Thread by @OHAOregon

OHA Director Patrick Allen during today’s press conference: “We enter #LaborDayWeekend on a clear downtrend in daily #COVID19 cases throughout #Oregon. Since the peak of the pandemic in mid-July, we have experienced a 30% drop in weekly cases.”

"Our collective efforts appear to be slowing the spread of the virus for the time being. But we need to keep up the pressure for much longer if we hope to reopen our schools for classroom instruction, and see our businesses and communities recover."

"We continue to see social gatherings as one of the primary ways this disease spreads. The choices we make not only affect us & our families, but our neighbors & our communities. We cannot celebrate #LaborDay and all the holidays this fall and winter the way we have in the past."

"We urge you to stay close to home this holiday weekend, to hang out with your family members and to catch up virtually with extended family and friends. Let’s keep up the pressure. We’re making a difference."

"To date, we’ve recorded 27,601 confirmed and presumed cases of #COVID19, including 268 today. Sadly, we are reporting 5 additional deaths today, bringing our statewide total to 475. We offer our condolences to the families who have lost a loved one to the disease."

"We are continuing to see a decline in daily cases of #COVID19. Last week marked the fourth consecutive week-over-week drop. The percentage of positive tests also dropped to 4.4% marking the first time since late June that it’s been below 5%."

"These promising trends suggest that after months of playing defense, we are on a path toward sustainably flattening the curve of #COVID19. But as I said earlier, we cannot relent."

"-- Wear a face covering when outside, or indoors when you can’t maintain 6 feet of physical distance.
-- If you have a small family gathering, consider hosting it outdoors, rather than indoors.
-- Wash your hands frequently."