There are 11 new COVID-19 related deaths in Oregon, raising the state’s death toll to 2,316, the Oregon Health Authority reported Thursday March 11, 2021. 

The new confirmed and presumptive COVID-19 cases reported are in the following counties: Baker (4), Benton (8), Clackamas (39), Clatsop (1), Columbia (3), Coos (14), Crook (2), Curry (5), Deschutes (23), Douglas (21), Grant (1), Jackson (37), Jefferson (2), Josephine (13), Klamath (8), Lane (9), Lincoln (1), Linn (4), Malheur (1), Marion (30), Multnomah (62), Polk (7), Tillamook (4), Umatilla (13), Union (12), Wasco (4), Washington (38) and Yamhill (1).

Many people are choosing to stay safe and stay home during spring break this year. Yet many kids are getting cabin fever from so much time at home, and adults are also feeling the need for a break from the ordinary. With spring in sight, going outdoors is a great option, but remember to wear a face covering and make sure there’s enough space to keep 6 feet of physical distance when you’re in public.

Here are some ways to make the most of your staycation:

We spoke with longtime Portlander Bill Deiz in mid-December about his thoughts on taking the COVID-19 vaccine. Deiz, well-known for his career in local TV and radio, is active in Oregon’s community, most recently as a former chair of the Oregon Commission on Voluntary Action and Service and as a member of the Rotary Club of Portland.

In that interview, Diez shared:

I realize that COVID-19 has adversely impacted Communities of Color throughout our nation. I have been fortunate that my wife and I are retired and that we remodeled our home in the past few years so that we can age in place. We have all taken this crisis seriously and wear masks when out and about and limit our trips to the store and physically distance at all times, including with family members who do not live with us.

Deiz spoke of his childhood memories of polio and how eager he had been to get the polio vaccine when it was available. When asked what his reaction to hearing about the vaccine becoming available was, Deiz said, “Three cheers! I am 77 years old and my wife is in her late 60s, so we are vulnerable to COVID-19 because of our ages. I also have underlying medical conditions.”

We were happy to hear from Bill Deiz recently. He wrote to let us know that he recently received his vaccines after finding out through the news media that he was eligible due to his age.

You can read the original interview here.

OHA and pharmacies in Oregon providing COVID-19 vaccines confirmed today that pharmacies in Oregon can continue to serve Oregonians age 65 years and older.

Earlier this month the Biden administration set a goal to reopen the nation’s schools by having all educators, childcare workers and other education staff receive at least one COVID-19 vaccine dose by the end of March. However, Oregon had authorized the state’s estimated 152,000 K-12 education workers, childcare providers and early learning workers to be eligible starting Jan. 25.

Oregon has been granted an exemption by the administration and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to allow pharmacies to vaccinate older adults.

Five pharmacy chains in Oregon are participating in the Federal Retail Pharmacy Program and receive COVID-19 vaccines at 175 locations around the state. This includes 107 Safeway/Albertsons locations, 44 Walgreens stores, 13 Costco pharmacies, eight Health Marts and three Rite-Aids.

You can read the news release for more details.

Learn more about COVID-19 vaccinations

To learn more about the COVID-19 vaccine situation in Oregon, visit our webpage (English or Spanish), which has a breakdown of distribution and other information.