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Man allegedly hid 3 months at Chicago airport because he was scared of coronavirus - OregonLive

Aditya Singh, 36, is charged with felony criminal trespass to a restricted area of an airport and misdemeanor theft after he was arrested Saturday.

CHICAGO (AP) A California man who told police that the coronavirus pandemic left him afraid to fly has been arrested on charges that he hid in a secured area at Chicagos OHare International Airport for three months. Aditya Singh, 36, is charged with felony criminal trespass to a restricted area of an airport and misdemeanor theft after he was arrested Saturday. At a court hearing on Sunday, a judge ruled that the Orange, California, man could be released if he paid $1,000, but said that Singh was prohibited from setting foot in the airport. As of Monday morning, Singh remained in the Cook County Jail. Assistant Public Defender Courtney Smallwood said Singh does not have a criminal record. She also said it was unclear why Singh, who is unemployed, came to Chicago or if he has ties to the area. During the hearing, Assistant States Attorney Kathleen Hagerty said that Singh was spotted by two United Airlines employees, who asked him for identification, the Chicago Tribune reported. Singh lowered his mask and showed a badge that actually belonged to an operations manager at the airport who had reported it missing in late October, Hagerty said. The employees called police, who took Singh into custody. Singh was scared to go home due to COVID, Hagerty said, and told authorities that hed found the badge and that other passengers at the airport had given him food. Before she granted Singh bail, Cook County Judge Susana Ortiz was clearly troubled that someone could remain in a secured area for so long at the airport without anyone noticing. The court finds these facts and circumstances quite shocking for the alleged period of time that this occurred, the judge said. Being in a secured part of the airport under a fake ID badge allegedly, based upon the need for airports to be absolutely secure so that people feel safe to travel, I do find those alleged actions do make him a danger to the community. Singh is scheduled to return to court Jan. 27. -- The Associated Press

Florida waitress uses subtle signs to save boy, 11, from abusers, police say - OregonLive

Orlando, Florida, police credit waitress Flaviane Carvalho with coming to an 11-year-old boy’s aid when the child’s parents weren’t looking.

ORLANDO, Florida A waitress concerned that a young boy might be being abused secretly flashed notes at him in order to see if he needed help, reports say. When Flaviane Carvalho flashed a note that said Do you need help at the boy, he nodded yes. Thats when Carvalho, a manager and serverat Mrs. Potato Restaurant, called the Orlando Police Department, the Orlando Sentinel reports. Now police are crediting Carvalho with saving the boy from abusive parents, according to USA Today. Abuse, I say lightly, Detective Erin Lawler said Thursday, according to the Sentinel. It was torture. The boys 34-year-old stepfather, Timothy Wilson II, was arrested on charges of child abuse and neglect on the night the waitress called police, according to an arrest affidavit. The childs 31-year-old mother, Kristen Swann, 31, who was also at the restaurant, was arrested a week later on a child neglect charge. Police say the incident occurred at the restaurant on Jan. 1, clickorlando.com reports. The boy was at the restaurant with his stepfather, mother and younger sister. Carvalho said she noticed the boy had scratches and bruises, and that he was the only one who did not receive an order for food. When I looked to the boy, I saw a big scratch between his eyebrows, Carvalho said in a video released by OPD. I started observing them and I could (see) that he was super quiet and sad. She says she first flashed a sign at him that asked if he was OK, then another asking if he needed help. The Sentinel reports the boy was examined at a hospital and had bruises on his eyelids, earlobes and arms. He also was 20 pounds underweight. Police tell the Sentinel the boy said his parents withheld food as punishment and also would make him exercise excessively. The boy said he had been hung upside down from a door while tied by his ankles and neck, and that he had been beaten by objects and fists. He also reportedly was handcuffed to a moving dolly. That child was destined to be killed, police Chief Orlando Rolón tells the Sentinel. Thats how severe the injuries were. Thats how horrific the recollection of the abuse the child shared with us was.

Coronavirus in Oregon: State reports 1,037 new cases, 21 new deaths as vaccine rollout delayed - OregonLive

“I remain committed to vaccinating our seniors quickly,” Gov. Kate Brown said.

