North Central Public Health District (NCPHD) is holding a vaccine clinic this Saturday, April 3, with the one- dose Johnson & Johnson vaccine. To sign up for the clinic, please visit our website at www.ncphd.org.

Governor Kate Brown today announced that 16 counties improved in risk level, with 10 of those improving from Extreme Risk to High, Moderate or Lower risk categories.

Notifications went out at 11:45 AM and appointment slots were booked within the hour.

North Central Public Health District is now providing COVID-19 vaccines to those 80 and older.

The North Central Public Health District organized and executed a large vaccine event today at the Fort Dalles Readiness Center today, Saturday, Jan. 23. Organizers scheduled 150 people in the morning and 150 people in the afternoon to receive the vaccination.

Local hospitals are being inundated with as many as 85 calls an hour. So instead of calling your doctor to see if you’re eligible, visit Washington’s handy Find Your Phase website: https://form.findyourphasewa.org/210118771253954.

Sadly, we are reporting a 23rd person has died in Wasco County from COVID-19. Educators and those 65 and older become eligible for the vaccine in the coming days and weeks.

A free COVID-19 testing event is now underway this morning, Thursday, Jan. 28, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Northern Wasco County Aquatic Center parking lot at 602 W. 2nd St. in The Dalles.

A free COVID-19 testing event is taking place this Thursday, Jan. 21, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Northern Wasco County Aquatic Center parking lot, at 602 W. 2nd St. in The Dalles. Click here to make an appointment.

On December 31, 2020, Columbia Basin Care joined a historic moment as employees and residents rolled up their sleeves to be among the first in the nation to receive the Covid-19 vaccine. "I'm so excited!" says Julie Kimbell, a certified medication aide who stands first in line for the Covid-19 vaccine. "Getting this vaccine means I can protect our residents, my family, everyone!"

On Sunday, Dec. 27, the residents and staff of the Oregon Veterans’ Home in The Dalles and The Dalles Health and Rehabilitation, two local skilled nursing facilities, were the first in Wasco County to receive COVID-19 vaccinations.

Sadly, two patients at Mid-Columbia Center in The Dalles died of COVID-19 earlier this week. These mark the 21st and 22nd fatalities in Wasco County related to COVID-19. We extend our deepest sympathies to all the families who have lost loved ones in this pandemic.

Frontline healthcare workers throughout the county to be the first to receive the vaccine

Local businesses hurting from the pandemic can now apply for grants that need to be awarded by the end of the month. MId-Columbia Economic Development District- MCEDD- turned on the online applications this morning.

A local donor has stepped forward to make $15,000 in matching funds available for Washington Gorge Action Programs (WAGAP) effort to raise $50,000 to rebuild the COVID-19 Relief Fund by December 31.

North Central Public Health has found a significant amount of Wasco County’s recent spike in COVID-19 cases is due to Thanksgiving gatherings. From Dec. 3 through Dec. 8 the county recorded 97 cases.

Thanks, COVID... No, really! No sarcasm here. If you ask people how COVID-19 has negatively impacted their lives, they could undoubtedly list off a slew of examples. So what about when people were asked about how COVID-19 has positively impacted their 2020 year?

Klickitat County Sherriff Bob Songer and Washington State Governor Jay Insee are once again singing a different tune when it comes to COVID-19 restrictions in Klickitat County.

Sadly, a resident of the Oregon Veterans’ Home who contracted COVID-19 on Oct. 25 passed away on Nov. 16. That marks the 18th death in Wasco County from COVID-19. An outbreak was first reported at the Oregon Veterans’ Home on Oct. 25, and 13 cases are connected to it, including staff, residents and household contacts of staff.

Wasco County had 23 new cases of COVID-19 over the weekend, with 17 coming on Saturday. There are no new large outbreaks in the county at this time that meet the threshold of public reporting (five or more cases at businesses with 30 or more employees). Rather, a majority of Saturday’s 17 reported cases were due to family get-togethers. This falls in line with what is being seen throughout Oregon: Social gatherings are a driver in COVID transmission.