Salem-News.com Environment articles

Oregon COVID Response Team to Ensure Delivery of PPE to all 36 Counties

All 36 counties and Oregon's 9 Tribes are expected to receive shipments by April 6th.

(SALEM, Ore.) - The State of Oregon expects a shipment of personal protective equipment (PPE) from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).

Once received, the personnel at the fully operational PPE Distribution Center in Wilsonville will begin processing and shipping those supplies to all 36 counties and 9 tribes in Oregon.

Oregon Guardsmen Transport Supplies to Support Medical Response

The team will also set up a temporary structure(s) at the Blue Mountain Hospital in John Day.

(SALEM, Ore.) - The Oregon National Guard, in conjunction with the Oregon Department of Administrative Services (DAS) is scheduled to provide and deliver 150 military cots along with blankets and hygiene packs to La Grande, Oregon, March 26.

The supplies were requested by Union County Emergency Management to support ongoing medical response in Oregon.

Oregon is CLOSED: Governor Issues Stay Home Order

Failure to comply with the order will be considered an immediate danger to public health and subject to a Class C misdemeanor.

(PORTLAND, Ore.) - Governor Kate Brown today issued Executive Order 20-12, directing everyone in Oregon to stay at home to the maximum extent possible and adding to the list of businesses that will be temporarily closed to stem the spread of COVID-19 in Oregon.

The order is effective immediately, and remains in effect until ended by the Governor.

Winter Floods in NE Oregon Create Need for State of Emergency Declaration

On Feb 7, 2020, Governor Kate Brown declared a state of emergency in three Oregon counties due to severe flooding, increased snowmelt, landslides, and erosion.

(SALEM, Ore.) - The state of Oregon is no stranger to flooding, but what happened recently was completely different. Residents were forced to flee their homes following days of heavy rain.

The month of January was exceptionally wet, the rain and the melting snow determining the rivers to crest their banks.

Italy: the Worst Case Scenario For COVID-19 in the U.S.

The U.S. too is facing a war with hard decisions ahead.

(SAN FRANCISCO, Calif.) - Italy is the worst case scenario for the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic of what could happen in this country. Presently, as of March 15, Italy has 24,747 cases with 1,809 deaths — a rise of 368 or 25% in the death toll in just 24 hours.

Italy is now in a nationwide lockdown in a bid to curb the spread of the COVID-19.

U.S. Reliance on China for Pharmaceutical and Personal Protective Equipment

U.S. Reliance on China for Pharmaceutical and Personal Protective Equipment

(SAN FRANCISCO, Calif.) - The Coronavirus (COVID-19) will also likely harm Americans indirectly because the U.S. is increasingly reliant on drugs either directly sourced from China or made from intermediate chemicals called Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (APIs), or their chemical precursors, manufactured in China.

While 90% of the finished drugs Americans take are generics, most are manufactured overseas, primarily in India and China.

Statement on Oregon`s Declaration of Emergency due to COVID-19

On March 8, 7 new cases of COVID-19 positives in Oregon doubled the total cases to 17. Governor Kate Brown declared a 60-day State of Emergency for the state of Oregon to aid in combating the spread of the virus.

(PORTLAND, Ore.) - “By declaring a state of emergency, the Governor and the Oregon Health Authority Director are taking necessary steps to bring state government’s broad powers to respond to the outbreak of COVID-19 in Oregon.

"We support the Governor’s leadership in taking this step and support any additional actions to prepare and respond to this outbreak."

Oregon Governor Announces Agreement with Health Insurers on COVID-19 Testing

If you have questions about a health insurance company or need to file a complaint, call the Division of Financial Regulation’s advocacy team at 888-877-4894 (toll-free) or visit dfr.oregon.gov.

(SALEM, Ore.) - Governor Kate Brown today announced that the state has reached an agreement with health insurance companies to waive cost-sharing for their customers who need COVID-19 testing.

“I’d like to thank Oregon’s insurers for partnering with the state, so that medical providers can issue COVID-19 tests to anyone who needs one,” said Governor Brown.

Innovative Building Design Solutions Fight Indoor Air Pollution

Biophilic design incorporates the natural world into indoor environments

(SALEM, Ore.) - Salem is no stranger to poor outdoor air quality — stagnant air conditions and the third-driest November on record resulted in the Oregon DEQ declaring it a “moderate health concern” in the tail end of 2019.

Although the air quality advisory has since been lifted, Salem residents can now benefit from paying attention to the quality of the air inside their homes.

Ethical Companies Make a Difference in the Food Industry

Businesses who buy into this ethos have the very best chance of success

(SALEM, Ore.) - Sustainability has become a buzzword in modern society, with numerous business sectors eager to ensure that their activities are done in an environmentally friendly manner.

It is a particularly pertinent factor within the food industry, where companies strive to ensure that the goods or services they provide meet exacting quality standards.