The Oregon Health Authority on Friday reported 1,037 new confirmed or presumptive coronavirus cases and 21 more fatalities as officials announced the vaccine rollout to some groups would be delayed after an anticipated federal shipment of about 200,000 doses failed to materialize. On Tuesday, U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar urged all states to start vaccinating Americans who are 65 or older and people with underlying conditions that put them at higher risk for serious complications from COVID-19 -- saying the federal government would ship second doses held in reserve. Gov. Kate Brown said she learned on Thursday that the reserve did not exist and the extra doses would not be delivered, which she called deception on a national scale. Originally, the state had planned to start vaccinating teachers, child care workers and people over the age of 65 Jan. 23. Browns new plan calls for school employees to be eligible for vaccines starting Jan. 25, two days later than announced earlier this week, although some counties may begin earlier. Oregonians age 80 and older will have to wait until Feb. 8, about two weeks later than previously announced, with eligibility for those 75, 70 and 65 and older to follow in phases each week. I remain committed to vaccinating our seniors quickly, Brown said. Officials announced 10,618 doses were administered to Oregonians on Thursday and noted that the number would likely rise to above the 12,000 threshold as more doses are reported. Brown set that benchmark for public health officials earlier this month. In total, the state has administered just over 173,000 first and second doses of the vaccine. Where the new cases are by county: Baker (2), Benton (21), Clackamas (54), Clatsop (4), Columbia (11), Coos (3), Crook (4), Curry (1), Deschutes (43), Douglas (21), Grant (31), Harney (1), Hood River (4), Jackson (52), Jefferson (14), Josephine (48), Klamath (14), Lake (1), Lane (86), Lincoln (5), Linn (16), Malheur (5), Marion (95), Morrow (5), Multnomah (155), Polk (23), Umatilla (111), Union (7), Wallowa (2), Wasco (14), Washington (141) and Yamhill (43). New deaths: Oregons 1,738th COVID-19 death is an 85-year-old Clackamas County man who tested positive Dec. 31 and died Jan. 8 at his residence. The 1,739th death is an 83-year-old Deschutes County man who tested positive Jan. 4 and died Jan. 13 at his residence. The 1,740th death is a 94-year-old Josephine County woman who tested positive Dec. 28 and died Jan. 11 at her residence. The 1,741st death is a 68-year-old Klamath County man who tested positive Dec. 20 and died Jan. 7 at Sky Lakes Medical Center. The 1,742nd death is a 74-year-old Klamath County man who tested positive Dec. 26 and died Jan. 10 at Sky Lakes Medical Center. The 1,743rd death is an 87-year-old Klamath County woman who tested positive Dec. 28 and died Jan. 10 at her residence. The 1,744th death is a 77-year-old Klamath County man who tested positive Dec. 28 and died Jan. 11 at his residence. The 1,745th death is a 78-year-old Morrow County man who tested positive Nov. 13 and died Nov. 17 at his residence. The 1,746th death is an 84-year-old Multnomah County woman who tested positive Aug. 28 and died Oct. 29 at her residence. The 1,747th death is a 52-year-old Multnomah County woman who tested positive Oct. 14 and died Nov. 10 at Adventist Medical Center. The 1,748th death is an 83-year-old Multnomah County woman who tested positive Nov. 9 and died Nov. 12 at her residence. The 1,749th death is a 74-year-old Multnomah County woman who tested positive Dec. 17 and died Jan. 11 at Legacy Mount Hood Medical Center. The 1,750th death is a 96-year-old Multnomah County woman who tested positive Dec. 25 and died Jan. 12 at her residence. The 1,751st death is an 85-year-old Multnomah County woman who tested positive Dec. 24 and died Jan. 9 at her residence. The 1,752nd death is a 72-year-old Multnomah County man who tested positive Jan. 4 and died Jan. 12 at Providence Portland Medical Center. The 1,753rd COVID-19 death is a 71-year-old Multnomah County man who tested positive Jan. 8 and died Jan. 12 at Kaiser Permanente Sunnyside Medical Center. The 1,754th death is a 78-year-old Umatilla County woman who tested positive Dec. 17 and died Jan. 11 at her residence. The 1,755th death is an 84-year-old Umatilla County woman who tested positive Dec. 21 and died Dec. 20 at her residence. The 1,756th death is a 76-year-old Yamhill County man who tested positive Jan. 5 and died Jan. 10 at his residence. The 1,757th death is a 79-year-old Curry County woman who tested positive Dec. 9 and died Dec. 18 at her residence. The 1,758th death is a 78-year-old Harney County man who tested positive Jan. 8 and died Jan. 8 at his residence. Each person had underlying health conditions or state officials are confirming if they had underlying conditions. The prevalence of infections: On Wednesday, the state reported 978 new positive tests out of 23,886 tests performed, equaling a 4.1% positivity rate. Who got infected: New confirmed or presumed infections grew among the following age groups: 0-9 (46); 10-19 (138); 20-29 (207); 30-39 (175); 40-49 (160); 50-59 (128); 60-69 (84); 70-79 (43); 80 and older (26). Whos in the hospital: The state reported 387 Oregonians with confirmed coronavirus infections were currently in the hospital Friday, 28 fewer than Thursday. Of those, 97 coronavirus patients were in intensive care units, four fewer than Thursday. Vaccines administered: Oregon has administered 173,073 doses out of 326,300 received, just over 53% of its supply. Since it began: Oregon has reported 131,258 confirmed or presumed infections and 1,758 deaths, among the lowest totals in the nation. To date, the state has reported 2,919,566 lab reports from tests. -- Kale Williams; [email protected]; 503-294-4048; @sfkale

Gov. Kate Brown announces Oregonians age 65+ and teachers can get vaccinated against COVID-19 starting Jan. 23 - OregonLive

State officials are still working on how they will notify residents who qualify about where to go to get vaccinated.

