PORTLAND, Ore. — SEE THE LATEST REAL-TIME UPDATES HERE
Cases of COVID-19, a new strain of coronavirus, began popping up in the United States in January. On Feb. 28, the first case in Oregon was announced.
Every few days, we will post a new blog that tracks the daily changes in Oregon and Southwest Washington as we get them. Click here to see updates from March 22-24
BY THE NUMBERS
As of Sunday morning:
- Oregon: 13 deaths, 548 cases Latest Oregon numbers
- Washington: 175 deaths, 3,723 cases Latest Washington numbers
- United States: 1,709 deaths, 104,865 cases Latest U.S. numbers
- World: 28,822 deaths, 618,043 cases Latest global numbers
SUNDAY, MARCH 29
11 a.m.
- Oregon Health Authority announces 69 new cases in Oregon, bringing the total to 548 cases.
- UPDATE: The 93-year-old man who died yesterday did have underlying conditions, according to the Oregon Health Authority.
SATURDAY, MARCH 28
12 p.m.
- A 93-year-old man with no known underlying health conditions is the 13th person to die from complications due to the coronavirus. The Oregon Health Authority also announces 65 new positive cases in Oregon. Learn more.
6:30 a.m.
- In response to the COVID-19 epidemic and the need for social distancing, the state fire marshal has loosened self-service restrictions and is allowing people to pump their own gas in Oregon. Learn more
FRIDAY, MARCH 27
11:15 p.m.
- A Gresham woman and her husband are fighting what they believe to be the coronavirus. “We're young and healthy and we still got it,” said Shelly Todd, 40. Learn more
- A high school in Woodland, Washington has turned into a temporary truck stop offering food, showers and laundry to long-haul truckers. "Our truckers, I promise you, are doing their dead-level best to make sure our food and supplies are getting to these shelves." Learn more
- McMenamins workers may still be waiting for their final paychecks, 10 days after the popular Northwest brewpub and hotel chain laid off thousands of employees. Learn more
9:20 p.m.
- The Pacific Northwest is closing outdoor recreation on a scale never previously imagined. In the quest to contain COVID-19, and follow state-issued orders for people to stay home, the U.S. Forest Service will close all developed recreation sites across both Oregon and Washington in coming days, the agency announced Friday. Learn more
- TriMet said ridership on its buses and trains in the Portland metro area has dropped by 47% during the coronavirus pandemic. The transportation agency plans to have altered schedules for its buses and trains beginning April 5. Learn more
- Portland officials are encouraging people to thank health care workers amid the coronavirus pandemic by cheering every night from their homes at 7 p.m. Learn more
5:45 p.m.
- Audio recordings between TriMet bus drivers and dispatchers help illustrate confusion as the transit agency struggles to deal with overcrowded buses and possible contamination from coronavirus. Learn more
5:20 p.m.
- Social distancing and staying home appears to be working in Oregon to slow the spread of COVID-19, according to researchers. State health director Dr. Dean Sidelinger says it could keep hospitals from being overwhelmed. Learn more
4 p.m.
- The Washington State Department of Health announces 28 more deaths and nearly 500 more cases of COVID-19. There is now a total of 175 deaths and 3,700 cases in Washington. Learn more
3 p.m.
- Portland Public Schools tells teachers about plans to start working online next week. The idea is to roll out a more robust, multi-week home-based learning system. The district plans to release more details next week. Learn more
2:25 p.m.
- President Trump signed a $2.2 trillion economic recovery bill into law. The legislation will speed government payments of $1,200 to most Americans and increase jobless benefits for millions of people thrown out of work. Learn more
- Cowlitz County in Southwest Washington announced three more COVID-19 cases. The people who tested positive were a man in his 30s, a woman in her 80s and a woman in her 20s. There are now 10 total cases in the county.
- The Oregon Humane Society donated 18,000 N95 masks to Providence Health & Services. The masks had been in storage and were donated to OHS for use responding to disasters.
1 p.m.
- An 82-year-old woman in Marion County who died Wednesday of COVID-19 is Oregon’s 12th coronavirus death, state health officials say. The Oregon Health Authority also announced that 98 more people have tested positive in Oregon, bringing the state’s total number of coronavirus cases to 414. Learn more
11:45 a.m.
- Oregon Gov. Kate Brown issued a clarification on her stay-at-home order for Oregonians. She said the order does not apply to shelters and social services, and was not intended to serve as an enforcement mechanism against Oregon's homeless population.
11:10 a.m.
- Clark County, Washington, says another person has died of COVID-19, bringing the county's death toll to six people. Health officials said 28 more people have tested positive for the coronavirus. There are 76 cases in Clark County. Learn more
10:45 a.m.
- The U.S. House passed a $2.2 trillion rescue package, tossing a life preserver to a U.S. economy and health care system left flailing by the coronavirus pandemic. Learn more
8:30 a.m.
