2020-160-Order No. 2020-024 Recorded 5/19/2020REVIEWED
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Recorded in Deschutes County CJ2020 160
Nancy Blankenship, County Clerk
Commissioners' Journal 05/19/2020 11:20:45 AM
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BEFORE THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OF
DESCHUTES COUNTY, OREGON
A Public Health Emergency Order
Regarding Designating the Existing Need * ORDER NO. 2020-024
for Appropriate Non -Congregate
Housing/Shelter
WHEREAS, ORS 401.305 provides authority for Deschutes County to act as an emergency
management agency, including authority to establish policies and protocols for defining and directing
responsibilities during time of emergency; and
WHEREAS, ORS 401.309, DCC 2.04, and the Deschutes County Emergency Operations Plan
(EOP) authorize the county governing body to impose emergency orders upon declaration of an
emergency within the county or within a designated portion of the county and to establish procedures to
prepare for and carry out activities which are necessary to prevent, minimize, respond to, or recover
from an emergency; and
WHEREAS, COVID-19 was declared a pandemic by the WHO on March 11, 2020; and
WHEREAS, on March 8, 2020, Governor Kate Brown declared a state of emergency due to the
COVID-19 outbreak in Oregon (Executive Order No. 20-03), finding that COVID-19 has created a threat to
public health and safety, and constitutes a statewide emergency under ORS 401.025(1). Governor Brown
also issued guidance regarding group gatherings and social distancing to minimize potential opportunities
for the COVID-19 to spread (Executive Order No. 20-05); and
WHEREAS, on March 13, 2020, President Donald Trump declared a national emergency due
to COVID-19; and
WHEREAS, on March 13, 2020, the BOCC declared a local state of emergency in Deschutes
County by Order 2020-013; and
2020-024 Page 1
WHEREAS, on March 23, 2020, Governor Brown issued a Stay Home, Save Lives Order
(Executive Order No. 20-12), which, among other things, directed individuals to minimize travel, other
than essential travel and also imposed restrictions on all social and recreational gatherings where social
distancing of at least 6 feet could not be maintained; and
WHEREAS, ORS 431.413 provides the County Governing Body, operating as the Local Public
Health Authority, with the power and authority to take necessary action (including but not limited to
imposing quarantine and isolation orders through administrative action of the LPH Administrator and/or
judicial orders of the Circuit Court) to maintain health and control and prevent the spread of any
contagious or infectious diseases within the jurisdiction; and
WHEREAS, the age, condition, and health of a portion of the population of Deschutes County
places it at risk for serious health complications, including death, from COVID-19. [Although most
individuals who contract COVID-19 do not become seriously ill, symptomatic persons, including persons
with mild symptoms, and asymptomatic persons with COVID-19 may place other vulnerable members of
the public at significant risk; and
WHEREAS, a large surge in the number of persons with serious infections can compromise the
ability of the regional healthcare system to deliver necessary healthcare to the public, and Deschutes
County has a significant homeless population that could have need of non -congregate shelter; and
WHEREAS, currently in Deschutes County, there may be individuals who have been potentially
exposed to COVID-19, are symptomatic, and should quarantine while waiting for test results and/or to
avoid potentially exposing others; and
WHEREAS, Deschutes County seeks pre -approval from FEMA for a non -congregate medical
sheltering of homeless citizens who have tested positive for COVID-19, who are symptomatic, or who are
pending testing or are close contacts of confirmed cases , and a Local Health Officer Order is necessary in
the event FEMA reimbursement is required; and
WHEREAS, directing the isolation and quarantine of homeless persons and other high -risk
populations that cannot safely shelter in congregate settings who have tested positive for COVID-19, who
are symptomatic, or who are pending testing, or are close contacts of confirmed cases is the best available
health authorities' guidance; and
WHEREAS, this Order will help preserve critical and limited healthcare capacity in the County by
reducing the spread of COVID-19; and
WHEREAS, Deschutes County is actively seeking out both congregate and non -congregate shelter
options to house homeless citizens and other high -risk populations that cannot safely shelter in congregate
settings to help control the spread of COVID-19 and to meet its public health needs; and
WHEREAS, the LPHA for Deschutes County makes these findings:
1. It is currently necessary to have the ability to establish non -congregate sheltering to address the
public health needs of Deschutes County arising from the COVID-19 pandemic, and to meet the
Governor of Oregon's "Re -Opening" Phase 1 requirements;
2020-024 Page 2
2. That non -congregate sheltering is a reasonable and necessary means to reduce, limit, and
prevent the further spread of COVID-19 in Deschutes County;
3. That various lodging -type facilities throughout Deschutes County can be utilized to house a
substantial volume of persons in individual units (rooms); each unit is equipped with a bathroom
and individual heating, cooling, and ventilation (HCV);
4. That acquiring the use of these various lodging -type facilities to provide for voluntary
quarantine and isolation shelter for homeless citizens and other high -risk populations that cannot
safely shelter in congregate settings present in Deschutes County who have tested positive for
COVID-19, who are symptomatic, or who are pending testing or are close contacts of confirmed
cases will reduce the risk of transmission in the community;
5. That Deschutes County can supply and oversee site management staffing, case management
staffing, and security on site; that there is a plan for hospital transportation as needed; that cleaning
schedules will be established; and that personal protective equipment will be available for staff on
site;
6. That this emergency health order designating the need for non -congregate shelter in Deschutes
County shall not extend beyond the duration of the COVID-19 state of emergency in Deschutes
County; and
WHEREAS, in order to further protect the public health within Deschutes County the
Local Public Health Authority and the Local Public Health Administrator request, designate and
impose immediate actions; now therefore,
THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OF DESCHUTES COUNTY, OREGON, ACTING IN ITS
CAPACITY AS THE LOCAL PUBLIC HEALTH AUTHORITY (WITH CONSENT OF THE LOCAL PUBLIC
HEALTH ADMINISTRATOR) HEREBY ORDERS as follows:
1. Designate that local public health and law enforcement authorities utilize non -congregate shelter for
homeless persons and other high -risk populations that cannot safely shelter in congregate settings as
needed to prevent the spread of COVID-19;
2. Authorize the use of various lodging -type facilities located within Deschutes County, Oregon to be an
appropriate and necessary non -congregate property for purposes of quarantine and isolation shelter;
2020-024 Page 3
3. This ORDER will remain in effect until further notice, but shall not extend beyond the duration of the
State of Oregon declared COVID-19 public health emergency.
Dated this of , 2020
ATTES
e
ec mg Secretary
George Conway, M.D.
Local Public Health Administrator
BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
OF DESCHUTES COUNTY, OREGON
(Ap. ing as Local Public Health Authority)
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PATTI ADAIR, Chair
ANTHONY DeBONE, Vice Chair
PHILIP G. HE ERSON, Commissioner
2020-024 Page 4
3. This ORDER will remain in effect until further notice, but shall not extend beyond the duration of the
State of Oregon declared COVID-19 public health emergency.
Dated this of
ATTES
ec Ong Secretary
CA-4-�
George Conway, M.D.
Local Public Health Administrator
2020
HOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
OF DESCHUTES COUNTY, OREGON
(Acting as Local Public Health Authority)
PATTI ADAIR, Chair
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ANTHONY DeBONE, Vice C air
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PHILIP G. HE DERSON, Commissioner
2020-024 Page 4