Today, April 1, 2020, I, Helen Eby, participated in a call with the Oregon Health Authority and community members regarding the current public health situation in Oregon. OHA shared some documents with members of the public for distribution.

OHP and the novel coronavirus

OHP y el nuevo coronavirus

They invited people to support public health through blood donations.

Licensed healthcare providers are invited to help on a volunteer or paid basis by registering at https://serv-or.org/.

Other volunteers can also register.

The support from the community is helping. Washing hands and social distancing is the most effective way to prevent the spread of COVID-19, according to the speakers at the meeting. This includes behavior at grocery stores, which are safe within these guidelines.

Flattening the curve will take more than two weeks. Their estimate, on the call on April 1, 2020, was that it would take at least 8 weeks to do so, maybe even 20, so that the curve would not pop back up after we are done. We need to be ready for the long haul and be ready to support each other for an extended period of time.

Healthcare is being provided by telehealth as much as possible, and interpreting is a right, just as it is when patients receive healthcare in other settings. They are providing interpreting in telehealth settings.

The Oregon Health Plan is preparing for an influx of new members and new doctors to meet the need.

I plan to continue to participate in their weekly calls, and I was pleased with their responsiveness to the concerns of the audience members. I will report the information I can.