Wallowa Memorial Hospital leaders refine the hospital’s COVID-19 response Tuesday. Left to right: Jenni Word, Brooke Pace, Stacey Karvoski.

Oregon Gov. Brown has declared a State of Emergency due to an increasing number of COVID-19 (coronavirus) cases confirmed in the state. The step will allow providers quicker access to resources, including funding for supplies, and help from emergency medical reserve corps.

Especially in light of the emergency declaration, Wallowa County health professionals are taking the potential of coronavirus, and its related disease, COVID-19, seriously. On Tuesday, Wallowa Memorial Hospital nursing director, Jennie Work, Care Director Stacy Karvoski, and Public Information officer Brooke Pace met to review their coronavirus action plan. Dr. Elizabeth Powers, director of Winding Waters Community Health Center participated in those discussions.

The hospital’s strategy is similar to strategies developing worldwide — avoiding contact between people possibly infected with the virus, and other people. That includes restricting visitation in the hospital to just patients families.

Of top importance for avoiding COVID-19? “Stay home if you are sick,” Work said. “And be sure you wash your hands throughly and often,” Work said.

“We have established several procedures for working with people who think they might have coronavirus,” Work said. “First, if you think you might have the disease, call your provider and make arrangements to see them–and tell them that you might have the virus. That way they can arrange for you to be seen without coming in contact with a lot of other people. Second, if you think you might have the disease and it’s serious enough for you to visit the ER, call ahead. We’ll meet you outside the hospital, and be sure you are safely transferred to a place for further evaluation inside.”

While some hospitals in more urban locations fret about having available hospital beds for COVID-19 patients, Wallowa Memorial Hospital has room without discharging people already admitted. “We have room, and we also have an action plan that we are following,” Work said. That plan, how to deal with a rapid influx of patiences, is one of many that the hospital practices as a drill. “Sometimes we do drills based upon a major accident like a bus collision. Sometimes it’s a serious illness sweeping through the community,” Work said. “So we have a plan for which beds to fill, where to get supplies, and even a protocol for which patients to discharge or transfer to another facility should we need the room.”

As she did in the Town Hall last week, Dr. Elizabeth Powers emphasized that COVID-19 tends to be about as contagious as the flu, and potentially may be that serious. “I do think it’s coming,” she said.No COVID-19-related deaths have been reported in Oregon to date.