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Oregon Coronavirus Update Wed 4/22/20: Gov Brown’s framework for reopening, Unemployment SNAFU

Writer's picture: Lisa Reynolds, MDLisa Reynolds, MD

Oregon Coronavirus Update

Wed 4/22/2020

Update: Gov Brown’s framework for reopening, Oregon Unemployment Snafus


Lisa Reynolds MD

This is Lisa Reynolds, MD. Portland Pediatrician, mom and daughter. Candidate for Oregon HD36.


Coronavirus: The numbers

  • WORLDWIDE: 2.5 million confirmed cases, 172,000 deaths

  • US: 805,000 confirmed cases, 40,000 deaths;

  • OREGON: 2000 confirmed cases, 78 deaths

  • Week 5 of Gov Brown’s Stay Home Order


Governor Brown’s Framework for Reopening Oregon



Gov Brown’s Reopening Oregon Framework

Note: this is a preliminary outline. Note also: MUCH has to be in place for this to move forward. But WE CAN DO HARD THINGS

  • Gating criteria: Need decline in identified cases

  • PREREQUISITE: Core State Preparedness (OHA hiring 600 people! - will be managed by local public health authorities with guidance by OHA):

    • Need increase in testing capacity (testing sx individuals; surveillance of all in congregant living) (Dembrow: We will also need to see that we have the ability to do broader testing and tracking, enough PPE, and plans in place to continue to protect those who are most vulnerable. This will include testing of people without symptoms who are dealing directly with vulnerable populations.)

    • Need capacity to trace contacts of COVID patients. COVID patients will need to be isolated, contacts will need to be quarantined. This will require social service support and preserved income to those in isolation and quarantine.

    • Healthcare system capacity to take care of hotspots and resume restrictions

  • County by county must petition - with plan (PPE, resources, reporting hosp admissions), board vote and support from local hosp/medical experts

SIDEBAR: There are eight categories of “businesses”

  • Schools/youth activities,

  • sitdown restaurants,

  • Visits to hospitals/senior centers

  • gyms,

  • bars,

  • personal services,

  • churches/theatres,

  • non essential medical services

Phase 1 : childcare, dining, bars personal services, non essential medical services - Mid May

  • High risk need to continue staying home, shelter in place

  • Continue social distancing, “consider” mask

  • All work from home, decr non essential travel

  • Discourage social gatherings of >10

  • if goes well after 14 days, move to phase 2

Phase 2 - End of May: Schools/gyms - with social distancing

  • Travel

  • Gatherings up to 50 people

  • If goes well after 14 days, move to phase 3

Phase 3 - Mid June

  • Larger mass gatherings

  • Workplace return to in person

  • Increase seating restaurants and bars

  • More visitors to hosp/senior centers



Oregon Unemployment payment SNAFUs


Oregon Employment Department’s antiquated computer system gives wrong information and has not been able to adjust to allow new categories and new rules. The system has not approved gig workers, self employed, waiving the 1 week waiting period or the requirement that the applicant is looking for work. These adjustments need to be made “by hand”.

Phone are lines overwhelmed - avg hold time 2 hr (if they even get “thru” ie not a busy signal)


Oregonian: “Oregon has compounded its problems by giving out faulty or contradictory information, opaque answers and offering silence on many pressing issues.”


The numbers:

300,000 Oregonians have lost their job due to COVID. This means 300,000 online claims (more than the prev 15 mos combined)

OED now has hired up quickly and now has 800 employees (up from less than 100)

There is $100m in owed benefits that have not been paid.

Avg time frame: 3 wks from filing to receiving benefits

Everyone will get paid retroactively

Including Fed govt to add $600/wk



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This website is written by Lisa Reynolds, MD, Portland, Oregon Pediatrician on the front lines of the coronavirus epidemic. Mom and daughter. Candidate for Oregon HD36.

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Lisa Reynolds, M.D., Announces COVID-19 Pandemic Recovery 

Legislative Framework

Proposed framework prioritizes health of all Oregonians, with phased restart of state’s economy

 

April 17, 2020 (Portland, OR) - Lisa Reynolds, M.D., a physician and candidate for Oregon House of Representatives-District 36 (NW/SW Portland), released a legislative framework called the Oregon Pandemic Recovery Act, with the goal of making this the first bill of the 2021-22 legislative session (HB-1). 

 

“In the next weeks and months ahead, I plan to work with state leaders, as well as community and business leaders, to help design Oregon's transition and recovery from the pandemic,” said Reynolds. “If we do this right, Oregon can come out better than ever. And of course, I will continue to reach out to Oregonians about what they need right now so we can help.” 

 

The Oregon Pandemic Recovery Act, a bold response to COVID-19’s unprecedented threat to Oregonians lives and livelihoods, consists of three major components:

 

  1. A large-scale and ongoing public health response that utilizes universal testing, contact tracing, and isolating the ill and the exposed.

  2. The moonshot goal of achieving widespread (“herd”) immunity (80-90 percent) to COVID-19 through demonstrated antibodies and/or vaccination. This is a prerequisite to full economic and societal opening.

  3. Post-pandemic massive investment to modernize Oregon’s healthcare system, schools and infrastructure through the sale of Oregon COVID Bonds.

 

Oregon COVID Bonds would allow Oregonians, as well as others around the country and the world, to invest in Oregon. “This will allow the state to build a healthcare system that improves the health of every Oregonian, to complete long-neglected infrastructure projects and to modernize our schools,” stated Reynolds.  