Under pressure from federal officials, Oregon Gov. Kate Brown announced Tuesday that shell allow all Oregonians 65 and older to be eligible for COVID-19 vaccinations starting Jan. 23. On her own accord, Brown also said she would allow childcare, preschool and K-12 school employees to start receiving vaccinations along with the elderly group. Browns decision to expand vaccinations to older Oregonians was in response to urging from U.S. Health and Human Service Secretary Alex Azar earlier in the day that all states start vaccinating Americans who are 65 or older and people with underlying conditions that put them at higher risk for serious complications from COVID-19. Azar said the federal government would no longer hold onto second doses of the vaccines before shipping them out -- and that would free up more doses to vaccinate this new group of vulnerable Americans. In a Tuesday news release, Brown did not address her plans for Oregonians with underlying conditions, and the governors office didnt immediately respond to a request for clarification. But it appears that people with underlying conditions wont immediately be prioritized for inoculations, since Brown made no mention of them. Brown stated theres only one caveat to rolling out the vaccines to the elderly and educators -- that the federal government sends more vaccines as promised. Charles Boyle, a spokesman for the governors office, said he doesnt know how many more vaccines will be coming to Oregon. While this is an unexpected change in course from the federal government, receiving more vaccines is welcome news for states and Oregon is ready to devote all resources necessary to ramp up distribution with our health care partners, Brown said in a written statement. Brown offered no specifics on where Oregonians who soon will be eligible can go to get inoculated. State leaders are still working on a system for getting the information out. If you are an Oregonian who is newly eligible for vaccination, I am asking for your patience, Brown continued. Please, do not call your doctors office or health care provider with questions about when you can be vaccinated. Todays news arrived with no advance notice from the federal government. Oregon health care providers are working as fast as humanly possible to shift their vaccine distribution plans to meet this sudden change in national guidance. Its unclear how many residents the new expanded guidelines will include. Currently, the state has allowed an estimated 500,000 Oregonians to get vaccinated as part of Phase 1a. That mostly encompasses healthcare workers and residents of long-term care facilities but allows others, including jail and prison employees and veterinary care workers. The governor didnt say how many childcare, preschool and K-12 workers there are in the state. According to U.S. Census figures, theres about 767,000 people age 65 and older in Oregon. At most, about 21,000 of them already were eligible as part of Phase 1a because they live in longterm care facilities. Vastly increasing the pool of eligible vaccine recipients will put enormous strain on an already overtaxed vaccination system in the state. According to the state, 115,060 doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna vaccines have made it into the arms of residents, out of 321,425 doses that the CDC says have been shipped to Oregon so far. That means about 36% of the available stock has been used -- a significant improvement from the 25% that had been used about a week ago. But vaccinations have been going far slower than anticipated back on Dec. 16, when the first vaccines were injected into healthcare workers. Oregons initial rollout has been plagued with ineffective planning, but state officials say reforms are underway. Over the past week, an average of 7,600 doses have been administered each day. The governor has set a goal of 12,000 per day by next week, but acknowledged that the pace would need to accelerate considerably in future weeks. Patrick Allen, the Oregon Health Authority director, has said at 12,000 daily shots a day, and it would take well into 2022 to inoculate 70% of the states population -- about 3 million people -- with the two-dose regimen of the vaccines. Seventy percent is the minimum some public health experts say is necessary to reach herd immunity, which is the point the virus is seriously hindered from easily spreading throughout the community. In addition to pressure from the federal government, Brown had received harsh criticism from some residents for up until Tuesday saying that early education and K-12 employees would get the vaccine starting as early as mid-February, while she would make no such decisions yet about senior citizens. The elderly are at highest risk for death for COVID-19 or life-altering effects for those who survive. More than 80% of Americans whove died are age 65 and older, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. In the past week, 85% of the 110 Oregonians who died from the disease last week were age 65 or older. The Oregon Education Association, the union representing 44,000 educators, wasnt pushing the governor to prioritize educators before seniors. Union president John Larson said seniors are at higher risk of dying than the overall educator population. He also said even if all school employees are vaccinated, he doesnt believe classrooms should open because students wont be. The vaccines havent been approved for children younger than 16 and they could bring it home to their families, he said. Putting students and staff safety at risk so people can be back in-person is simply irresponsible, Larson said. The only educators Larson said he thinks should be vaccinated now are those whove already been pushed back into their classrooms in a select number of school districts. Tuesdays news that Brown will soon open up vaccinations to seniors was celebrated with cheers from senior citizens. This is a developing story. Check back on OregonLive.com for updates. Coronavirus in Oregon: Latest news | Live map tracker |Text alerts | Newsletter -- Aimee Green; [email protected]; @o_aimee

Coronavirus testing plummets 34% from Oregon’s peak, outpacing drop in cases - OregonLive

The Oregon Health Authority on Monday reported 10 more deaths and 939 new coronavirus cases.

Coronavirus testing in Oregon has plummeted in recent weeks, returning to levels not seen since November and far outpacing a decline in diagnosed new cases. Oregons average daily testing numbers are down 34% since Dec. 17 but confirmed and presumed infections are down only 10%. The Oregon Health Authority came under scrutiny in the fall over what appeared to be lackluster testing progress, prompting the agency to alter the way it reports testing volume to show gains had been made. But a new analysis by The Oregonian/OregonLive has found testing numbers subsequently crashed during the holidays and still have not recovered. State officials did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The Oregon Health Authority on Monday reported 10 more deaths and 939 new coronavirus cases, marking the third time in the past week cases have been below 1,000. Its not immediately clear what is driving the decline in testing fewer sick Oregonians, inadequate testing access, fewer screenings over the holidays, some combination of all three, or something else. Active hospitalization a consistent measure of severe cases in the community have dropped by about a quarter since Dec. 17. Oregon tracks testing volume by disclosing the number of electronic lab reports received. Tests peaked Dec. 17 with a seven-day average of 25,184 but are now down to 16,723, roughly equal to testing levels for Nov. 15. Meanwhile, confirmed or presumed infections have been trending up over the past week. Oregons average test positivity rate, 7.5%, is a full point higher than it was Dec. 17. State officials are on edge. Recent modeling suggests Oregon could see more cases in the weeks ahead, and Gov. Kate Brown has said the potential winter wave has the potential to surpass records set this fall. Where the new cases are by county: Baker (1), Benton (13), Clackamas (87), Clatsop (1), Columbia (14), Coos (15), Crook (1), Deschutes (38), Douglas (16), Hood River (3), Jackson (40), Jefferson (5), Josephine (38), Lane (61), Lincoln (8), Linn (13), Malheur (2), Marion (110), Morrow (8), Multnomah (16), Polk (40), Tillamook (2), Umatilla (63), Union (5), Wasco (7), Washington (314) and Yamhill (18). Deaths: Oregons 1,604th death linked to coronavirus is a 73-year-old Jefferson County woman who tested positive Dec. 25 and died Jan. 9 at St. Charles Medical Center Bend. The 1,605th fatality is a 57-year-old Lane County woman who tested positive Dec. 18 and died Jan. 9 at Oregon Health & Science University. Oregons 1,606th death is an 88-year-old Lane County man who tested positive Dec. 23 and died Jan. 7 at PeaceHealth Sacred Heart Medical Center at Riverbend. The 1,607th fatality is a 53-year-old Lane County man who tested positive Dec. 28 and died Jan. 8 at PeaceHealth Sacred Heart Medical Center at Riverbend. Oregons 1,608th death is a 91-year-old Multnomah County man who tested positive Dec. 13 and died Dec. 21 at his residence. The 1,609th fatality is a 91-year-old Multnomah County woman who tested positive Dec. 3 and died Dec. 11 at her residence. Oregons 1,610th death is a 74-year-old Multnomah County woman who tested positive Dec. 18 and died Dec. 30 at Kaiser Sunnyside Medical Center. The 1,611th fatality is a 95-year-old Multnomah County woman who tested positive Jan. 1 and died Jan. 8 at Adventist Health Portland. Oregons 1,612th death is a 93-year-old Multnomah County woman who tested positive Dec. 15 and died Jan. 2 at her residence. The 1,613th fatality is a 98-year-old Washington County woman who tested positive Dec. 29 and died Jan. 4 at her residence. Each person had underlying health conditions. Not yet included in the states official count is an inmate from Two Rivers Correctional Institution who died Jan. 10 after testing positive for coronavirus, according to the Oregon Department of Corrections. He as between the ages of 70 and 80. The Oregon Health Authority also removed two death from their official count for fatalities that were reported twice. The prevalence of infections: The state reported 923 new positive tests out of 12,934 tests performed, equaling an 7.1% positivity rate. Who got infected: State officials hadnt provided detailed age breakdowns since Friday. Since then, new confirmed or presumed infections since grew among the following age groups: 0-9 (147); 10-19 (442); 20-29 (897); 30-39 (682); 40-49 (559); 50-59 (444); 60-69 (295); 70-79 (175); 80 and older (102). Whos in the hospital: The state reported 409 Oregonians with confirmed coronavirus infections were in the hospital Monday, up six from Sunday. Of those, 84 were in intensive care units, the same as Sunday. Vaccines administered: Oregon has administered 104,595 doses out of 270,800 received, or 39% of its supply. Since it began: Oregon has reported 126,607 confirmed or presumed infections and 1,613 deaths, among the lowest totals in the nation. To date, the state has reported 2,839,839 lab reports from tests. -- Brad Schmidt; [email protected]; 503-294-7628; @_brad_schmidt

