Administrators from Asante Three Rivers Medical center briefed the Josephine County Board of Commissioners on August 17th and pointed out our local hospital is experiencing 3.66 times as many COVID-19 patients as Portland hospitals. According to the administrators, 94% of the COVID patients who are currently hospitalized are unvaccinated. The ICU ward is entirely filled with coronavirus patients, and there is surging beyond local resource capability.

CEO Win Howard told the commissioners "we are in a full-blown healthcare crisis in our community." Surgeon and former Chief of Staff Dr. Scott Nelson told them the dire situation is impacting people across all demographics, and there's at least one thing they could do as elected officials to curb it. "I would ask that you speak in a unified voice...that we encourage our community, and our county, to wear a mask, to be socially distanced, and to talk to their provider...on receiving a vaccine." 

It is time for our local county government leaders to declare a State of Emergency, to urge the community to follow evidence-based health practices that can prevent the spread of the coronavirus, including wearing face masks, getting vaccinated, socially distancing, and staying home when possible. They must take action now.