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Lincoln County call center answers any and all questions

Justin Werner
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Lincoln County call center answers any and all questions

Lincoln County Call Center

Lincoln County Emergency Public Information Call Center is answering the public’s questions and keeping mental health in check with trained volunteers to take pressure off of essential services.

Homepage staff called the Lincoln County Emergency Call Center at 541-265-0621 Tuesday morning to see why people would call and what questions they could ask. A trained volunteer answered the phone and gave us the skinny on what questions they were fielding, what callers could expect to learn and why the call center is necessary.

“If I can be a calm in the storm for somebody, then that makes it worthwhile,” a call center volunteer said. The man said he was a therapist in Lincoln County and is donating his services –three days a week — to help people through these difficult times.

Our therapist told us people can ask all kinds of questions, including, mental health, where to get food, symptoms and concerns of COVID-19 and even why vacation rentals are still renting.

“Any and all questions will be answered.”

PUBLIC INFORMATION CALL CENTER

The call center has been established to take pressure off other agencies in emergencies such as the COVID-19 pandemic. Freeing up phone lines of essential services by taking the public’s questions is part of why the call center exists.

From the Lincoln County website:

The Lincoln County Emergency Public Information Call Center was implemented in 2018 to provide critical information resources to community members impacted by disaster or large community emergency response. The Call Center, when activated, is staffed by local public safety volunteers under the direction of the County Emergency Operations Center and lead County Public Information Officer.

The center is staffed with Lincoln County professional volunteers from all walks of life, including nurses, behavioral health professionals and law enforcement personnel.

An extensive bank of links is available to call center staff, allowing them to handle most calls and they also have the ability to research information and call people back. In some cases they will rout calls to the appropriate staff.

Mental health has become a hot topic as thousands of Lincoln City residents shelter at home in a concerted effort to slow the virus spread. The call center is ready to take calls from the public about anything they want to talk about.

“We’re here to answer all your questions,” another call center volunteer said. “We can all get through this together.”

The call center is open Monday-Friday 9 a.m. – 1 p.m and can also be reached by email: [email protected]

541-265-0621

The Lincoln County Emergency Public Information Call Center was implemented in 2018 to provide critical information resources to community members impacted by disaster or large community emergency response. The Call Center, when activated, is staffed by local public safety volunteers under the direction of the County Emergency Operations Center and lead County Public Information Officer.

EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT WEBSITE

Chinook Winds lays off staff, cancels hotel reservations

Justin Werner
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Chinook Winds lays off staff, cancels hotel reservations

Chinook Winds

Chinook Winds Casino Resort announced Tuesday it will stay closed through at least April 15, lay off employees and cancel hotel bookings due to Covid-19.

The coastal attraction is the largest employer in Lincoln City and the extended closure affects hundreds of Lincoln City citizens.

A decision to shut down all operations took place March 17, with the Siletz Tribal Council and senior executive team setting a goal to re-open by April 1. Employees were paid throughout this initial closure, but Chinook Winds said it “made the difficult decision to temporarily lay off a majority of employees effective April 1.”

The casino resort said the decision was based on their ability to provide a safe environment for employees and guests and would reopen as soon as the “crisis” was over and would “bring all employees back.”

“We look forward to bringing the team back as soon as this crisis is over and it is safe to re-open,” General Manager Michael Fisher said. Employees health premiums will still be paid throughout the closure.

All hotel reservations will be canceled automatically through the closure. Guests with a reservation after the April 15 will be notified of their reservation status if the closure is extended.

Chinook Winds has set up an employee webpage, a Facebook group and is texting its employees so they can receive updates on the casino resort’s status and said the situation is fluid and will be regularly re-evaluated based upon the status of the pandemic.

Lil Sambos opens with custom-built drive-up window

Justin Werner
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Lil Sambos opens with custom-built drive-up window

Cary Moore Lil Sambos

Lil Sambo’s has been a coastal landmark since the 50s and recently closed along with myriad other restaurants due to COVID-19, but restaurateur Cary Moore has built a drive-up window to bring pancakes and bacon to the sheltered masses.

Lil Sambos Drive-up window

Moore had the idea to build a drive-up window three days ago and went out in search of the right window. He found it and began constructing a box that juts out from the restaurant. He hired a painter when the drive-up was finished and now customers can get their Lil Sambo’s favorites from their cars.

“People can once again get our super-thick bacon,” Moore said.