- British Prime Minister Boris Johnson tests positive for COVID-19. Learn more
THURSDAY, MARCH 26
11:15 p.m.
- Virtually all hiking trails, viewpoints, waterfalls and parks in the Columbia River Gorge will be closed to the public, effective today and lasting until further notice. Learn more
- As firefighters deal with a shortage of disposable personal protective equipment, many local departments are turning to reusable hazmat suits and masks when responding to medical calls. Learn more
- Oregon’s online schools are also subject to Gov. Kate Brown’s coronavirus closure order. A presentation obtained by Willamette Week state shows officials worried that, with brick-and-mortar schools shuttered, families would to flock to the free online academies if the online schools were allowed to continue operating. Learn more
9:25 p.m.
- Will I get a stimulus check if I receive Social Security or I’m on disability? What about those who did not file tax returns in 2018 or 2019? News outlets are reporting that U.S. citizens receiving Social Security as well as retirees are eligible for the money. As far as those who did not file tax returns, the answer is a bit more unclear. Learn more
- The Oregon Health Authority updated its guidance to health care providers and laboratories on those who should get tested for COVID-19. Learn more
6:50 p.m.
- As the coronavirus outbreak spreads across Oregon, many people are left to wonder if there are positive cases near them. This lack of specific data makes it difficult to assess which communities are being hardest hit, information that could help first responders and health care workers. Learn more
- Officials in Oregon and Washington are pulling back the curtain to show just how dire the situation is tied to a shortage of personal protective equipment, or PPE, for nurses and doctors. Oregon hospitals have already used 100% of both gowns and splash shields, 95% of face shields and 80% of N95 respirator masks. Learn more
- The Oregon Liquor Control Commission (OLCC) is temporarily relaxing regulations and letting cannabis shops (and liquor stores) do take-out. They can now provide curbside pick-up in the wake of the COVID-19 outbreak in an effort to maintain social distancing and prevent the spread of the virus. And business is booming. Learn more
- The Oregon Health Authority released new COVID-19 modeling on Thursday. It predicts a best-case of 1,000 to 3,800 cases statewide if the public continues social distancing. The darker prediction is 15,000 to 26,000 cases if the public does not. Learn more
5:40 p.m.
- In an effort to slow the spread of COVID-19, TriMet announced that it will no longer accept cash on buses. Learn more
4:30 p.m.
- The Washington Department of Health announces 15 more deaths and more than 600 new cases of COVID-19 in the state. There is now a total of 147 deaths among 3,207 cases in Washington. Learn more
- The United States now leads the world in the number of confirmed coronavirus cases. According to a running count by Johns Hopkins University, the number of people infected in the U.S. topped 82,000 on Thursday. That's just ahead of the 81,000 cases in China and 80,000 in Italy. Learn more
- The number of people traveling through Portland International Airport during the coronavirus pandemic has dropped 90%. Learn more
- Among Oregon’s 50 new coronavirus cases that were announced on Thursday was the first in Tillamook County. That person, a woman between 35 and 54 years old, is a health care provider at the Tillamook County Community Health Center, officials said. The clinic has been closed. Learn more
2:25 p.m.
- Oregon health officials on Thursday reported the state’s 11th COVID-19 death and 50 new cases. The new cases bring the state’s total to 316. The person who died was a 69-year-old woman in Washington County. Learn more
- All 81 rooms at the Jupiter Hotel in Portland will be used to serve as a homeless shelter during the coronavirus pandemic. The agreement comes at a time when Multnomah County is looking for extra space to house homeless people while practicing social distancing guidelines. Learn more
1:15 p.m.
- The number of coronavirus cases in Clark County more than doubled in one day, health officials said. The southwest Washington county reported its fifth death and said 28 more people have tested positive for the virus. Learn more
- This week, 54 hotels in Washington County were given $10,000 checks to help bridge that gap during the COVID-19 pandemic as many wait for word on more federal or state assistance. Learn more
11:30 a.m.
- Update: 76,500 people in Oregon applied for unemployment benefits last week, up from 4,900 just a week earlier, according to data out Thursday morning from the Oregon Employment Department. It’s an all-time record for the state of Oregon. Note: This article has been updated with new numbers from the state that are significantly higher than detailed federal data reported earlier Thursday. Learn more
9:25 a.m.
- The City of Hood River has ordered all lodging stays for discretionary travel to cease immediately. Tourism lodging restrictions will affect motels, hotels, short-term vacation rentals, hosted home shares, bed and breakfasts, RV parks and campgrounds in the city of Hood River from March 26 until April 14, unless extended. Learn more
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 25
11:15 p.m.
