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Oregon Gov. Kate Brown spoke to media on Wednesday to outline his decision to once again require masks for all Oregonians in indoor public spaces. The measure aims to slow the spread of the delta variant of COVID-19 and goes into effect on Friday, August 13.
Brown was joined by state health worker Dr Dean Sidelinger and Oregon Health Authority director Pat Allen to talk about how this strain of COVID-19 is three times more infectious and wreaking havoc in Oregon hospital systems.
The state reported 2,392 cases on Tuesday, the highest number of cases in a single day since the virus struck Oregon 18 months ago.
According to Brown, intensive care beds are about 90% full statewide, with some areas starting Wednesday with fewer than five beds.
“The harsh reality is that the Delta is a different virus,” Brown said. “It changed everything”
Brown has been criticized by reporters for whether or not she regrets the reopening of the state just six weeks ago. At the time, the state knew the Delta variant was here in Oregon and saw the problems it was causing in other parts of the country, as well as overseas in places like Israel.
Brown responded by saying she felt the state was at a point in the pandemic where “we need to move forward.”
“I felt strongly that local elected officials should step up and take action to preserve the capacity of hospital beds and protect their vulnerable constituents,” she said. “Clearly this is not happening, and I have to take action at this point. “
Brown said the mask warrant will be in effect for the foreseeable future. She did not specify when the requirement could be waived.
Dr Sidelinger said the pandemic has reached a “disastrous stage” where daily infections and hospitalizations threaten to overwhelm hospitals in the weeks to come.
In recent weeks, the Delta variant has set records in parts of Oregon for hospitalizations. Doctors say many of the people they see are not vaccinated, but studies have shown that people vaccinated with so-called breakthrough cases can still spread the virus.
“My plea today is for all Oregonians who have not yet been vaccinated: COVID-19 vaccine saves lives,” said Sidelinger. “We can bring this wave under control by vaccinating as many people as possible. The data from Oregon reaffirms what science has long supported, how incredibly effective the three available vaccines are at preventing severe COVID-19 infection, resulting in hospitalization. “
OHA Director Allen said Oregon has seen a 373% increase in hospitalizations over the past six weeks, from just 134 COVID-19 patients on July 1 to 635 hospitalizations yesterday. He also noted that young people represent an increasing percentage of these hospitalizations and that the delta variant makes people sicker, longer.
This pressure on the state’s medical systems, Allen said, means hospitals are forced to postpone certain procedures to deal with the growing threat of the delta variant.
A high number of hospitalizations also means that there are fewer intensive care beds available statewide to treat people with heart attacks, injured in accidents, or facing other serious medical emergencies. Allen included this fact in his advocacy for unvaccinated Oregonians to come out and get vaccinated.
“None of us expect to want an intensive care bed today, but we expect them to be there if we or our children or other family members need them,” said Allen.
Brown also announced this week that she is requiring all employees of the Oregon State Executive – including all state agencies – to be vaccinated by October 18, exactly six weeks after the vaccine has received approval from the United States Food and Drug Administration. The new requirement also includes the Oregon State Treasury, the Secretary of State’s Office, the Department of Justice, and the Bureau of Labor Industries.
“This action will ensure that state government workplaces are safe for the employees and the people of Oregon that we serve,” said Brown. “I strongly encourage our public and private employers to follow suit and demand the vaccination of their employees. “
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