennium, kicker payments took away half of the General Fund growth. Looking forward, the current $1.9 billion kicker reduces 2021-23 revenues as well.

Senate GOP Leader Fred Girod (R-Lyons) issued a statement that said, “It’s clear that Democrats raided $15 million from the Kicker for no good reason. Unprecedented deficit stimulus spending by the federal government and Oregonians stepping up to support businesses during the Governor’s shutdowns has given the state excess money.

“The legislature now has money to invest in COVID and wildfire response and recovery and preparing for upcoming unknown expenses in the next biennium. Most importantly, our kids need to be in school full-time to get caught up after a year of learning loss. This money can help our kids recover.”

House Republican Leader Christine Drazan took a dim view of Oregon's progress. “Despite a budget that has doubled in ten years, the state is worse off today for our students’ education, housing prices, and the safety of our communities. State agencies have fumbled distribution of unemployment checks and rent assistance to those in desperate need. The state has struggled to protect foster kids. The cost of higher education is a barrier for students and families.

“The spending spree of the last decade has not solved Oregonians’ problems. Billions in new taxes did not make things better and the state can’t continue to operate this way. The lowest hospital bed per capita, bottom of the nation graduation rates, deteriorating safety for communities, and persistent homelessness are unacceptable.

“While it is great for the state that we have an increase in tax revenues, it is not the same thing as real progress for Oregonians.”


--Staff Reports

Post Date: 2021-08-25 10:49:54

Last Update: 2021-08-25 12:38:51

A Commissioner from Clatsop County Oregon has now sent Governor Kate Brown a letter expressing concern, in response to the recent vaccine mandate announcement.

The letter can be read here:

Dear Governor Brown,

As a member of the Clatsop County Board of Commissioners, I respectfully request the State of Oregon consider the impacts of vaccination mandates on rural schools, volunteer fire agencies and other vaccine mandated sectors.

For Clatsop County I am particularly concerned for the support staff, custodians, bus drivers and teachers’ aides that serve as the foundation for our K-12 schools.

In rural Oregon, vaccine hesitancy is real and many hard-working Oregonians will be required to choose between the vaccine and their personal freedom (and, thus, job). As you can imagine, many will choose personal freedom.

It is important that even during a pandemic, government is respectful of individual rights and freedoms.

We need to be sensitive to the legacy current decisions will have on the longstanding relationship between the government and citizens.

Maintaining public trust and confidence is a hallmark to local governance – vaccine mandates will forever change this trust balance – and not in a positive manner.

After eighteen long months of responding to the pandemic, we have learned many things, including the efficacy of masks, social distancing, personal hygiene and staying home when sick. While the vaccine is a valuable tool that Clatsop County will continue to advocate for and dispense, it is not without skeptics in our community.

I ask that you allow schools, hospitals, rural fire agencies and others to make local decisions on whether and how mandates are structured, communicated and implemented.

Our response to COVID-19 cannot be a one size fits all – local control, local values and local decisions are the path forward.

As we anticipate the inevitable COVID surges, lets continue to work together to educate, vaccinate, test and support those most in need, but simultaneously allow local agencies and industries to be the final decision-maker as to the specifics of their local response/approach.

Mandates had their time and place in the early stages of the pandemic; let’s make the transition to the more typical and desirable approach of local community-based decision- making and accountability based on an underlying respect and acknowledgement of personal rights and freedom.

Thanks for your consideration.

Sincerely,

Courtney Bangs

Clatsop County Commissioner, District 4

--Staff Reports

Post Date: 2021-08-24 22:57:09

Last Update: 2021-08-27 20:32:36

According to the Oregon Employment Department, Oregon's unemployment rate dropped to 5.2% in July from 5.6% in June. July was the 15th consecutive monthly decline in Oregon's unemployment rate. The reduction in the unemployment rate accelerated over the past two months with a 0.2 percentage point drop in June followed by a 0.4 point drop in July. These improvements followed slow declines of 0.1 point per month in each of the first five months of 2021.

Oregon's July unemployment rate declined dramatically from its high of 13.2% in April 2020, at the peak of the last recession, to 5.2% in July. However, the state's unemployment rate is still moderately above the period of record low rates in the years prior to the pandemic. During January 2017 through March 2020, Oregon's unemployment rate was fairly steady, averaging 3.9%.

For the past several years, Oregon's unemployment rate generally has closely tracked the U.S. unemployment rate. The U.S. unemployment rate dropped to 5.4% in July from 5.9% in June.

Government job gains in July were concentrated in local government — in contrast with federal government and state government which both experienced their normal seasonal pattern in July. Throughout the economic recovery of the past year, local government averaged more than 20,000 jobs below its pre-recession level of about 230,000. But in July, seasonally adjusted employment shot upward by 12,800 jobs. Likely factors in the stronger July pattern this year include schools not laying off the typical numbers of employees for the summer and cities and counties ramping up employment closer to pre-pandemic levels.