- Multnomah County has opened temporary homeless shelters at the Charles Jordan Community Center and the Convention Center. This was to keep the county's permanent shelters from overcrowding. Learn more
- Pok Pok joins well-known restaurants including Beast, Eem, Magna, Screen Door and Berlu in changing tack after originally offering takeout. Learn more
- An employment law firm is offering people free legal information to help during the COVID-19 crisis. Learn more
9:20 p.m.
- The Senate late Wednesday passed an unparalleled $2.2 trillion economic rescue package steering aid to businesses, workers and health care systems engulfed by the coronavirus pandemic. The bill now heads to the House. Learn more
- The state of Oregon is embroiled in a brutal bidding war, battling other states, the feds and other countries to purchase needed personal protective equipment for its hospitals, said Governor Kate Brown on Wednesday. Learn more
- Not only has getting tested been difficult for Oregonians, but those who do have sometimes had to wait nearly two weeks for results. Learn more
6:50 p.m.
- The Washington State Department of Health reports 9 more COVID-19 deaths and 111 new cases. There is now a total of 132 deaths and 2,580 cases in Washington. Learn more
- Oregon's stockpile of personal protective equipment, including masks, gloves and gowns, is already running short before the expected surge of patients has come. Learn more
- Oregon Gov. Kate Brown blasted the federal government for what she said was a block on private companies that want to make personal protective gear. She said the feds need to protect those companies from lawsuits. Learn more
- A doctor at an Oregon veterans' home in Lebanon has been using a combination of drugs to treat coronavirus patients and hasn't seen any adverse effects yet. Learn more
- The Portland Police Bureau answered frequently asked questions about how it will enforce Gov. Brown's stay-home executive order. The bureau will focus on educating, then warning, then citing. Learn more
- Two Oregonians who are stuck in Italy during the coronavirus pandemic describe their experiences and provide tips to Americans dealing with social distancing. Learn more
- The White House and Senate leaders agreed early Wednesday on a $2 trillion economic rescue package, the largest in the country's history. Here's a breakdown who will reportedly get stimulus checks and when. Learn more
4:40 p.m.
- A second Oregon postal worker has tested positive for COVID-19. A letter carrier in Oak Grove tested positive for the virus, along with a worker at a sorting facility in Portland. Learn more
- Portland police said domestic violence arrests have increased since the city declared a state of emergency due to the coronavirus pandemic. The bureau looked at the number of arrests from March 12, when the city declared a state of emergency, to March 23 and compared the number of arrests to the same time period from last year as well as the 12-day period prior to the emergency declaration. Learn more
2:45 p.m.
- The Oregon Health Authority reports two more people have died from COVID-19 and 57 more people have tested positive for the virus. It's the largest single-day increase in cases in the state. There is now a total of 10 deaths and 266 cases in Oregon. Learn more
12:45 p.m.
- The Oregon Poison Center issued a stern warning about dangerous coronavirus remedies circulating on social media. There are no medications, supplements or home remedies that can treat or prevent COVID-19. Learn more
12:25 p.m.
- The state of emergency for the city of Portland has been extended an additional two weeks, through April 9, according to Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler. "We're still on the upside of the contagion curve, so now is not the time to suspend an emergency declaration," Wheeler said. Learn more
- The deadline for filing state taxes will be pushed back to July 15, according to Oregon Gov. Kate Brown. This falls in line with the deadline for filing federal taxes also being pushed back to July 15 from April 15 due to the coronavirus. Learn more
11:45 a.m.
- A U.S. Postal Service worker in Portland tested positive for coronavirus, according to a spokesperson for the agency. The employee works at the Portland Processing and Distribution Center plant, near the Portland International Airport. Workers at the facility primarily sort mail and unload trucks and don't come into direct contact with the public. Learn more
- Clark County, Washington announced four new cases of coronavirus. All four are recovering at home. Health officials said two of the four had close contact with previously confirmed cases. Clark County now has 20 positive tests and four of those people have died. Learn more
7 a.m.
- The White House and Senate leaders of both parties announced agreement early Wednesday on unprecedented emergency legislation to rush sweeping aid to businesses, workers and a health care system slammed by the coronavirus pandemic. Learn more
- Can I still go hiking and fishing? Should I call 911 if I see people gathering? Oregon State Police answers some of the most commonly asked questions, corrects some misconceptions and gives guidance about how to comply with the order. Learn more
- TriMet will continue providing transit service during the COVID-19 crisis, but is planning service changes because of ridership declines caused by people staying at home and worried about being exposed to others in confined spaces. Learn more
- An Oregon nurse pulls back the curtain and describes what life is like for front-line health care workers during the coronavirus pandemic. "I've never felt more vulnerable," she said. Learn more
- As many businesses are forced to close due to the COVID-19 pandemic, many essential businesses are in need of more help. Here are several businesses in Portland hiring currently. Learn more