Governor to deploy Oregon National Guard to speed up coronavirus vaccinations; educators to be next in line f - OregonLive

The state has a week to double the vaccination rate.

State officials still plan to vaccinate 12,000 Oregonians per day by the end of next week and will deploy troops to help Oregon reach that goal, starting with the Salem Fairgrounds, Gov. Kate Brown said Friday. Oregon has faced escalating criticism for the slow rollout of its coronavirus vaccination program and a lack of clarity about who will get vaccinated and when. Oregons vaccination rate as of Jan. 8 lags behind 39 other states, according to federal health data. The governor and her top health lieutenant, Patrick Allen, presented a variety of steps the state is taking to make sure more people quickly get a shot of the coronavirus vaccine while cautioning that the pandemic could yet take a turn for the worse, especially after the recent winter holidays. Were still waiting to see the impact of our actions over the holidays and New Years, and whether a second, and possibly worse, winter surge is headed our way, Brown said during a news conference. The first phase of the states vaccination program is expected to get a boost by Tuesday when the Oregon National Guard joins in helping Salem Healths multi-day vaccination event at the Salem Fairgrounds. The guardsmen will help get as many 250 people vaccinated per hour, Brown said. Per Salem Health, all Marion County residents currently eligible for a shot will be able to get vaccinated. As of Thursday, 73,286 Oregonians had received at least one shot. About 500,000 Oregonians, such as hospital nurses and nursing home caregivers, fall into the states priority list for vaccinations, state officials said. If Oregon meets its daily vaccination goal by the end of next week, it would take about a month to get the entire group vaccinated. In what could be an even more significant development for senior care homes, the pharmacies contracted to inoculate long-term care residents and staff will soon be able to tackle approximately 75,000 residents and workers in assisted living, adult foster and independent living homes and other congregate settings. The focus up until this point, aside from health care workers, had been only on the smaller segment of nursing homes and memory care facilities. Among the most consequential of Browns recent decisions has been to allow schools to reopen at their own discretion and to prioritize educators getting vaccines once the core group of health care workers and congregate care residents and staff are vaccinated. For Oregons future, we should be all focused on how we can get our kids back into the classroom safely as quickly as possible, Brown said. State officials are expected to release new safety guidelines this month that schools will have to follow in order to reopen. The Oregon Health Authority will ultimately decide the eligibility order for vaccinations. But in reality, those decisions will be influenced, if not determined, by the governor and a specially convened advisory committee focused on getting vaccines to historically marginalized groups that have been disproportionately affected by the pandemic. Notably, Oregon has apparently sidelined a federal recommendation that people 75 and older be among the first to get a shot. Precisely when those Oregonians can get in line will likely be determined, at least in part, by Oregons Vaccine Advisory Committee. Washington, for instance, has said people 70 years and older will be eligible later this month, along with people 50 and older who live in multi-generational households. Look, Brown said when pressed on her decision to prioritize educators. These are really, really tough decisions. And the harsh reality is that we do not have enough vaccines to vaccinate everyone at once. -- Fedor Zarkhin; [email protected]; 503-294-7674

New US dietary guidelines: No candy, cake for kids under 2 - OregonLive

The first U.S. government dietary guidelines for infants and toddlers, released Tuesday, recommend feeding only breast milk for at least six months and no added sugar for children under age 2.