Moore’s business is running off a streamlined menu, with a selection of their most popular entrees available for breakfast and lunch. Also ready to consume are espresso and milkshakes.

Lil Sambos menu

“We spent the first week doing stuff we couldn’t do while customers are in the restaurant,” Moore said, “We did sheetrock, painting and many repairs. Things you can’t do while customers are sitting in the restaurant.”

Moore said Lil’ Sambo’s staff has undergone special training sessions to implement safety protocols to keep the public safe.

According to Moore, the wait time has been drastically reduced by the limited menu and people can also call ahead and pick up their orders.

Lil Sambos drive-up service is open 8 a.m.- 3 p.m. seven days a week.

Editor’s Note: Lincoln City restaurants have converted operations to serve the public hot meals with some doing curbside pickup and deliveries. Homepage has compiled a list of all of the eateries that are open which is here.

One question Moore is often asked is whether or not they were ever a part of the Sambo’s national chain:
“The answer is no. Our name is borrowed from the hero of a fictional story about an Indian boy, tigers, and pancakes written by Helen Bannerman in 1899.“

 

VIDEO: Oregon reports 1 COVID-19 death, 98 new cases

News Release
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VIDEO: Oregon reports 1 COVID-19 death, 98 new cases

Oregon Health Authority Senior Health Advisor Dawn Mautner, MDCOVID-19 has claimed one more life in Oregon, raising the state’s death toll to 12, the Oregon Health Authority reported at 8 a.m. today.

Oregon Health Authority also reported 98 new cases of COVID-19, bringing the state total to 414, as of 8 a.m. today. The COVID-19 cases reported today are in the following counties: Clackamas (10), Columbia (1), Deschutes (3), Douglas (1), Jackson (2), Klamath (1), Lane (2), Linn (2), Marion (26), Morrow (1), Multnomah (22), Polk (4), Umatilla (1), Wasco (1), Washington (18), Yamhill (4). Oregon Health Authority reports new cases once a day on its website: www.healthoregon.org/coronavirus.

Oregon’s 12th COVID-19 death is an 82-year-old woman in Marion County. She tested positive on March 20, and died March 25 at Salem Hospital. She had underlying medical conditions.

Stay informed about COVID-19:

Oregon response: The Oregon Health Authority and Oregon Office of Emergency Management lead the state response.

United States response: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention leads the U.S. response.

Global response: The World Health Organization guides the global response.

SNAP benefits authorized for Amazon and Walmart groceries

Justin Werner
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SNAP benefits authorized for Amazon and Walmart groceries

Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) beneficiaries can now use their EBT cards to purchase groceries from online retailers Amazon and Walmart due to a rapid adoption after a pilot program and COVID-19.

“We appreciate the accommodations that many retailers have made to support individuals at high risk of serious health consequences from COVID-19,” said Mike McCormick, interim director of the DHS Office of Aging and People with Disabilities. “Anything we can do to help Oregonians access necessities and limit their potential exposure to illness, is absolutely crucial at this time.”

Oregon has been part of a pilot program that allows SNAP recipients the opportunity to purchase groceries online. In March, the Department of Human Services (DHS) gave access to online purchasing in Portland and Grants Pass for Walmart and Amazon. Due to the COVID-19 crisis, both retailers moved up their expansion dates to help those who have difficulty or are unable to get to a store.

DHS officials said purchasing groceries online supports social distancing and is necessary to slow the spread of the virus.

If your work hours are reduced or you lose your job, you may become eligible for SNAP if you meet eligibility requirements. You can apply for SNAP benefits without visiting an office.

Apply online

DHS is keeping local offices open during this pandemic to serve people who do not have access to the Internet.

Find an office in your community

 

Request for PPE donations met by countless good Samaritans

Mary Jo Kerlin
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Request for PPE donations met by countless good Samaritans

Samaritan Health Services put out a request on March 19 to the communities it serves for donations of personal protective equipment. Facemasks and other items were requested as health care facilities grapple with an international supply-chain shortage as a result of COVID-19 response.

Instantly Samaritan received phone calls, emails and responses via social media from people eager to help.

“The response has been remarkable,” said Taylor Gilmour, assistant vice president of Samaritan Foundations. “It is clear that we are surrounded by a caring community who wants to ensure the health and safety of health care professionals and patients and for that we are thankful. We have received donations from individuals and local businesses, including Hewlett-Packard and the Lowe’s and Target distribution centers.”

