>>>
>>> THIS
>>> THIS IS KGW NEWS AT 11:00. >> THIS IS A SITUATION THAT
WILL NOT LAST FOR WEEKS.
THIS WILL LAST FOR MONTHS, AND
POTENTIALLY A LOT MONTHS.
>> NOW AT 11:00, OREGON
LAWMAKERS PAINT A BLEAK PICTURE
AMID THE CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC.
THEY ARE WORRIED ABOUT ECONOMIC
STRUGGLES AND THE STATE'S
DEPLETING MEDICAL SUPPLIES.
OFFICIALS SAY WE HAVE 75 CASES
IN OREGON WITH THREE TOTAL
DEATHS NOW.
DEATHS NOW. BOTH OF THE PATIENTS WHO DIED
RECENTLY HAD UNDERLYING MEDICAL
CONDITIONS.
CONDITIONS. WASHINGTON HAS HAD 66 DEATHS
AMONG ALMOST 1200 CASES.
GOVERNOR INSLEE ALSO ANNOUNCED
A 30-DAY STATEWIDE MORATORIUM
ON EVICTIONS FOR PEOPLE WHO
CAN'T PAY RENT RIGHT NOW.
PORTLAND IS ALSO CONSIDERING A
SHELTER IN PLACE ORDER. IT IS
NOT IN EFFECT, BUT SOMETHING
CITY LEADERSHIP SAYS COULD
HAPPEN.
HAPPEN.
HAPPEN. THE WILLAMETTE WEEK REPORTS THE
POLICY IS IN THE DRAFT STAGES.
IF IT HAPPENS, RESIDENTS WOULD
BE ORDERED TO STAY HOME EXCEPT
FOR SPECIFIC TRIPS AND THOSE
INCLUDE TRIPS FOR WORKERS AT
BUSINESSES DEEMED ESSENTIAL BY
THE CITY, AS WELL AS VISITS TO
GROCERY STORES.
GROCERY STORES. SEVERAL COUNTIES IN THE SAN
FRANCISCO AREA PUT RESTRICTIONS
IN PLACE EARLIER THIS WEEK.
>>> ON THE TOPIC OF A SHELTER
IN PLACE ORDER, TODAY WE ASKED
OFFICIALS WITH OHSU AND OREGON
HEALTH AUTHORITY ABOUT SUCH AN
ORDER FOR PORTLAND AND THE
STATE.
STATE.
STATE. >>
STATE. >> IT'S A DECISION THAT ISN'T
TAKEN LIGHTLY, BUT AT THIS
TIME, WE WOULD BE SUPPORTIVE OF
THAT MEASURE IF THE GOVERNOR
CHOSE TO MOVE IN THAT
DIRECTION.
DIRECTION. BECAUSE FACING THE TYPE OF
SURGERY AND NEED FOR HOSPITAL
CAPACITY, INCLUDING ICU BEDS
AND VENTILATORS, WE WANT TO
MAKE SURE THAT WE WILL BE ABLE
TO DELIVER UPON THE CARE THAT
THE CITIZENS OF OREGON NEED AND
FACING THIS CONCERN, WE WOULD
ABSOLUTELY BE SUPPORTIVE IF THE
GOVERNOR'S OFFICE MADE THIS
DETERMINATION.
DETERMINATION. >> OHA DID NOT RECOMMEND THE
SHELTER IN PLACE ORDER AT THIS
TIME.
TIME.
TIME. THIS IS NOT SOMETHING THAT IS
IN EFFECT, BUT IT'S BEING
CONSIDERED.
CONSIDERED. >>> PROVIDENCE HOSPITAL
ANNOUNCED THERE READY TO START
TESTING FOR COVID-19 IN OREGON.
PROVIDENCE WILL BE ABLE TO
PROCESS 500 TO 600 TESTS A DAY,
SEVEN DAYS A WEEK.
IT WILL COLLECT TESTS FROM ITS
EIGHT HOSPITALS IN OREGON,
RESULTS ARE EXPECTED 24 HOURS
AFTER RECEIVING THE SAMPLE.
