DAY.
DAY. >>>
DAY. >>> THANK YOU FOR JOINING US OF
4:00.
4:00.
4:00. THE
4:00. THE NEWS AT 5:00 STARTS NOW.
>>> THIS IS KGW NEWS AT 5:00.
>>> JUST ABOUT 10 MINUTES AGO,
GOVERNOR BROWN EXTENDED THE
STATEWIDE SCHOOL CLOSURE.
IT IS NOW SIX WEEKS, NOT TWO
WEEKS, ALL THE WAY UNTIL APRIL
28 AMID THE CORONAVIRUS
OUTBREAK.
OUTBREAK.
OUTBREAK. THIS COMES AFTER 18 NEW
CONFIRMED CASES CITY IN OREGON
AND TWO NEW DEATHS IN CLARK
COUNTY.
COUNTY.
COUNTY. >> Reporter: THERE WAS A NEWS
CONFERENCE THIS MORNING THAT
BROUGHT GOOD NEWS FOR PEOPLE
STRUGGLING.
STRUGGLING. LOCAL LEADERS MOVING QUICKLY TO
SOFTEN THE BLOW FOR MANY
BUSINESSES SITTING DOWN,
ANNOUNCING A MORATORIUM ON
EVICTIONS.
EVICTIONS. >> Reporter: THERE WAS A DIRE
WARNING ON OUR HEALTHCARE
SYSTEM AS WELL.
>> Reporter: MORE THAN 155,000
PEOPLE WORK IN THE RESTAURANT
AND LODGING BUSINESS IN OREGON.
MOST ARE OUT OF WORK.
MULTNOMAH COUNTY LEADER DEBORAH
BEFORE HE WANTS TO MAKE SURE
LEADERS AMONG THEM TO ALSO LOSE
THEIR HOMES.
THEIR HOMES. >> THIS IS WHY I AM TAKING
ACTION TO PLACE A MORATORIUM ON
RENTAL EVICTIONS.
RENTAL EVICTIONS. WE HAVE ARTIE SEEN THE PANDEMIC
SIGNIFICANTLY IMPACT BUSINESSES
AND WAGES.
AND WAGES. EVERYONE SHOULD PAY THEIR RENT
ON TIME.
ON TIME.
ON TIME. FOR PEOPLE LOSING THEIR WAGES
DUE TO COVID-19 AND FINDING
THEMSELVES UNABLE TO PAY RENT,
WE WANT YOU TO BE ABLE TO STAY
IN YOUR HOME.
>> THE CITY OF PORTLAND ENACTED
A SIMILAR MORATORIUM.
IT IS NOT GRANT FORGET THIS,
YOU STILL HAVE TO PAY.
BUT YOU WILL HAVE SIX MONTHS TO
PAY WHAT YOU OWE ONCE THE
EMERGENCY HAS PASSED.
IT IS IMPORTANT TO GET A REASON
IN WRITING FROM YOUR BOSS.
>> THE DOCUMENTATION YOU SHOULD
HANG ONTO IS ANYTHING YOU CAN
USE TO SHOW THAT YOU LOST AS A
RESULT OF THIS PANDEMIC.
>> Reporter: YOU SHOULD GET
THAT NOW AND GET A COPY OF THE
DOCUMENTATION TO YOUR LANDLORD
BEFORE THE NEXT RENT PAYMENT IS
DUE.
DUE.
DUE. ON
DUE. ON THE HEALTHCARE SIDE, THERE
IS AN OMINOUS PROBLEM LOOMING
IN MULTNOMAH COUNTY.
THE PERSONAL PROTECTIVE
EQUIPMENT WE HAVE SEEN WORN BY
DOCTORS AND NURSES AROUND THE
WORLD IS IN SHORT SUPPLY.
>> THE OTHER SUPPLY ISSUE WE
ARE FACING IS A SHORTAGE OF
THIS OPPOSABLE PROTECTED
PERSONAL EQUIPMENT, THAT
INCLUDES EYE PROTECTION,
GLOVES, GOWNS, AND MASKS.
WE ANTICIPATE THE WAY WE ARE
USING THEM NOW, THAT SUPPLIES
MAY BE DEPLETED IN TWO WEEKS.
>> Reporter: WHILE YOU MAY HEAR
SOME HEALTH LEADERS SAY WE DO
NOT NEED MORE TESTING, DR.