Samaritan’s original request was for facemasks of all kinds, including but not limited to N95 masks, disposable gowns and gloves, eye protection, swabs and viral transport tubes, and 70% or greater isopropyl alcohol. After four donation drop-off sessions, eight pallets of PPE items were collected and the need for gloves has been fully met.

“While we received donations of commercially-produced facemasks, we also received a lot of homemade masks,” Gilmour said. “The craft of sewing is alive and strong in Benton, Linn and Lincoln counties.”

In settings where facemasks are not available, the CDC does allow for health care professionals to use homemade masks for care of patients with COVID-19 as a last resort. Samaritan’s strategy is to use standard PPE first as it offers the best protection for health care professionals, especially those treating patients with COVID-19. Homemade masks will be used if standard PPE supplies are depleted or will be used in care settings not requiring as stringent PPE use to free up available supplies in COVID-19 treatment areas.

“All donations collected from the community will now be sanitized or sterilized before being circulated in patient care areas,” said Karen Keuneke, infection prevention supervisor at Good Samaritan Regional Medical Center.

At the conclusion of Samaritan’s supply drive, the counties of Benton, Lincoln and Linn announced plans to host supply drives, which they will then distribute to organizations in need throughout each county. To learn more, visit co.benton.or.us/coronavirus and co.lincoln.or.us/covid. Linn County’s drive information with be forthcoming.

Anyone still wanting to make fabric masks, please refer to the following instruction video from EasyToSew on YouTube for the now preferred pattern that includes a filter pocket. Samaritan encourages community members to support their county’s efforts.

Governor’s Joint Task Force for Health Care Systems Response to COVID-19

Justin Werner
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Governor’s Joint Task Force for Health Care Systems Response to COVID-19

Oregon Health Authority held a webinar Thursday, March 26 outlining the Governor’s Joint Task Force for Health Care Systems Response to COVID-19 action plan and addressed problems that could be presented by a COVID-19 surge.

A PowerPoint presentation showed COVID-19 projections and steps being taken to prepare for a possible “coming surge” that is expected by state medical professionals.

Oregon Health Authority’s Dr. Dean Sidelinger covered the latest projections for Oregon. He said COVID-19 cases being seen now is the “tip of the iceberg” and showed projections of what could happen in the future based on action taken now.

IBM and OHSU worked with Oregon to provide the models shown in the presentation.

“We all need to work together to stay home and save lives,” Sidelinger said. “We can’t afford to drop our guard.”

Health officials repeated they are expecting a COVID-19 surge and said medical supplies, personal protective equipment (PPE) and testing kits were “already constrained” and “negatively impacting the healthcare system’s ability to respond to this crisis.”

Oregon Health Authority’s Dr. Dana Hargunani said hospitals were preparing for the surge using guidance from the joint task force action plan. She said hospitals could be overwhelmed by this crisis and medical supplies and PPE could become even more scarce.

Hargunani said donations of PPE supplies are coming in and is working to secure additional supplies. She said PPE is being collected at the Emergency Coordinating Center in Salem and 500,000 surgical masks are on the way.

“Hospital leaders and health officials are doing their part to find beds, secure supplies and protect health care workers,” she said. “Oregonians continue make the difference to stay home and save lives.”

Oregon Association of Hospitals and Health Systems CEO Becky Hultberg said hospitals are adding beds, managing critical supplies, building staffing models, deferring elective procedures and converting existing beds to ICU beds.

“Hospitals are going to extraordinary measures to prepare for the coming surge,” Hultberg said. “We are committed to working with the State and local partners to implement the task force’s recommendations. This was necessary and essential work that will shape how we will collaborate statewide.”

Hultberg thanked state partners and member hospitals and called this an “unprecedented time” and said, “Staying home is the best way to protect yourself and your family and also to protect the caregivers who are out on the front lines.”

Action Plan objectives:

1. Procure & distribute critical medical supplies

Necessary for the health care system’s response to the surge of COVID-19 cases including personal protective equipment and ventilators.

2. Optimize hospital capacity

To prepare for the expected surge of COVID-19 patients requiring hospital level of care, including the management of admissions and discharges and the development of alternative hospital care sites.

3. Mobilize necessary healthcare workforce

To respond to the expected surge of COVID-19 patients.

4. Maintain transparency and coordination

To ensure a unified COVID-19 emergency response across Oregon.