HOWEVER, IN ORDER TO BE TESTED,
A DOCTOR HAS TO GIVE A
REFERRAL.
REFERRAL.
REFERRAL. THESE ARE NOT AVAILABLE TO THE
GENERAL PUBLIC.
GENERAL PUBLIC. >>> OREGON IS ALSO RAMPING UP
TESTING IN OTHER WAYS.
GOVERNOR KATE BROWN ANNOUNCED
AN AGREEMENT WITH A PRIVATE LAB
FOR 20,000 MORE TESTS.
SHE SAYS THE FIRST BATCH OF
5,000 WILL ARRIVE ANY DAY AND
WILL BE DISTRIBUTED AS QUICKLY
AS POSSIBLE.
AS POSSIBLE. >> OUR TESTING CAPACITY IS
EXPANDING, BUT IT WILL BE
GRADUAL.
GRADUAL.
GRADUAL. BUT EVERY OREGONIAN WON'T BE
ABLE TO BE TESTED IMMEDIATELY.
>> OFFICIALS ARE SETTING UP AN
EMERGENCY HOSPITAL AT THE STATE
FAIRGROUNDS IN SALEM.
IT SHOULD BE UP AND RUNNING BY
FRIDAY.
FRIDAY.
FRIDAY. THE GOVERNOR ALSO ORDERED ALL
HEALTHCARE PROVIDERS TO STOP
NONEMERGENCY PROCEDURES IN
ORDER TO CONSERVE HEALTHCARE
EQUIPMENT AROUND THE STATE.
THIS ORDER COVERS HOSPITALS,
OUTPATIENT CLINICS,
OUTPATIENT CLINICS, VETERINARIANS AND DENTISTS.
>>> LAWMAKERS IN SALEM PUT
ASIDE THEIR RECENT DIFFERENCES
AND META TO SEE HOW THEY CAN
HELP THE STATE GET THROUGH THE
VIRUS CRISIS.
VIRUS CRISIS. THEY HEARD MOSTLY GRIM NEWS.
PAT DOORIS REPORTS.
>> SPACED OUT TO REDUCE THEIR
CHANCES OF INFECTION, OREGON
LAWMAKERS HOPING TO HARNESS
STATE RESOURCES LISTENED TO A
LITANY OF BAD NEWS.
COVID-19 IS HAMMERING THE
STATE'S PEOPLE, IT'S ECONOMY
AND ITS MEDICAL EQUIPMENT
STOCKPILE.
STOCKPILE. FIRST THE GOVERNOR'S CHIEF OF
STAFF --
STAFF --
STAFF -- >> IN SHORT, WE BELIEVE THAT
GENERAL TAX RECEIPTS WILL DROP
SIGNIFICANTLY.
SIGNIFICANTLY. SO TODAY, I AM SOUNDING THE
ALARM.
ALARM.
ALARM. OUR NEEDS WILL FAR OUTWEIGH OUR
RESOURCES AND UNTIL WE HAVE A
BETTER PICTURE OF THE
SITUATION, WE NEED TO BE
EXTREMELY CAREFUL WITH STATE
FINANCES.
FINANCES.
FINANCES. >> LEGISLATOR AND DR. ELIZABETH
STEINER HAYWARD WORRIES ABOUT
BUSINESSES AND WORKERS.
>> WHEN YOU HAVE AN
ORGANIZATION LIKE MCMENAMINS
LAY OFF 3,000 PEOPLE OVERNIGHT,
WHICH IS ACROSS THE STATE, THAT
TELLS YOU SOMETHING ABOUT
WHAT'S HAPPENING HERE
>> PATRICK ALLEN THE DIRECTOR
OF THE OREGON HEALTH AUTHORITY
REPORTED THE STOCKPILE HAS USED
UP 28% OF ITS CAPITAL, AND 95
MASKS, 83% OF SURGICAL GOWNS
AND 63% OF SURGICAL MASKS.
>> I AM DEEPLY CONCERNED WITHIN
THE NEXT WEEK WE WILL HAVE
PROVIDERS WHO NEED TO TREAT
PATIENTS WITHOUT MASKS, WITHOUT
FACE SHIELDS AND THOSE KINDS OF
THINGS AS THAT'S A CRITICAL
PROBLEM.