LEVINE SAYS YES WE DO.
IT IS THE BEST INDICATOR, SHE
SAYS, OF WHERE THE VIRUS IS
GOING, AND WHERE TOUGH MEASURES
MIGHT BE NEEDED.
>> THE TESTING SITUATIONS IS A
FRUSTRATION FOR ALL OF US.
IT IS CERTAINLY FRUSTRATION IN
HEALTHCARE, IT IS A FRUSTRATION
FOR THOSE OF US IN PUBLIC HEALTH
. IT IS OUR TOOL FOR US
UNDERSTANDING DISEASE LOCATION
AND TRANSMISSION.
AND TRANSMISSION. >> Reporter: COUNTY LEADERS ARE
LOOKING AT VACANT COUNTY
BUILDINGS WHERE THEY CAN HOUSE
PEOPLE WHO ARE HOMELESS, AND
SEPARATE BUILDINGS WHERE THEY
CAN QUARANTINE HOMELESS FOLKS
WHO TEST POSITIVE FOR THE
VIRUS.
VIRUS.
VIRUS. >>> LET'S TALK ABOUT THAT
PHRASE ON EVICTIONS, THAT IS
JUST FOR MELANOMA COUNTY.
MIGHT IT BE EXTENDED STATEWIDE?
>> THERE IS A LEGISLATIVE
COMMITTEE MEETING TOMORROW TO
TALK ABOUT THIS PROBLEM, AND A
NUMBER OF OTHER ISSUES BROUGHT
UP.
UP.
UP. I
UP. I WILL LET YOU KNOW WHAT THEY
DECIDE.
DECIDE.
DECIDE. >>> I WANT TO TELL YOU ABOUT A
CLARK COUNTY COUPLE IN THEIR
80s.
80s.
80s. THEY
80s. THEY BOTH DIED LAST NIGHT FROM
COVID-19.
COVID-19.
COVID-19. THE TWO LIVED IN SEPARATE CARE
FACILITIES, BUT HAD CONTACT
WITH EACH OTHER.
>> WE HAVE REALLY TRAGIC NEWS
TO SHARE.
TO SHARE.
TO SHARE. LAST NIGHT, TWO PEOPLE WITH
COVID-19 DIED.
COVID-19 DIED. ESPECIALLY TRAGIC.
ESPECIALLY TRAGIC. THIS IS A HUSBAND AND WIFE IN
THEIR 80s.
THEIR 80s. >> Reporter: THESE ARE THE
FIRST TO DEATHS IN CLARK COUNTY
FROM COVID-19.
FROM COVID-19. THE HUSBAND AND WIFE BOTH IN
THEIR 80s, LIVED IN SEPARATE
FACILITIES, BUT HAD CONTACT
WITH EACH OTHER.
THEY WERE TAKEN TO PEACE HEALTH
MEDICAL CENTER EARLY LAST WEEK
AND DIED MONDAY EVENING.
HEALTH OFFICIALS BELIEVE THAT
GOD COVID-19 IN CLARK COUNTY,
BUT CANNOT PINPOINT EXACTLY HOW
THEY GOT IT.
ONE LIVED AT A SMALL ADULT
FAMILY HOME NOT BEING NAMED
RIGHT NOW.
RIGHT NOW. HEALTH OFFICIALS SAY EVERYONE
THERE HAS BEEN QUARANTINED AND
IS BEING MONITORED.
THE OTHER LIVED AT THE END
MALL, AND ASSISTED AND
INDEPENDENT LIVING COMMUNITY.
EVERYONE WHO HAD CLOSE CONTACT
WITH THEM THERE IS ALSO UNDER
CLOSE QUARANTINE.
CLOSE QUARANTINE. >> WE MONITORED THEM FOR 14
DAYS AFTER THEIR LAST EXPOSURE.
IF THEY DON'T DEVELOP SYMPTOMS
WITHIN THAT TIME, WE ARE
CONFIDENT THEY HAVE NOT BECOME
INFECTED.
INFECTED.
INFECTED. >> Reporter: STAFF SAY THEY ARE
DEEPLY SADDENED BY THIS LOSS
AND WORKING TO KEEP EVERYONE
SAFE.
SAFE.