Prescription pick up, delivery and mail options in Lincoln City

Justin Werner
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Prescription pick up, delivery and mail options in Lincoln City

Pharmacies in Lincoln City are doing things differently due to COVID-19 and have implemented new measures to keep people who need medications safe.

Curbside pickup and delivery options are available and prescriptions can even be mailed directly to patients.

“We’re doing everything we can to get medications to people and keep them safe,” Safeway Staff Pharmacist Harrison Wood said. “It’s working pretty well, this is all new to us so it’s a learning curve for both us and the patients.”

Safeway Lincoln City, Oregon

Safeway’s pharmacy is delivering medications in a 10 miles radius from its store and offers curbside pickup and will bring out medication to people in their parking lot. Customers will still benefit from pharmacist council if they receive medications by mail via the United States Post Office. Those people will get counsel by phone. Medications requiring refrigeration can’t be mailed.

Safeway has established early hours for seniors and immunocompromised individuals on Tuesday and Thursday from 7-9 a.m.

Rite-Aid’s pharmacy said it is not currently mailing prescriptions, but is doing curbside pickup upon customer request. Those wishing to have their medications brought out to the car can call ahead. This service is dependent on staffing and should be available around midday.

Walgreens Lincoln City
(Photo by Google Maps)

Walgreens is advising its customers to use their drive-thru and has some grocery items available to purchase while picking up prescriptions. Those wanting groceries will need to call ahead to arrange pickup. Mail delivery is available through their website and mobile apps. Walgreens staff said they saw an increase in the number of cars at its drive-thru initially, but have seen a drop off as “people are taking the COVID-19 threat seriously.”

Bi-Mart Lincoln City, Oregon

Bi-Mart‘s corporate office said they have noticed an increase in people making sure they are staying up on medications, which has caused higher demand and caused some prescriptions to be delayed by “a day or so” as manufacturers ramp up production to meet demand. Some drugs are being doled out in smaller quantities in an effort to get everyone who needs certain medications some of the supply. Bi-Mart has a walk-up window and has beefed up social spacing and sanitizing protocols.

“It might take a little longer to get refills and everybody needs to be patient,” Wood said. “We’ll get through this.”

 

Sheriff offers security tips for telecommuters

News Release
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Sheriff offers security tips for telecommuters

WORKING FROM HOME?

Keeping your home online workplace secure during the COVID-19 outbreak:

While working from home can – and hopefully will – help slow the spread of the coronavirus, it brings new challenges: juggling work while kids are home from school; learning new software and collaboration programs; and managing paper files at home. As you’re getting your work-at-home systems set up, here are some tips for protecting your devices and personal information.

Start with- cybersecurity basics like Do Not Click! Keep your security software up to date. Use passwords on all your devices and apps. Make sure the passwords are long, strong and unique: at least 12 characters that are a mix of numbers, symbols and capital and lowercase letters.

Secure your home network- Start with your router. Turn on encryption (WPA2 or WPA3). Encryption scrambles information sent over your network so outsiders can’t read it. WPA2 and WPA3 are the most up-to-date encryption standards to protect information sent over a wireless network. No WPA3 or WPA2 options on your router? Try updating your router software, then check again to see if WPA2 or WPA3 are available. If not, consider replacing your router. For more guidance, read Securing Your Wireless Network and Secure Remote Access.

Keep an eye on your laptop and cell phone- If you’re using a laptop or a cell phone to work, make sure it is password-protected, locked and secure. Never leave it unattended – like in a vehicle or at a public charging station.

Securely store sensitive files- When there’s a legitimate business need to transfer confidential information from office to home, keep it out of sight and under lock and key. If you don’t have a file cabinet at home, use a locked room.

Dispose of sensitive data securely- Don’t just throw it in the trash or recycling bin. Shred it with a micro-cut shredder. Paperwork you no longer need can be a treasure to identity thieves if it includes personal information about customers or employees.

Follow your employer’s security practices- Your home is now an extension of your office. So, follow the protocols that your employer has implemented.

Want to learn more? Read our previous alerts on COVID-19 and learn how to file a complaint about price gouging by calling our new price gouging hotline at 503-378-8442.

Commissioner Hall gives Lincoln County COVID-19 update

Homepage Staff
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Commissioner Hall gives Lincoln County COVID-19 update

Lincoln County Commissioner Claire Hall speaks about the Lincoln County resident who tested positive for COVID-19.

 

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