Parents now have an extra reason to say no to candy, cake and ice cream for young children. The first U.S. government dietary guidelines for infants and toddlers, released Tuesday, recommend feeding only breast milk for at least six months and no added sugar for children under age 2. Its never too early to start, said Barbara Schneeman, a nutritionist at University of California, Davis. You have to make every bite count in those early years. The guidelines stop short of two key recommendations from scientists advising the government. Those advisers said in July that everyone should limit their added sugar intake to less than 6% of calories and men should limit alcohol to one drink per day. Instead, the guidelines stick with previous advice: limit added sugar to less than 10% of calories per day after age 2. And men should limit alcohol to no more than two drinks per day, twice as much as advised for women. I dont think were finished with alcohol, said Schneeman, who chaired a committee advising the government on the guidelines. Theres more we need to learn. The dietary guidelines are issued every five years by the Agriculture Department and the Department of Health and Human Services. The government uses them to set standards for school lunches and other programs. Some highlights: INFANTS, TODDLERS AND MOMS Babies should have only breast milk at least until they reach 6 months, the guidelines say. If breast milk isnt available, they should get iron-fortified infant formula during the first year. Babies should get supplemental vitamin D beginning soon after birth. Babies can start eating other food at about 6 months and should be introduced to potential allergenic foods along with other foods. Introducing peanut-containing foods in the first year reduces the risk that an infant will develop a food allergy to peanuts, the guidelines say. Theres more advice than in prior guidelines for pregnant and breastfeeding women. To promote healthy brain development in their babies, these women should eat 8 to 12 ounces of seafood per week. They should be sure to choose fish such as cod, salmon, sardines and tilapia with lower levels of mercury, which can harm childrens nervous systems. Pregnant women should not drink alcohol, according to the guidelines, and breastfeeding women should be cautious. Caffeine in modest amounts appears safe and women can discuss that with their doctors. ALCOHOL AND MEN In July, the science advisers suggested men who drink alcohol should limit themselves to one serving per day a 12-ounce can of beer, a 5-ounce glass of wine or a shot of liquor. Tuesdays official guidelines ignored that, keeping the advice for men at two drinks per day. Dr. Westley Clark of Santa Clara University said thats appropriate. Heavy drinking and binge drinking are harmful, he said, but the evidence isnt as clear for moderate drinking. Lowering the limit for men would likely be socially, religiously or culturally unacceptable to many, Clark said, which could have ripple effects for the rest of the guidelines. They need to be acceptable to people, otherwise theyll reject it outright and well be worse off, he said. If you lose the public, these guidelines have no merit whatsoever. More careful scientific research into the long-term effects of low or moderate levels of drinking is needed, he said. WHATS ON YOUR PLATE? Most Americans fall short of following the best advice on nutrition, contributing to obesity, heart disease and diabetes. Much of the new advice sounds familiar: Load your plate with fruits and vegetables, and cut back on sweets, saturated fats and sodium. The guidelines suggest making small changes that add up: Substitute plain shredded wheat for frosted cereal. Choose low-sodium canned black beans. Drink sparkling water instead of soda. It is really important to make healthier choices, every meal, every day, to develop a pattern of healthy eating, said Pam Miller of the Agriculture Departments food and nutrition service. Theres an app to help people follow the guidelines available through the governments My Plate website. READ LABELS The biggest sources of added sugars in the typical U.S. diet are soda and other sugar-sweetened beverages, desserts, snacks, candy and sweetened coffee and tea. These foods contribute very little nutrition, so the guidelines advise limits. Theres information on added sugar on the Nutrition Facts label on packaged foods. Information on saturated fats and sodium is on the label too. -- The Associated Press

Coronavirus in Oregon: 612 new cases, 0 new deaths as Oregonians share their personal pandemic struggles - OregonLive

The coronavirus death toll stands at 1,422.

Oregon reported 612 new coronavirus cases Saturday and no additional deaths -- far below recent tallies. The states data often lags during weekends and may not be reflective of the actual state of the pandemic in Oregon. The Oregonian/OregonLive newsroom has partnered with multiple other outlets in the state to bring to light the human impact of the pandemic. Every day brings a fresh barrage of coronavirus statistics: new cases, new deaths, fluctuations in positive test rates and the number of hospitalizations. But who is behind those numbers? People like Joe Guttierez, who spent 78 days in a hospital after what started as a little cough turned out to be the first signs of a coronavirus infection. People like Carola Montero, who was 46 when she died, leaving behind her husband and four children. People like Sally Cumberworth, who spent Thanksgiving quarantining in a hotel room. Then there are the people whom officials tallied months ago but who are still struggling with the aftermath of their initial coronavirus infections. As many as one in 10 COVID-19 survivors may suffer from long-term symptoms of the disease, researchers in the United Kingdom have found. Oregonians have recounted numerous stories of seemingly endless hardship as they have struggled for months after recovering from the acute phase of their coronavirus infection. Everyone has been affected by the pandemic, from schoolchildren to bartenders to anybody who misses seeing their friends. But the secondary impact of the pandemic has hit workers and businesses particularly hard. Some Oregonians have been able to work from home or have lost their jobs because they werent deemed essential. Thousands of others, however, have continued to work as the coronavirus continues to rage through the state, risking their lives and the lives of their loved ones. They include teachers, grocery workers and mail carriers. Businesses, meanwhile, have either shut down or found creative ways to stay afloat. And now, for the latest coronavirus numbers: Where the new cases are by county: Baker (7), Benton (18), Columbia (15), Crook (14), Deschutes (68), Douglas (9), Harney (1), Hood River (6), Jefferson (33), Lane (89), Linn (26), Marion (3), Morrow (6), Multnomah (271), Tillamook (9) and Umatilla (37). The prevalence of infections: On Saturday, the state reported 1,101 new positive tests out of 16,190 tests performed, equaling a 6.8 positivity rate. Hospitalized patients: Oregon officials on Saturday reported 472 people hospitalized because of COVID-19, the same as Friday. Of those, 97 patients are in intensive care units, six fewer than Friday. Since it began: Oregon has reported 108,326 confirmed or presumed infections and 1,422 deaths, among the lowest totals in the nation. To date, the state has reported 2,579,564 lab reports from tests, 5.9% of them positive. -- Fedor Zarkhin

Coronavirus in Oregon: 908 new cases in the state, 7 deaths as vaccine rollout continues - OregonLive

The official coronavirus death toll in Oregon now stands at 1,422, one of the lowest state totals in the country.