PROBLEM.
PROBLEM. >>> THE PORTLAND CITY COUNCIL
APPROVED THE NEW EVICTION
MORATORIUM FOR THE CITY AND
MULTNOMAH COUNTY.
MULTNOMAH COUNTY. RENTERS WHO CAN'T KEEP UP WITH
PAYMENTS WILL GET A SIX-MONTH
GRACE PERIOD DURING THE
PANDEMIC WHERE THEY CAN'T BE
EVICTED.
EVICTED.
EVICTED. THE MAYOR SAYS HIS OFFICE IS
TALKING WITH BANKS AND LENDERS
TO COME UP WITH A SOLUTION FOR
LANDLORDS TOO.
LANDLORDS TOO. MANY RELY ON RENT PAYMENTS FROM
TENANTS TO PAY THEIR OWN
EXPENSES.
EXPENSES.
EXPENSES. >>> NOW TO RESTAURANT AND BAR
OWNERS, MANY OF THE SMALL
BUSINESS OWNERS ARE SCRAMBLING
TO FIND WAYS TO STAY AFLOAT.
AS MIKE BENNER SHOWS US, THE
CLOSURES THEY WERE FORCED INTO
MAY NOT BE COVERED BY INSURANCE.
>> AREAS THAT ARE TYPICALLY
BUZZING WITH ACTIVITY LOOK MORE
LIKE GHOST TOWNS.
PEOPLE ARE SELF ISOLATING AND
BUSINESS OWNERS ARE BUSY
CRUNCHING THE NUMBERS.
A LOT OF THEM ARE GOING TO NEED
ASSISTANCE AND THEY'RE FINDING
OUT THAT MAY BE HARDER TO GET
THAN ORIGINALLY THOUGHT.
WHAT A DIFFERENCE A WEEK MAKES.
OR A FEW DAYS FOR THAT MATTER.
THE OFTEN BUSTLING RIVER PIG
SALOON IS QUIET.
LIKE SO MANY OTHER BARS AND
RESTAURANTS ACROSS THE STATE,
IT'S CLOSED.
IT'S CLOSED. OWNER RAMSEY SAYS STAYING OPEN
FOR ONLY CARRY OUT JUST DIDN'T
MAKE SENSE.
MAKE SENSE. >> IT WOULD ACTUALLY COST US
MORE MONEY TO STAY OPEN TO
PROVIDE JUST TO GO ORDERS
>> HE LAID OFF THE EMPLOYEES AT
HIS PORTLAND AND BAND
LOCATIONS, SO THEY COULD
COLLECT UNEMPLOYMENT.
COLLECT UNEMPLOYMENT. HE REACHED OUT TO HIS INSURANCE
COMPANY FOR SOME SORT OF REALLY
FOR HIMSELF.
FOR HIMSELF. HE IS HEARING THAT LOSS CAUSED
BY A VIRUS OR BACTERIA
TYPICALLY ISN'T COVERED IN.
>> IT'S MORE THAN
DISHEARTENING.
DISHEARTENING. IT'S MORE THAN FRUSTRATION.
>> NEEDLESS TO SAY HE IS NOT A
FAN OF THE BIG INSURANCE
CARRIERS.
CARRIERS.
CARRIERS. >> THE PREMIUMS ARE REALLY
HIGH.
HIGH.
HIGH. AND
HIGH. AND DOESN'T EVER SEEM LIKE THEY
WORKOUT FOR THE BUSINESS OWNER
ANYWAY.
ANYWAY.
ANYWAY. BUT WE HAVE TO HAVE THEM.
AND WE HAVE TO PAY THEM.
BUT WHEN WE ACTUALLY NEED THEM,
TO COME THROUGH, THEY ALWAYS
FIND A WAY OUT OF IT.
>> Reporter: NOT ALL HOPE IS
LOST.
LOST.
LOST. HE
LOST. HE AND OTHER SMALL BUSINESS
OWNERS MAY QUALIFY FOR A LOAN
THROUGH THE U.S. SMALL BUSINESS
ADMINISTRATION.