Leisure and hospitality expanded rapidly in July, adding 7,100 jobs. Despite this gain, it still accounts for the bulk of Oregon's jobs not recovered since early 2020, with 44,500 jobs left to recover to reach the prior peak month of February 2020. The industry has regained 60% of jobs lost early in the pandemic.

Transportation, warehousing, and utilities declined by 2,500 jobs in July. This loss may reflect a change in the seasonal pattern of the industry over the past two years. With online shopping and delivery rapidly growing, the industry has exploded over the last few years. It ramped up by 12,500 jobs between April and December of last year, which was about double the industry's seasonal hiring a few years prior. Despite the recent hiccup in July, the industry is still 5,100 jobs above its July 2019 total of 70,400 jobs.


--Staff Reports

Post Date: 2021-08-24 15:52:25

In a news release, the Oregon Department of Human Services announced that most Oregonians who receive Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits -- previously known as "food stamps" -- will receive emergency allotments in September.

The federal government has approved emergency allotments every month since March 2020. This gives SNAP recipients additional support during the COVID-19 pandemic.

In September, approximately 402,000 SNAP households will receive approximately $65 million in extra food benefits in addition to their regular SNAP benefits.

“We are grateful to have the opportunity to provide emergency benefits to most SNAP households in Oregon,” said Dan Haun, director of the Oregon Department of Human Services (ODHS), Self-Sufficiency Program. “We also know that many Oregonians are still struggling to meet their basic needs due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and we encourage them to contact our partners at 211 and the Oregon Food Bank for support during this difficult time.”

Emergency allotments will be available on Sept. 11 for current SNAP households. New SNAP households will receive the emergency allotments Sept. 30 or Oct. 2.

SNAP recipients do not have to take any action to receive these supplemental benefits as they will be issued directly on their EBT cards.


--Staff Reports

Post Date: 2021-08-24 14:59:09

Last Update: 2021-08-24 15:52:25

Governor Kate Brown has announced new statewide outdoor mask requirements to help stop the spread of the Delta variant.

Effective Friday, August 27, masks will be required in most public outdoor settings, including large outdoor events, where physical distancing is not possible, and regardless of vaccination status.

The Oregon Health Authority (OHA) also strongly recommends masking for outdoor gatherings at private residences when individuals from different households do not consistently maintain physical distance.

“The Delta variant is spreading fast and wide, throwing our state into a level of crisis we have not yet seen in the pandemic. Cases and hospitalizations are at a record high,” said Governor Brown. “Masks are a quick and simple tool we can immediately deploy to protect ourselves and our families, and quickly help stop further spread of COVID-19.

“The Delta variant is much more contagious than previous variants we’ve seen, and it has dramatically increased the amount of virus in our communities. Masks have proven to be effective at bringing case counts down, and are a necessary measure right now, even in some outdoor settings, to help fight COVID and protect one another.”

Under the Governor’s direction, the OHA rule will require masks for all individuals — regardless of vaccination status — in outdoor settings in which individuals from different households are unable to consistently maintain physical distance.

The rule does apply to fleeting encounters, such as two individuals walking by one another on a trail or in a park. While the rule does not apply to outdoor gatherings at private residences, masks are strongly recommended in those settings when individuals from different households do not consistently maintain physical distance.

“It is much easier for people with the Delta variant, compared to people who were sick last year, to infect others around them,” said State Health Officer Dr. Dean Sidelinger. “This is because they have one thousand times more virus in their nose – which means that those around them are much more likely to get sick because this variant behaves so differently. We are starting to see instances where cases are clustering around events, like outdoor music festivals, that happen outdoors. Wearing masks in crowded settings – even outdoors – will help slow the spread of COVID-19.”

The rule aligns with the exceptions outlined in the recent statewide indoor mask requirements, and does not apply to:

• Children under 5 years old
• Individuals who are actively eating, drinking, or sleeping — as well as individuals living outdoors, such as persons experiencing houselessness
• Persons playing or practicing competitive sports, or engaged in an activity in which it is not feasible to wear a mask — such as swimming
• Individuals delivering a speech or performing — such as with outdoor music or theater
• Mask requirements for day-to-day operations at K-12 schools are not governed by this rule, and will instead continue to fall under the school mask rule. Outside public events, spectator events, and gatherings of the general public on K-12 school grounds will be subject to the rule. Child care and youth programs will continue to follow existing OHA mask guidance
• In addition, entities subject to the ADA must continue to comply with that law.

The OHA rule will go into effect this Friday, August 27, however Oregonians are strongly encouraged to immediately start wearing masks outdoors, as outlined above.

Governor Brown continued, “The combination of vaccines and masks is the most powerful way we can fight this latest surge of COVID-19 and save lives. Vaccination continues to be the best way you can protect yourself and your family from the Delta variant, and the most effective way we can help our exhausted nurses and doctors, who are working around the clock to treat Oregonians sick with COVID in our ICUs — the majority of which are unvaccinated individuals. With the full FDA approval of the Pfizer vaccine this week, we have additional reassurance that the vaccines are safe and effective.”


--Bruce Armstrong

Post Date: 2021-08-24 13:43:43

Last Update: 2021-08-24 16:59:49