THE LATEST UPDATES: Oregon coronavirus updates March 31
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 25-28
BY THE NUMBERS
As of Monday evening:
- Oregon: 16 deaths, 606 cases Latest Oregon numbers
- Washington: 195 deaths, 4,896 cases Latest Washington numbers
- United States: 3,008 deaths, 163,429 cases Latest U.S. numbers
- World: 37,683 deaths, 784,716 cases Latest global numbers
MONDAY, MARCH 30
11:25 p.m.
- Data released Monday by the Multnomah County Health Department offers the fullest picture yet of the types of symptoms affecting Oregonians who’ve tested positive for the novel coronavirus. Learn more
- A majority of Oregon’s counties have now reported COVID-19 diagnoses. But Washington County has been hit hardest with nearly a third of all confirmed cases across the state, as of Friday. Learn more
- As movie theaters face weeks-long closures, some have begun selling customers the ability to stream independent films from their homes and mobile devices. Learn more
7:05 p.m.
- A TriMet operator has tested positive for COVID-19, the transit agency said Monday night. The person works at TriMet’s Merlo facility in Beaverton. Learn more
6:50 p.m.
- Oregon's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) received more than 1,200 coronavirus-related workplace complaints in March, with the numbers ramping up in the days following Gov. Kate Brown's shelter in place executive order. Learn more
- Salem's public transit agency, Cherriots, suspends service beginning Tuesday after seven employees test positive for COVID-19 and ridership declines amid Gov. Brown's order. Learn more
- Gov. Brown says her biggest concern right now is the shortage of personal protective equipment (PPE) for nurses and doctors. People with 3D printers are doing their part to make protective equipment for health care workers. Learn more
- Dr. Jason Campbell, who works at OHSU in Portland, is spreading joy to his coworkers and around the world through dance videos that have gone viral on social media. Learn more
4:15 p.m.
- A chilling conversation happening in hospitals across the country stems from one basic question: if and when a surge of COVID-19 patients overwhelms our health care system and doctors simply don't have the equipment and the manpower to help everyone who needs it, how do those doctors decide who lives and who dies? In Oregon, where officials say current isolation methods should keep infection rates low enough for the state’s system to handle, hospitals have had a plan in place for years. Learn more
- A Portland couple who spent 24 days rafting on the Colorado River, away from cell service, internet and far from the outside world, returned to the new reality of statewide shutdowns and social distancing. Learn more
- Washington Gov. Jay Inslee announced a new website for people to report businesses that are in violation of the stay-at-home order. The site will be available through the state's coronavirus response site at coronavirus.wa.gov. The governor asked people not to call 911 to report incidents. Learn more
- Many stores in the Portland metro area have social distancing marks on the floor, and now they’re going a step further by installing plexiglass partitions at registers to protect customers and grocery store clerks. Learn more
- As coronavirus spreads and the supply of personal protective equipment shrinks, a community workshop in Yakima, Washington is doing what it can to solve the problem. The Yakima Maker Space is using all eight of its 3D printers to make reusable face masks for hospitals in the region. Learn more
1:25 p.m.
- Three more people have died and 58 more people have tested positive for COVID-19 in Oregon, according to health authorities. Learn more
- Small businesses in Portland that have been impacted by the coronavirus pandemic can begin applying for financial aid through a $2 million small business relief fund starting today. Learn more
- Twelve OHSU Hospital staff members have tested positive for COVID-19, according to the hospital’s president. Learn more
8 a.m.
- This year's Olympic games were scheduled to open on July 24 and close on Aug. 9. But the one-year delay will see the games begin on July 23, 2021. Learn more
SUNDAY, MARCH 29
8 p.m.
- The Oregon coast was packed last weekend but this Sunday, Seaside was practically a ghost town and Cannon Beach was nearly empty thanks to Oregon's stay-home order. Learn more
- Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, new graduates are worried they could be facing the worst job market in more than a decade. Learn more
- Since schools have been closed because of COVID-19, Portland physical education teacher Michael Rittman has been uploading videos to keep his kids engaged and healthy. Learn more
- Have you heard your neighbors making a commotion in the street when the clock struck 7 the past couple nights? They're showing appreciation for essential workers who are on the front lines of the COVID-19 pandemic and saving lives. Learn more
5:30 p.m.
- Clackamas Fire is facing a potential shortage of protective gear and calling on the community to step up and donate. Learn more
5 p.m.
- Oregon Gov. Kate Brown released a statement in response to the release of federal aid for the state. Brown called it "an important first step" but said the aid "is far from everything Oregon needs from the federal government to actively and effectively combat this crisis" and outlined several important requests that are still pending. Learn more
1 p.m.
- In a press release Sunday morning, FEMA announced that President Donald Trump has approved federal emergency aid for the state of Oregon. Learn more
11 a.m.
- Oregon Health Authority announces 69 new cases in Oregon, bringing the total to 548 cases. Learn more
- OHA also announced Sunday morning that the 93-year-old man who died Saturday had underlying conditions. Learn more