The North Central Public Health District is set to hold a three-day COVID vaccine clinic, starting on Thursday, Oct. 13 at the former Griffith Motors building in Downtown The Dalles, 523 E. 3rd St.

After careful consideration, North Wasco County School District will be moving to make masks optional for students and staff in our school buildings and district properties on March 14th.

North Central Public Health District has distributed about 1,500 FREE home COVID-19 test kits to a number of entities in Wasco, Sherman, and Gilliam counties to be further distributed to the community. We also have test kits available for the public at our office.

Hospitalization rates are rapidly climbing in Oregon and in the Gorge as COVID cases spike. Now is the time to get vaccinated if you haven’t -- and get your booster dose if you haven’t. Case in point, Canyon Rim Assisted Living in Maupin had been COVID free until an outbreak last week.

The person developed symptoms on Dec. 8, was diagnosed with COVID and admitted to Mid-Columbia Medical Center on Dec. 11, and passed away Dec. 15.

In one stretch of the Delta surge, Dr. Tom Nichol has treated 17 patients in a row for COVID who were unvaccinated. Some of them died. It “was a really hard thing for me to see people marching on to die from this who would have survived if they’d had a vaccine.”

Students who are exposed to COVID are now being allowed to stay in school through a new program that monitors through testing.

Between Sept. 1 and Sept. 8, schools in Wasco and Sherman counties reported 19 cases of COVID-19. School-based cases can be reported among students, staff or volunteers. None were due to transmission in the school setting.

Due to team ( St. Helens team) quarantine, the previously scheduled game with St. Helens at St. Helens this coming Friday, September 10th has been canceled. The JV2 football game has also been canceled with St. Helens.

Locally, Coastal Farm & Ranch in The Dalles has put up signs warning that its ivermectin products are for animal use only. The sign says, in part, “Despite media reports that Ivermectin could potentially be used to treat people with Covid-19, these products are not safe and are not approved for humans.”

Governor Kate Brown announced new statewide outdoor mask requirements to help stop the spread of the highly contagious Delta variant. Effective Friday, August 27, masks will be required in most public outdoor settings, including large outdoor events, where physical distancing is not possible, and regardless of vaccination status.

Local nurses held a rally on Aug. 19th, at The Dalles Post Office to push for safe staffing, better patient care, fair wages and respect from Mid-Columbia Medical Center administration. The rally comes after several months of Oregon Nurses Association contract negotiations.

North Central Public Health District has announced three winners in the $10,000 COVID-19 lottery held for people willing to get vaccines. They all rolled up a sleeve to become winners. Read More Here.

In a recent 8-day period, Wasco County had 62 cases of COVID-19 reported, the vast majority occurring in younger unvaccinated people. It appears the county is following national trends as a resurgence of the disease and its highly contagious Delta variant could bring as many as 300,000 cases per day this month.

A Poke Could be Worth a Million Bucks. Vaccination rates are expected to increase with an announcement by Oregon Gov. Kate Brown of a $1 million lottery prize open to any Oregonian 18 and older with at least one dose of vaccine by June 27.

Chelsea Albin of Rivertap shows off a fresh bandaid at Rivertap This morning, May 7. The bar as well as Freebridge Brewing, Bargeway Pub and Sunshine Mill are participating in a mobile vaccination against COVID-19 this evening, Friday, May 7. Participants earn $10 in token to go toward food. Herd immunity just got tasty!

Clyde Rosa and Barry Springer move a table outside at Mama Janes this afternoon, Thursday, April 29. A high-risk rating for COVID-19 in Wasco County triggered the elimination of indoor dining starting tomorrow, Friday, April 30.

With 74 cases of COVID-19 in Wasco County in the most recent 14-day period, and a rapid surge in cases and hospitalizations statewide, the county is one of 15 moving to the extreme risk category on Friday, April 30.

North Central Public Health Officer Miriam McDonell announced this morning that Wasco County will move to the high-risk level for COVID-19, requiring restaurants and health facilities to reduce capacities for indoor dining and activities.

A third surge of COVID-19 cases has begun in Wasco County, threatening to curtail gatherings, in-door dining and shopping, among other group activities, according to local health officials.