There s no escape from plastic.
Look around your kitchen, walk around your favorite park or beach and you ll likely find yourself in the presence of plastic pollution.
The United States produces enough plastic waste every 15 hours to fill Cowboys Stadium, the largest football stadium in the country. We eat about a credit card s worth of plastic every week because microplastics are so omnipresent in our environment. If our waste patterns continue, by 2050 the oceans could have more plastic than fish.
How did it get this way? It s not because people have been clamoring for more plastic in our lives. In fact, it s become nearly impossible to avoid plastic in packaging and consumer products.
March 15 2021
A limit on the number of contacts students can have has been eliminated but distancing requirements stand.
New state rules issued Monday, March 15, relax a big stumbling block for schools reopening to students for in-person learning, now allowing kids to come in contact with more than 100 people per week in school.
However, the Oregon Department of Education did not change the distancing requirements that severely limit the number of pupils that can be in a classroom at one time, as part of the new rules announced Monday.
Although some studies have indicated 3 feet of distancing is enough for school settings, Oregon s 6-feet rule remains unchanged. Schools must establish a minimum of 35 square feet per person when determining room capacity which is equal to 6 feet of distancing.
Case and hospitalization are also down while vaccinations continue to increase.
The Oregon Health Authority reported declining COVID-19 cases, deaths and hospitalizations on the one-year anniversary of the first death from the virus in the state.
The health authority reported 234 new cases on Sunday, March 14, bringing the state s total to 159,617. That compares to 365 new cases reported on Saturday.
No new deaths associated with the virus were reported on Sunday, leaving the death toll unchanged at 2,322. That compares to three the day before. We would like to remember the 2,322 Oregonians who lost their lives and acknowledge the immense grief felt by their families, friends, coworkers and neighbors, the health authority said in a release. Our thoughts go out to everyone who has experienced a loss to COVID-19.
March 12 2021
The Oregon Health Authority reports the newest figures the day after restrictions eased in eight counties.
The day after eight Oregon countries were allowed to ease COVID-19 restrictions, the Oregon Health Authority reported 365 new cases and three new deaths on Saturday, March 13.
On Friday, Multnomah, Yamhill, Lane, Deschutes and Klamath counties improved to the Moderate Risk category. Businesses throughout the tri-county area such as restaurants, bars, movie theaters and fitness centers will now be allowed to fill up to 50% indoor capacity. Plus, retailers and shopping centers can bump up to 75% capacity.
Benton, Jefferson and Josephine improved to the High Risk category on March 12, which allows some reopenings but carries more restrictions than the Moderate Risk category.
Clackamas County expanding options to receive vaccine March 10 2021
Clackamas fairgrounds, Molalla High School, Clackamas Town Center to open as mass vaccine sites week of March 28.
Clackamas County is rolling out additional opportunities and sites to get the COVID-19 vaccine to address concerns regarding access at vaccination sites in Portland.
This week, March 8, Clackamas County received an additional 3,200 doses of vaccine for immediate distribution to allow residents wanting the vaccine to receive it closer to home rather than driving to the Oregon Convention Center or Portland International Airport sites.
Starting the week of March 28, the county announced it expects to receive between 7,000-10,500 doses per week and expand vaccination efforts by establishing new sites.