Today is Veterans Day. Veterans and military service members have given so much to keep our state and country safe. To celebrate, even though we can’t be together in person, the State of Oregon will host a Virtual Statewide Veterans Day Celebration. The event livestreams at 11 a.m. Wednesday, Nov. 11, on the Oregon Department of Veterans’ Affairs (ODVA) Facebook page and will be posted there for viewing at any time.
ODVA also honors Oregon women military veterans through the “I Am Not Invisible” exhibit. There are more than 28,000 women veterans in Oregon — a number that has risen steadily over the past three decades — representing almost one-tenth of Oregon’s veteran population. The exhibit is available online at https://iani.oregondva.com/.
For a list of Veterans Day activities in Oregon, go to the ODVA webpage.
Troubling hospitalization trends
Governor Kate Brown held a news conference today with Dr. Dana Hargunani, Chief Medical Officer for Oregon Health Authority, and Dr. Renee Edwards, Chief Medical Officer of Oregon Health & Science University, as well as several representatives from Oregon hospitals. Leaders addressed Oregon’s increase in patients who are hospitalized with COVID-19.
Currently there are 285 hospitalized patients who have tested positive for COVID-19. The number of people who have been hospitalized has more than doubled over the past week and has increased 83% in the past four weeks. While Oregon has more available ventilators than earlier in the pandemic, the increase in hospitalization is troubling.
Oregonians can help flatten the curve by following Dr. Hargunani’s suggestion, “Let’s repay our health care heroes by taking seriously the recommendations to stay physically distant, wear face coverings when interacting with anyone who lives outside your household and taking the difficult step of avoiding gatherings even as we enter the holiday season.”
Facebook Live: School metrics with Oregon Department of Education
We know parents have questions about the updated school metrics and what they mean for school in Oregon during COVID-19. Join us Thursday, Nov. 12 at 12 p.m. to have your questions answered by Oregon Department of Education (ODE) Director, Colt Gill, and our Deputy State Health Officer and Epidemiologist, Dr. Thomas Jeanne.
The Facebook Live is available in English and Spanish.
Federal stimulus checks still available: Deadline to apply is Nov. 21
Today is National Economic Impact Payment (EIP) Registration Day. Thousands of Oregonians still have not taken advantage of their federal stimulus checks. Are you one of them? Check out this ODHS news release for information on how you can get $1,200 for what you need most: https://go.usa.gov/x7RBe
Some facts about EIP:
- If you get assistance through programs like Medicaid, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) or Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), you are likely eligible – even if you didn’t file federal taxes in 2018 or 2019. You may sign up and complete the form in English or Spanish by visiting gov/EIP.
- The “Public Charge Rule” does not apply to EIP. Receiving it will not impact your immigration status.
- Local help is available for free or low cost through Metropolitan Family Service (MFS) at 503-966-7942 or CASH Oregon. The 211Info hotline also can assist by calling 211, emailing help@211info.org, or texting your ZIP code to 898211.