 

“I want everyone to understand that the 2021-22 legislative session must be focused entirely on pandemic response and recovery,” said Reynolds. “I believe we can rebuild Oregon and make us stronger and more equitable in the process.” This legislative framework also accounts for a lack of federal leadership, positioning Oregon as a national leader.

 

The latest numbers in Oregon show that the state is predicted to peak on April 26. As a result of Governor Brown’s Stay Home Order, Oregon’s hospital systems have sufficient capacity to care for those sickest with COVID-19. Reynolds says that eventually, the cumulative number of new illnesses and deaths will plateau. Oregon will then enter a period of transition, and once sufficient herd immunity is achieved, we can move into post-pandemic recovery.

 

“As a physician, I have prepared my entire career for this moment,” says Reynolds. “We cannot rely on the status quo or politics as usual. We need leaders with medical expertise who can work across the aisle and bring fresh perspectives at this critical time in our history. We need courageous and bold action to make sure that Oregon comes out of this crisis stronger and more equitable than before.” 

 

Reynolds, who was recently endorsed by the Portland Tribune “[for] her invaluable insight for these troubling times”, also says that, “every state policy and every state agency will need to prioritize spending and services through the lens of the pandemic.” 

 

Read the full legislative framework here. Visit Reynolds’ COVID-19 website at oregoncoronavirusupdate.com or her campaign website LisaForOregon.com. Follow Dr. Reynolds on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter (@lisafororegon).

 

###

 

Oregon Pandemic Recovery Act Legislative Framework

 

Following is a legislative framework for a successful and equitable recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic called the Oregon Pandemic Recovery Act (HB-1). This legislative framework was drafted by Lisa Reynolds, M.D., candidate for Oregon State House of Representatives-District 36. Dr. Reynolds, who will solicit feedback from voters about what the Oregon State Legislature needs to focus on in the upcoming 2021-2022 legislative session. 

 

Dr. Reynolds will also work with state leaders, as well as community and business leaders, to identify the most impactful and cost-effective steps to get Oregonians back on solid ground. The Oregon Pandemic Recovery Act is a bold response to COVID-19’s unprecedented threat to Oregonians’ lives and livelihood. The framework consists of three major components:

 

  1. A large-scale and ongoing public health response that utilizes universal testing, tracing of all contacts, and isolating the ill and the exposed. Extensive, if not universal, testing, both for the presence of the virus, that is, contagiousness, and presence of antibody, or immunity, is necessary before any significant reopening of the economy. Testing must be followed up with tracing of the contacts of all COVID-19 cases, and isolation for those infected or exposed.

  2. The moonshot goal of achieving widespread (“herd”) immunity (80-90%) to COVID-19 through demonstrated antibodies and/or vaccination. This is a prerequisite to full economic and societal opening. True economic reopening requires widespread immunity, either through previous COVID-19 illness or through widespread vaccination.

  3. Post-pandemic massive investment to modernize Oregon’s healthcare system, schools, and infrastructure through the sale of Oregon COVID Bonds.

 

Any full scale ‘re-opening’ in the near future would risk Oregonians’ lives. Rather, restrictions must be lifted methodically and incrementally. The state needs to start planning for a massive vaccine campaign as soon as the vaccine is available. Oregon should be the first state with demonstrated ‘herd immunity’ so that Oregonians can resume safe interactions with friends, family, and neighbors. 

 

HB1: The Oregon Pandemic Recovery Act of 2021-2022 Outline

 

Intra-Pandemic: Stay Home, Save Lives

  • Goals

    • Primary Goal: Save as many lives as possible

    • Secondary Goal

      • Educate and feed children

      • Protect the vulnerable from economic damage

  • Strategic Initiatives

    • Test/trace/isolate - build a public health workforce 

    • Tech for schools - provide robust learning for every Oregon student

    • Table - feed the hungry, allocate unemployment benefits, provide rent relief and continue to ban evictions

 

Transition: reopening (gradual and partial)

  • Goals

    • Primary Goal: Save as many lives as possible

    • Secondary Goal:

      • Safe return to economic life (incremental, methodical)

      • Safe return to school 

  • Strategic Initiatives

    • Universal testing/tracing/isolation - database

    • Statewide Alert system for Oregonians for disease hot spots

    • Build a vaccine fund - and a system to vaccinate all Oregonians

 

Post-Pandemic (herd immunity; post-vaccine) - a stronger, more equitable Oregon

  • Goals

    • Economic recovery 

    • Prepare Oregon for its greatest decade of economic growth

    • Improved lives for all Oregonians

  • Strategic Initiatives

    • Oregon COVID Bonds - to raise and invest $4B/year for 5 years

      • Basics

        • Modernize public health and healthcare systems

        • 21st-century schools from PreK-post secondary

        • Build Infrastructure - bridges, public transport, bike lanes

        • Build Housing - affordable & supportive housing

      • Boosts: Climate action

        • Give preference and priority for projects that reduce carbon, increase climate resiliency, and increase economic opportunity equitably. 

 

The proposed funding would be through COVID-19 Bonds. This approach would allow Oregonians, as well as others around the country and the world, to invest in Oregon. This will allow the state to build a healthcare system that improves the health of every Oregonian, to complete long-neglected infrastructure projects and to modernize our schools. 

 

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