The Oregon Health Authority reported 908 new confirmed or presumptive coronavirus cases in the state and seven more deaths. The official coronavirus death toll in Oregon now stands at 1,422, one of the lowest state totals in the country. Nearly 1,200 Oregonians received COVID-19 vaccinations on Christmas Eve, as the rollout of the vaccine to health-care workers and long-term care homes continues. 17,130 people in the state have received their first vaccine shot so far. Its expected to be well into spring or summer before everyone in Oregon can receive a coronavirus vaccine. About 3 million Oregonians will need to be vaccinated to achieve herd immunity against COVID-19, which has killed nearly 2 million people worldwide. Oregon has had more than 100,000 confirmed or presumptive COVID-19 cases overall, with a current average of a little more than 1,000 new cases per day. Heres the latest on the coronavirus pandemic in Oregon from the Dec. 25 data released by OHA: Where the new cases are by county: Baker (2), Benton (20), Clackamas (82), Clatsop (5), Columbia (9), Coos (4), Crook (4), Curry (3), Deschutes (31), Douglas (14), Harney (1), Hood River (14), Jackson (65), Jefferson (21), Josephine (3), Lake (2), Lane (57), Lincoln (5), Linn (38), Malheur (9), Marion (123), Morrow (4), Multnomah (215), Polk (17), Tillamook (1), Umatilla (42), Union (2), Wallowa (1) Wasco (9), Washington (84) and Yamhill (21). New deaths: Oregons 1,416th COVID-19 death is a 63-year-old man in Multnomah County who tested positive on November 6 and died on November 15 at Providence Adventist Medical Center. He had underlying conditions. Oregons 1,417th COVID-19 death is an 88-year-old man in Lane County who tested positive on December 16 and died on December 16 at his residence. He had underlying conditions. Oregons 1,418th COVID-19 death is an 87-year-old man in Deschutes County who tested positive on December 20 and died on December 24 at St. Charles Medical Center Bend. He had underlying conditions. Oregons 1,419th COVID-19 death is a 63-year-old man in Marion County who tested positive on November 12 and died on December 23 at Salem Hospital. He had underlying conditions. Oregons 1,420th COVID-19 death is a 65-year-old woman in Multnomah County who tested positive on December 16 and died on December 23 at Legacy Mount Hood Medical Center. She had underlying conditions. Oregons 1,421st COVID-19 death is an 83-year-old man in Marion County who tested positive on December 11 and died on December 24 at Salem Hospital. He had underlying conditions. Oregons 1,422nd COVID-19 death is an 83-year-old man in Marion County who tested positive on December 17 and died on December 23 at Salem Hospital. He had underlying conditions. Whos in the hospital: The state reported that 472 Oregonians with confirmed coronavirus infections were in the hospital on Friday, 23 fewer than Thursday. Of those in the hospital, 103 coronavirus patients were in intensive-care units, two more than on Thursday. -- Douglas Perry [email protected] @douglasmperry

Fake Queen Elizabeth follows real monarch’s televised Christmas address, complains about Prince Harry leaving - OregonLive

For its annual “alternative Christmas message,” Channel 4 aired a speech from a not-particularly-convincing “deep fake” Queen Elizabeth.

Great Britains Queen Elizabeth II heralded the kindness of strangers in her annual Christmas address, noting that its been an especially trying year for Great Britain and the rest of the world. Good Samaritans have emerged across society showing care and respect for all, regardless of gender, race or background, reminding us that each one of us is special and equal in the eyes of God, she said, referring to Britons response to the coronavirus pandemic that has killed more than 70,000 people in the United Kingdom. But those later watching Britains Channel 4 might have wondered about the care and respect shown by program director Ian Katz for the 94-year-old monarch, CNN reports. For its annual alternative Christmas message, Channel 4 aired a speech from a not-particularly-convincing deep fake Queen Elizabeth, who danced for the audience and complained about her grandson Prince Harry leaving Great Britain for Canada. There are few things more hurtful than someone telling you they prefer the company of Canadians, the fake queen said. Prince Harry and his wife Meghan Markle, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, moved first to Canada and then to Los Angeles earlier this year. This years Alternative Christmas Address -- seemingly delivered by one of the most familiar and trusted figures in the nation -- is a powerful reminder that we can no longer trust our own eyes, Katz said in a statement. In the queens real address, the beloved monarch focused on the pandemics ongoing impact in the U.K. and the Commonwealth. Of course, for many, this time of year will be tinged with sadness: some mourning the loss of those dear to them, and others missing friends and family members distanced for safety, when all theyd really want for Christmas is a simple hug or a squeeze of the hand, she said. If you are among them, you are not alone, and let me assure you of my thoughts and prayers. The Associated Press contributed to this report. -- Douglas Perry [email protected] @douglasmperry

Gov. Kate Brown changes course, allows local districts to decide on opening schools - OregonLive

The governor said it'll be up to local districts and schools to decide whether or not to reopen.

