City of Sisters COVID-19 Situation Report 6/24/2020

Over the past week Oregon has seen increasing numbers of positive COVID-19 cases. It seems that is due to both more spread of the virus, including concentrated outbreaks, as well as more testing.

Although this is alarming, Deschutes County has fortunately not mirrored that trend. It cannot be definitively said why exactly fewer positive cases have occurred here. It is likely fair to say that it is as much preparation including social distancing, face coverings, and sanitation, as it is luck and other factors.

Since the COVID-19 pandemic in Oregon began over three months ago, there has been a lot of uncertainty around the virus. One thing that has been known and remains constant is that minimizing the spread and mitigating the risk is largely within our control and can be done with a few relatively simple precautions: social distancing, washing your hands frequently, avoiding touching your face, and wearing a face covering.

Hearing that over and over sounds like a broken record, but there is wisdom in the expression first we make our habits, then our habits make us.

On June 24, the City Council will consider several resolutions extending policies and programs that were established during and by way of the state of emergency declaration. The declaration occurred back in March and is scheduled to expire June 24. The declaration was critical to act swiftly in the pandemic and the City did that in a multitude of ways over the past months.

Although the City may not be in a declared state of emergency that does not take away from the importance of maintaining precautions and a heightened sense of awareness. We are still in the first wave of COVID-19 and no one can say what the future will bring. We are fortunate to this point and should find renewal in a cautious optimism, while keeping a watchful eye on both what we can and cannot control as we head into summer.

Thank you for doing your part to keep Sisters healthy and prosperous in trying times.

Learn more at www.ci.sisters.or.us.