SAFE. SEVERAL FIRST RESPONDERS, WHO
TOOK THE COAST COUPLE TO THE
HOSPITAL, WERE ALSO POSSIBLY
EXPOSED TO THE VIRUS, AND BEING
POINTING TO AS WELL.
FAMILY MEMBERS MAY NOT BE ABLE
TO HOLD A MEMORIAL SERVICE
RIGHT AWAY, BECAUSE OF LIMITS
ON PUBLIC GATHERINGS AND SOCIAL
DISTANCING REQUIREMENTS.
DISTANCING REQUIREMENTS. >> ONE OF THE TRAGEDIES ABOUT
THIS IS I CAN'T IMAGINE WHAT
THE FAMILY IS GOING THROUGH.
IT IS TOUGH ENOUGH TO LOSE BOTH
OF YOUR PARENTS AT ONE TIME.
PLUS, THERE ARE RESTRICTIONS ON
PUBLIC GATHERINGS RIGHT NOW.
IT HAS TO BE INCREDIBLY
DIFFICULT FOR THEM.
>> THERE ARE TWO OTHER CASES OF
COVID-19 IN CLARK COUNTY.
HEALTH OFFICIALS SAY ONE PERSON
IS ISOLATED AT HOME.
THE OTHER IS STILL IN THE
HOSPITAL.
HOSPITAL.
HOSPITAL. >> AS MUCH AS WE WISH WE DID,
NONE OF US HAS A CRYSTAL BALL,
SHOWING HOW ABOUT THIS WILL
GET.
GET.
GET. WORK
GET. WORK ON HOSPITAL HAS
PROJECTIONS AND DATA.
THESE NUMBERS ARE PAINTING A
CHILLING PICTURE OF HOW
OVERWHELMED THE SYSTEM COULD
GET.
GET.
GET. >>
GET. >> EVERY SINGLE HOSPITAL SYSTEM
RIGHT NOW IS LOOKING AT WAYS TO
EXPAND CAPACITY.
EXPAND CAPACITY. >> Reporter: LEGACY HEALTH
MAKING THAT POINT CLEAR TODAY.
THE INTERVIEW WAS A FOLLOW-UP
TO A PRESS CONFERENCE FROM
OREGON'S GOVERNOR, WHICH
FEATURED THIS ANNOUNCEMENT.
>> I AM ACTIVATING A COVID-19
HEALTHCARE SYSTEM RESPONSE
JOINT TASK FORCE.
>> THE STATE CALLED ON LOCAL
HOSPITAL GROUPS, TO MERGE,
FORMING ONE BIG HEALTHCARE
SYSTEM AIMED AT MANAGING A
LIKELY SPIKE IN CASES.
AS PART OF THAT, THOSE LOCAL
HOSPITALS ARE IN A METAPHORICAL
SPRINT, TO OPEN UP MORE BEDS.
HEALTH OFFICIALS SAID THERE ARE
APPROXIMATELY 6000 LICENSED
HOSPITAL BEDS IN OREGON.
>> THE STATE OF OREGON MAY NEED
AN ADDITIONAL 1000 HOSPITAL
BEDS, AND 400 ICU BEDS, TO
ACCOMMODATE THE VOLUME OF
PATIENTS BY APRIL 11, BASED
UPON OUR FORECAST.
>> Reporter: REPORTERS ASKED
HOW BIG IS THAT.
THE SHORT ANSWER APPEARS TO BE
PRETTY BIG.
PRETTY BIG. LET'S START WITH WHERE OREGON
STANDS WITH THE HOSPITAL BEDS
WE DO HAVE.
FOR THAT, WE TURN TO THE KAISER
FAMILY FOUNDATION, A NONPROFIT
THAT RESEARCHES THE HEALTHCARE
INDUSTRY.
INDUSTRY.
INDUSTRY. THAT INCLUDES KEEPING TRACK OF
THE NUMBER OF HOSPITALS BEDS.
THIS PAGE IS ALREADY ON THE
SOCIAL MEDIA FEEDS.
AT LAST CHECK IN 2018, IT
RAINED OR GONE DEAD LAST, AND
WASHINGTON SECOND TO LAST.
OR GONE, THE GROUP REPORTS, HAS
1.6 BEDS FOR EVERY 1000 PEOPLE
HERE.
HERE.
HERE. WASHINGTON HAS 1.7 BEDS.
THE NATIONAL AVERAGES 2.4.