Gov. Kate Brown announced Wednesday that Oregon schools will be allowed to open their doors to students starting Jan. 1, as the state will no longer mandate closures based on the severity of the coronavirus pandemic in a school districts county. Realistically, schools almost certainly wont open that fast. It will likely take weeks for district officials to decide if their schools should reopen and, if so, how to prepare. The governors office cautioned school districts to be wise. Let me be clear: Like any government entity or responsible employer, schools or school districts need to keep in mind the obligations and risks that a major pandemic imposes on them, spokesman Charles Boyle said. The governor said her hope is that more Oregon schools resume on-site teaching by Feb. 15, particularly elementary schools. Coronavirus infection rates, total cases, deaths and hospitalizations in Oregon as of Dec. 23. Though untethered from state metrics, school districts will have to continue to follow Oregons safety guidelines, Boyle said. Still, Browns announcement signaled even more forcefully the states focus on getting kids back into schools, following close on the heels of her Tuesday request that health officials prioritize teachers and education-related workers for the next round of vaccines. As we move into a new year, we must all rise to the challenges that COVID-19 presents and prioritizing our children is most urgent, Brown said. The policy change is nothing short of seismic, nine months after Brown first barred Oregons 580,000 K-12 students from attending classes in person. The state first set metrics in July to determine which schools could reopen, tethering districts to coronavirus case and positive test rates in their counties. Now, Oregons 197 school districts and more than 1,200 schools will have to make the call themselves. While the states case and rate metrics were a relatively cut-and-dry approach, local officials will have to juggle a much more complicated formula -- and a wider array of opinions -- when deciding whether to reopen their schools. Given that Oregon will update school safety requirements by Jan. 19, the governors office suggested districts wait until then to make a decision. And, the office said, those decisions should not be taken lightly. It is incredibly important that school districts engage in a rigorous local process around local reopening decisions, to make sure they are making the right decisions for their community, Boyle said. Districts should move thoughtfully as they plan, Colt Gill, the states top education official, said Wednesday. Gills agency, the Oregon Department of Education, has been helping schools reopen safely and plans to continue to do so. That work has so far been successful, Gill said, with infections not spreading once somebody brings the virus inside a school. Of the 82 schools with a recent coronavirus case, about two-thirds had two or fewer cases, Oregon Health Authority data show. Oregon is one of just 12 states with full or partial school closures, according to research compiled by Education Week. Now, Oregon joins most of the rest of the country, which tends to allow local officials to decide when to open schools. Just four states have ordered schools to reopen. Brown said she wants just about everyone to be involved in those decisions, from school boards and superintendents to teachers, parents and students. She asked the Oregon Health Authority and the Oregon Department of Education to help make sure those decisions are in line with sound science. The Oregon School Boards Association sounded a hopeful but practical note in response. Our school boards welcome the opportunity to reopen schools safely for our students, staff and communities, said Executive Director Jim Green. This next step will require close coordination with local health authorities. Above all we want to minimize risks as we return to in-person instruction. Some Oregon parents have been clamoring for schools to reopen, citing the damage distance learning can inflict on their childrens mental health, academic achievement and motivation. The ripple effects of distance learning have been felt statewide. Some parents have to juggle working from home while trying to keep their kids in chairs and in front of a computer. Others have essential jobs that dont allow remote work. And yet others rely on schools to give their children at least one healthy meal a day. Teachers, meanwhile, have generally been wary of reopening schools too quickly. Just 14% of Portland Public Schools educators said they felt comfortable teaching in person, according to a teachers union survey. And in one particularly striking expression of discontent, Douglas High School staff resigned en masse in October when district officials reopened the school despite educators concerns about the coronavirus. -- Staff writer Eder Campuzano contributed to this report. -- Fedor Zarkhin | [email protected] | 503-294-7674

Coronavirus in Oregon: 1,282 new cases, 35 more deaths as more vaccine distribution details released - OregonLive

The state also released more details about how vaccines are being distributed in Oregon.

