The Oregon Health Authority reported eight new coronavirus-linked deaths Wednesday, bringing the state’s total deaths since the start of the pandemic to 494. The agency also reported 125 new confirmed or presumptive cases of COVID-19. All told, Oregon has counted 28,471 cases since March.
The eight new deaths included a 96-year-old woman from Deschutes County who had underlying conditions and a 97-year-old woman in Umatilla County who also had underlying conditions. Ages of the newly deceased range from 44 to 97.
With dozens of wildfires burning hundreds of thousands of acres of land across Oregon, nearly the entire state is blanketed in a layer of wildfire smoke. The particulate matter from wildfire smoke poses a health hazard to people who breathe it, especially those with weakened lung systems such as people who may be battling or recovering from COVID-19.
According to the Oregon Health Authority, the key protection strategy is to avoid exposure to the smoke. That means staying inside at home and using an air filter (both recommendations for dealing with the coronavirus pandemic, too). If you are forced to evacuate your home or chose to leave to go to another area, OHA says to remember to wear a face-covering, use hand sanitizer and practice social distancing. The coronavirus pandemic isn’t over.
If you are exploded to wildfire smoke, it can cause symptoms and conditions similar to those linked to a coronavirus infection. A dry cough, sore throat and difficulty breathing can be caused by COVID-19 or wildfire exposure. But a fever, chills, muscle or body aches and diarrhea are not linked to wildfire smoke inhalation and are a sign that you may have been exposed to the coronavirus. If you are experiencing the later symptoms, the OHA recommends checking your symptoms against the CDC’s COVID-19 self-checker to determine if you need to seek further medical attention. If you are experiencing severe symptoms, call 911 or the nearest emergency medical facility immediately.
If you’re forced to evacuate and must share space with friends or family, remember to plan for the threat of the coronavirus. Discuss the group’s plan for dealing with the virus and learn if there is anyone in the group who is at a higher risk of contracting COVID-19. Be sure to cover coughs and sneezes and wash your hands frequently.
A shelter can be a crowded place, and with wildfire inhalation symptoms, it’s not uncommon for people to be coughing. The OHA says there are some simple steps you can take to keep yourself safe if you do need to evacuate to a wildfire shelter. Those include:
Copyright 2020 Oregon Public Broadcasting