SOUTH DAKOTA HAS THE MOST WITH
4.8.
4.8.
4.8. OFFICIALS YESTERDAY SAID
ADMITTED NORMAL TIMES, OR GONE
SLOW BED TOTAL IS A GOOD SIGN.
IT MEANS THE SYSTEM IS
INTERVENING EARLY, AND KEEPING
PEOPLE OUT OF THE HOSPITAL.
IT IS A FRIGHTENING, IF NOT
DEADLY PROBLEM.
DEADLY PROBLEM. >> Reporter: OFFICIALS ARE
SEARCHING FOR STATES TO STICK
MORE BEDS.
MORE BEDS. SOME STATES ARE USING TENTS.
YESTERDAY, OFFICIALS SAID THEY
ARE NOT RULING ANYTHING OUT.
TODAY, BRIAN.
TODAY, BRIAN. HE TOLD ME THERE ARE OPTIONS
OUT THERE.
OUT THERE. >> WE KNOW WITHIN THE IN
HEALTH, EVERYONE OF OUR
BUILDINGS HAS EXTRA CAPACITY
UNDER ITS CURRENT LICENSE, THAT
IT DOESN'T TYPICALLY UTILIZE.
WE HAVE ROOMS AND BY THE
TYPICALLY EMPTY.
TYPICALLY EMPTY. ON A DAY-TO-DAY BASIS, WE DON'T
NECESSARILY HAVE THE VOLUME WE
NEED TO HAVE TO FILL THOSE
BEDS.
BEDS.
BEDS. >>
BEDS. >> Reporter: IN OTHER WORDS,
THERE IS HOPE, BUT A LOT NEEDS
TO BE DONE.
PLUS, HE NOTED, EVEN IF THERE
ARE ENOUGH BEDS, HOSPITALS ALSO
NEED TO WORRY ABOUT KEEPING
STAFF HEALTHY.
STAFF HEALTHY. TO DO THAT, THEY NEED TO STOCK
UP ON MEDICAL SUPPLIES, WHICH
OFFICIALS NOTES ARE ALREADY
RUNNING LOW.
RUNNING LOW. GOVERNOR BROWN SAID YESTERDAY
SHE ASKED THE FEDS FOR $710
MILLION A MONTH TO MAKE ALL OF
THAT HAPPEN.
THAT HAPPEN. >>> WE KNOW A LOT OF YOU HAVE
QUESTIONS ABOUT CORONAVIRUS.
KRISTIN SEVERNS HAS BEEN
WORKING WITH A TEAM OF PEOPLE
TO ANSWER AS MANY OF THEM AS
SHE CAN EVERY DAY.
SHE JOINS US RIGHT NOW WITH A
COUPLE OF ANSWERS.
>> Reporter: LET'S GET INTO
SOME OF THESE QUESTIONS.
DO I NEED A PRESCRIPTION TO GET
A TEST, AND ARE THERE ANY DRIVE-
THROUGH SITES IN PORTLAND OR
SOUTHWEST WASHINGTON?
SOUTHWEST WASHINGTON? YOU CANNOT GET A PRESCRIPTION
FOR A TEST.
THERE ARE NO DRIVE-THROUGH
SITES RIGHT NOW AVAILABLE IN
SOUTHWEST WASHINGTON OR OREGON.
GOVERNOR BROWN SAID SHE IS NOT
INTERESTED IN SITTING AT THESE
DRIVE-THROUGH SITES, IF PEOPLE
HAVE TO WAIT THREE HOURS.
IT IS SOMETHING SHE WILL
CONSIDER AS MORE TESTS COME IN.
YOUR DOCTOR STILL NEEDS TO
AGREE YOU NEED A TEST IF YOU
WANT ONE.
WANT ONE.
WANT ONE. WE ARE ONLY STILL TESTING 40
PEOPLE A DAY IN OREGON.
NEXT QUESTION, IT SAYS WALMART
CANCER MY ALL MY DELIVERY ORDER
WITH NO EXPLANATION.
IT WON'T LET ME SCHEDULE
ANOTHER ONE, IS THIS PERMIT OR
WHAT?
WHAT?
WHAT? THIS PERSON SAID SHE PAID FOR A
YEAR TO GET UNLIMITED DELIVERY.
I REACHED OUT TO WALMART
CORPORATE.