The Oregon Health Authority on Tuesday reported 1,282 new confirmed or presumptive coronavirus cases and 35 more deaths. The state also released more details about how vaccines are being distributed in Oregon. On Monday, an additional 2,573 doses of the vaccine were administered, raising the states total to 7,203. In a news conference Tuesday morning, Gov. Kate Brown said Oregons teachers, school staff and other education-related workers should be next in line -- after healthcare staff and senior-care residents and workers -- to get the coronavirus vaccine. I am doing this because I think its critical that our teachers, our educators, our school personnel -- whether its folks working in the lunchrooms or doing the transportation -- be protected, and that we are doing this while we are working to get our kids back into the classroom, Brown said. Where the new cases are by county: Baker (9), Benton (10), Clackamas (168), Clatsop (2), Columbia (11), Coos (12), Crook (7), Curry (4), Deschutes (52), Douglas (6), Grant (1), Hood River (20), Jackson (63), Jefferson (20), Josephine (4), Klamath (23), Lake (2), Lane (85), Lincoln (6), Linn (32), Malheur (17), Marion (161), Morrow (4), Multnomah (258), Polk (34), Tillamook (12), Umatilla (49), Union (10), Wasco (5), Washington (153), Wheeler (1) and Yamhill (41). New deaths: The 1,348th fatality is a 61-year-old Benton County woman with underlying medical conditions. She tested positive Dec. 17 and died Dec. 21 at her residence. The 1,349th fatality is a 76-year-old Clackamas County man with underlying medical conditions. He tested positive Dec. 8 and died Dec. 20 at Legacy Emanuel Medical Center. The 1,350th fatality is a 73-year-old Crook County woman with underlying medical conditions. She tested positive Dec. 11 and died Dec. 20. Officials were working to confirm where she died. The 1,351st fatality is a 50-year-old Curry County man with underlying medical conditions. He tested positive Dec. 11 and died Dec. 21 at Southern Coos Hospital & Health Center. The 1,352nd fatality is a 41-year-old Hood River County woman. She tested positive Dec. 15 and died Dec. 21 at her residence. Officials were working to confirm whether she had underlying conditions. The 1,353rd fatality is a 90-year-old Jackson County man with underlying medical conditions. He tested positive Dec. 8 and died Dec. 18 at Asante Rogue Valley Medical Center. The 1,354th fatality is a 64-year-old Jackson County woman with underlying medical conditions. She tested positive Dec. 3 and died Dec. 19 at Providence Medford Medical Center. The 1,355th fatality is a 95-year-old Josephine County woman. She tested positive Dec. 3 and died Dec. 19 at her residence. Officials were working to confirm whether she had underlying medical conditions. The 1,356th fatality is an 81-year-old Klamath County man with underlying medical conditions. He tested positive Dec. 10 and died Dec. 21 at Sky Lakes Medical Center. The 1,357th fatality is a 92-year-old Linn County woman with underlying medical conditions. She tested positive Dec. 2 and Dec. 15 at Good Samaritan Regional Medical Center.. The 1,358th fatality is a 94-year-old Marion County woman with underlying medical conditions. She tested positive Nov. 28 and died Dec. 16 at her residence. The 1,359th fatality is a 71-year-old Marion County woman with underlying medical conditions. She tested positive Dec. 5 and died Dec. 16 at her residence. The 1,360th fatality is a 62-year-old Benton County man with underlying medical conditions. He tested positive Dec. 14 and died Dec. 18 at his residence. The 1,361st fatality is an 86-year-old Marion County man with underlying medical conditions. He tested positive Dec. 3 and died Dec. 21 at Salem Hospital. The 1,362nd fatality is an 82-year-old Marion County woman with underlying medical conditions. She tested positive Dec. 2 and died Dec. 20 at Salem Hospital. The 1,363rd fatality is a 74-year-old Marion County man with underlying medical conditions. He tested positive Dec. 12 and died Dec. 13 at Legacy Emanuel Medical Center. The 1,364th fatality is a 91-year-old Marion County man with underlying medical conditions. He tested positive Dec. 19 and died Dec. 20 at his residence. The 1,365th fatality is an 83-year-old Morrow County man. He tested positive Dec. 1 and died Dec. 18 at Trios Health. The 1,366th fatality is an 81-year-old Multnomah County man with underlying medical conditions. He tested positive Nov. 23 and died Dec. 1. Officials were working to confirm where he died. The 1,367rd fatality is an 80-year-old Multnomah County man with underlying medical conditions. He tested positive Nov. 23 and died Dec. 8 at his residence. The 1,368th fatality is a 95-year-old Multnomah County man with underlying medical conditions. He tested positive Nov. 23 and died Dec. 5. Officials were working to confirm where he died. The 1,369th fatality is an 84-year-old Multnomah County woman with underlying medical conditions. She tested positive Nov. 23 and died Dec. 18. Officials were working to confirm where she died. The 1,370th fatality is a 74-year-old Columbia County man. He tested positive Nov. 24 and died Dec. 17 at his residence. Officials were working to confirm whether he had underlying medical conditions. The 1,371st fatality is an 80-year-old person in Multnomah County with underlying medical conditions. They tested positive Nov. 23 and died Dec. 8. Officials were working to confirm the persons gender and where they died. The 1,372nd fatality is an 83-year-old Multnomah County man with underlying medical conditions. He tested positive Nov. 23 and died Dec. 8 at his residence. The 1,373rd fatality is a 69-year-old Multnomah County woman with underlying medical conditions. She tested positive Nov. 25 and died Dec. 14 at Adventist Hospital. The 1,374th fatality is an 86-year-old Multnomah County man with underlying medical conditions. He tested positive Nov. 22 and died Dec. 16. Officials were working to confirm where he died. The 1,375th fatality is a 95-year-old Multnomah County man. He tested positive Dec. 13 and died Dec. 10 at his residence. Officials were working to confirm whether he had underlying medical conditions. The 1,376th fatality is an 80-year-old Multnomah County man with underlying medical conditions. He tested positive Dec. 16 and died Dec. 21 at his residence. The 1,377th fatality is a 78-year-old Washington County woman with underlying medical conditions. She tested positive Dec. 8 and died Dec. 19 at Providence St. Vincent Medical Center. The 1,378th fatality is a 92-year-old Washington County man with underlying medical conditions. He tested positive Nov. 25 and died Dec. 7 at his residence. The 1,379th fatality is a 95-year-old Washington County man with underlying medical conditions. He tested positive Dec. 1 and died Dec. 18 at his residence. The 1,380th fatality is a 96-year-old Washington County woman with underlying medical conditions. She became symptomatic on Dec. 12 after contact with a confirmed case and died Dec. 7 at her residence. The 1,381st fatality is an 87-year-old Yamhill County woman with underlying medical conditions. She tested positive Nov. 24 and died Dec. 19 at her residence. The 1,382nd fatality is a 95-year-old Yamhill County woman with underlying medical conditions. She tested positive Dec. 4 and died Dec. 20 at her residence. The prevalence of infections: On Tuesday, the state reported 1,136 new positive tests out of 18,993 tests performed, equaling a 6% positivity rate. Who got infected: New confirmed or presumed infections grew among the following age groups: 0-9 (55); 10-19 (149); 20-29 (262); 30-39 (210); 40-49 (212); 50-59 (185); 60-69 (127); 70-79 (61); 80 and older (53). Whos in the hospital: The state reported 524 Oregonians with confirmed coronavirus infections were currently in the hospital Tuesday, four fewer than Monday. Of those, 119 coronavirus patients were in intensive care units, two fewer than Monday. Since it began: Oregon has reported 105,073 confirmed or presumed infections and 1,382 deaths, among the lowest totals in the nation. To date, the state has reported 2,491,437 lab reports from tests. -- Kale Williams; [email protected]; 503-294-4048; @sfkale