ADMINISTRATION. A STAFFER IN KATE BROWN'S
OFFICE ADDRESSED THAT DURING A
WEDNESDAY MORNING CONFERENCE
CALL.
CALL.
CALL. >>
CALL. >> TO DEVON OR DID ACTUALLY
FINALIZE THE SBA DECLARATION,
AND IT IS STATEWIDE.
SO THE SBA WEBSITE, AND WE ARE
GETTING E-MAILS IS NOT CORRECT.
ALL COUNTIES ARE ELIGIBLE.
>> Reporter: THAT PROVIDES AT
LEAST SOME COMFORT FOR RAMSEY
HATTAR AT A TIME WHEN ANY SENSE
OF COMFORT IS HARD TO COME BY.
>> TICKING DOWN AND TRYING TO
SURVIVE, AND SAVE THE BUSINESS,
SO THAT WE CAN REOPEN ONE DAY.
>> AS HE IS ALREADY THERE, WE
SPOKE WITH HATTAR OVER VIDEO
CHAT, PRACTICING SOCIAL
DISTANCING OURSELVES.
DISTANCING OURSELVES. HE SAID SHOULD HE NOT GET ANY
HELP FROM INSURANCE OR LOANS,
HE SHOULD BE ABLE TO STAY
AFLOAT FOR A COUPLE OF MONTHS.
HE WORRIES ABOUT THOSE NEWER
BUSINESSES THAT DON'T HAVE AS
MUCH IN RESERVES.
REPORTING IN NORTHWEST
PORTLAND, MIKE BENNER, KGW
NEWS.
NEWS.
NEWS. >>
NEWS. >> WE SURE ARE BEHIND ALL OF
OUR BUSINESS OWNERS.
>>> THE TWO MATTERS OF CONGRESS
ANNOUNCED THEY HAVE TESTED
POSITIVE FOR CORONAVIRUS, THE
FIRST IS MARIO DIAZ BALLARD A
FLORIDA REPUBLICAN.
FLORIDA REPUBLICAN. THE OTHER IS BEN McADAMS, A
DEMOCRAT FROM UTAH.
BOTH ARE QUARANTINED AND URGING
PEOPLE TO FOLLOW CDC
GUIDELINES.
GUIDELINES. MEANTIME, THE SENATE APPROVED A
SECOND EMERGENCY RELIEF BILL
THAT PROVIDES SOME PAID SICK
LEAVE AND FREE VIRUS TESTING IF
A DOCTOR DEEMS IT NECESSARY.
THE PRESIDENT SIGNED INTO LAW.
WHILE ALSO INVOKING A WARTIME
POWER.
POWER.
POWER. IT
POWER. IT WILL DRAFT AMERICAN
FACTORIES INTO PRODUCING
CRITICAL EQUIPMENT LIKE
PROTECTIVE GEAR FOR MEDICAL
WORKERS.
WORKERS.
WORKERS. >> THERE'S NEVER BEEN AN
INSTANCE LIKE THIS WHERE NO
MATTER WHAT YOU HAVE, IT'S NOT
ENOUGH.
ENOUGH.
ENOUGH. >> AMERICANS COULD ALSO GET TWO
CHECKS FROM THE FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT FOR FINANCIAL HELP.
AS PART OF A MORE THAN $1
TRILLION PROPOSED STIMULUS
PACKAGE.
PACKAGE.
PACKAGE. >>> IN A BIT OF GOOD NEWS,
CHINESE AUTHORITIES ARE
REPORTING NO NEW CASES OF
CORONAVIRUS TODAY IN WUHAN AND
THE HUBEI PROVINCE FOR THE
FIRST TIME SINCE THE VIRUS
BROKE OUT.
BROKE OUT. BOTH HAVE BEEN AN EPICENTER FOR
THE OUTBREAK.
THE OUTBREAK. THE NUMBER OF NEW CASES ACROSS
CHINA HAS BEEN SLOWLY
DECLINING.