CORPORATE. THEY SAID THEY HAD AN INCREASE
IN ORDERS, SO THEY HAD TO
CANCEL SOME ORDERS BECAUSE OF
ITEMS THAT AREN'T AVAILABLE.
THEY SAID CUSTOMERS SHOULD BE
ABLE TO STILL SCHEDULE SAME DAY
OR NEXT DAY DELIVERY, BUT THEY
CAN'T SCHEDULE FURTHER OUT AS
THEY COULD IN THE PAST.
>>> OUR LAST QUESTION SAYS
SHOULD WE TAKE THE PLASTIC BEEN
BACK BEEN A WAY TO HELP KEEP
PEOPLE FROM CONTACTING THE
CORONAVIRUS FROM NASTY BACKS
CUSTOMERS BRING IN?
I ASKED A DOCTOR ABOUT THIS
TODAY.
TODAY.
TODAY. HE
TODAY. HE SAID IT IS STILL SAFE TO USE
REUSABLE BAGS.
REUSABLE BAGS. IF YOU HAVE A CLOTH BAG, YOU
WILL WANT TO WASH THE BACK.
IF YOU HAVE A PLASTIC BAG BAG,
YOU WILL WANT TO WIPE IT DOWN.
THESE QUESTIONS HELP US ALL.
WE ARE ALL LEARNING SOMETHING.
WE ARE CONTINUING TO ANSWER
YOUR QUESTIONS.
YOUR QUESTIONS. I WILL BE BACK FROM 6 TO 32
7:30.
7:30.
7:30. WE
7:30. WE WILL BE DEDICATING ALL ABOUT
ANSWERING YOUR QUESTIONS.
I WILL BE BACK TO ANSWER MORE
OF YOUR QUESTIONS AS WELL.
>> SHE IS SO RIGHT WHEN SHE
SAYS THAT ABOUT TIME THAT'S
WHAT IS HAPPENING IN YOUR
WORLD.
WORLD.
WORLD. PEOPLE ARE THINKING THIS IS
ONLY AFFECTING ME IN A CERTAIN
WAY.
WAY.
WAY. YOU
WAY. YOU WILL BE SURPRISED HOW MANY
PEOPLE ARE IN THE SAME ABOUT
YOU ARE.
YOU ARE.
YOU ARE. >>> McMENAMIN'S CONFIRMED IT IS
CLOSING ALL BUT ONE OF ITS
LOCATIONS, AND LAYING OFF 3000
EMPLOYEES.
EMPLOYEES. THE 23rd AVENUE BOTTLE SHOP IN
NORTHEAST PORTLAND IS THE ONE
THAT WILL STAY OPEN FOR TO GO
SALES.
SALES.
SALES. THE OWNER SAID THIS WILL ALLOW
EMPLOYEES TO FILE FOR
UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS WITH THE
HOPE THERE WILL BE JOBS TO COME
BACK TO, EVENTUALLY.
>>> UNABLE TO OPEN THEIR DOORS
TO DINERS, MANY RESTAURANTS ARE
MAKING UNPRECEDENTED CHANGES.
BUSINESS AT CATSKILL RESTAURANT
IN SOUTHEAST PORTLAND CHANGE
COMPLETELY.
COMPLETELY. ALL RESTAURANTS AND BARS ARE
NOT RESTRICTED TO TAKE OUT AND
DELIVERY ONLY.
DELIVERY ONLY. FOR THE FIRST TIME, THEY ARE
OFFERING BOTH.
OFFERING BOTH. THEY ARE SELLING TOILET PAPER
ALONGSIDE THEIR DELI ITEMS.
RESTAURANT OWNER BONNIE MORALES
SAYS SHE IS COMMITTED TO
PROVIDING FOOD AND COMFORT TO
HER CUSTOMERS, EVEN IN THIS
DIFFICULT TIME.
DIFFICULT TIME. >> WE DID HAVE TO LAY OFF 48 OF
OUR EMPLOYEES YESTERDAY, WHICH
WAS THE HARDEST THING I HAD TO
DO.
DO.
DO. THE
DO. THE FOLKS OF US LEFT HERE ARE
FIGHTING EVERY DAY TO GET OUR
FAMILY BACK.
FAMILY BACK. >> A NUMBER OF RESTAURANTS ARE
DOING THE