DECLINING. >>> GOVERNOR BROWN ALSO MADE A
NEW EXECUTIVE ORDER TODAY
INSTRUCTING ALL COLLEGES AND
UNIVERSITIES TO STOP IN PERSON
CLASSES AND MOVE TO ONLINE
LEARNING ONLY.
LEARNING ONLY. THIS WILL LAST THROUGH APRIL
28.
28.
28. THE
28. THE ORDER ALSO LIMITS ON CAMPUS
FUNCTIONS TO THE ESSENTIALS
LIKE KEEPING DINING HALL AND
DORM SERVICES.
DORM SERVICES. >>> WITH K-12 SCHOOLS IN OREGON
AND WASHINGTON ALREADY CLOSED,
SOME DISTRICTS ARE GETTING
CREATIVE TO KEEP THE LEARNING
GOING.
GOING.
GOING. ELEMENTARY STUDENTS TOOK
HOMEWORK PACKETS WHILE THE
MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOL IS GOT
LAPTOPS FOR REMOTE LEARNING.
THEY ARE REQUIRED TO CHECK IN
WITH TEACHERS EVERY DAY.
THE DISTRICT SET UP HOTSPOTS
FOR STUDENTS WHO DON'T HAVE
INTERNET.
INTERNET.
INTERNET. IT'S A PLAN THAT HAD BEEN IN
PLACE FOR A WHILE NOW.
>> WE'VE BEEN PREPARING THIS
FOR ABOUT A YEAR ACTUALLY.
WE WANTED TO PUT IT IN PLACE IN
INCLEMENT WEATHER SITUATIONS.
>> BY LAW, PUBLIC SCHOOLS CAN'T
GO TO ONLINE CLASSES UNLESS
EVERY STUDENT HAS ACCESS.
FOR A SMALLER DISTRICT IT'S
ACTUALLY BEEN POSSIBLE.
IN ADDITION TO DISTANCE-
LEARNING, THE DISTRICT IS
MAKING SURE HUNDREDS OF KIDS
GET SACK LUNCHES.
>>> A WASHINGTON COMPANY IS
STEPPING UP ITS PRODUCTION OF
VENTILATORS.
VENTILATORS. A PIECE OF MEDICAL EQUIPMENT
DESPERATELY NEEDED RIGHT NOW.
LIFE SYSTEMS NORTH OF SEATTLE
HAS BEEN PRODUCING ABOUT 150
VENTILATORS A MONTH.
IN THE NEXT 90 DAYS, IT IS
SCALING UP PRODUCTION TO 1,000
VENTILATORS A MONTH.
>> WE ARE GOING TO KEEP THE
FACTORY RUNNING AROUND THE
CLOCK.
CLOCK.
CLOCK. WE
CLOCK. WE ARE IN A UNIQUE POSITION TO
HELP AND EVERY ONE WE GET OUT
THE DOOR CAN SAVE SOMEONE'S
LIFE.
LIFE.
LIFE. >>
LIFE. >> THE VENTILATORS ARE FDA
APPROVED AND CAN RUN ON
BATTERIES.
BATTERIES. RIGHT NOW, VENTECH IS ONE OF
FIVE VENTILATOR COMPANIES IN
THE U.S. THERE WERE ONLY A
DOZEN MANUFACTURERS IN THE
ENTIRE WORLD.
ENTIRE WORLD. >>> STILL AHEAD, SENIORS
SHOPPING HOUR.
SHOPPING HOUR. MORE STORES ARE TAKING ACTION
TO HELP THE MOST VULNERABLE
AMONG US DEAL WITH CORONAVIRUS.
>>> LITERALLY WAS THAT EASY.
I POSTED ON FACEBOOK LET'S ALL
STICK OUR HEADS OUT AT 5:00 AND
JUST CHECK IN AND MAKE SURE
WE'RE DOING ALL RIGHT.
>> LOVE THIS.
KEEPING THEIR HUMANITY THROUGH
THE OUTBREAK, NEIGHBORS FIND
CREATIVE WAYS TO CONNECT AND
PULL TOGETHER.
PULL TOGETHER. >>> A LOT OF PEOPLE READY FOR A