Coronavirus (COVID-19) Update - 5

SWEET HOME, Ore. March 13, 2020, 5:30 p.m.— The City of Sweet Home continues to monitor the latest information surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic. We will continue to work diligently to gather as much information as possible, make sound decisions for the safety of the community, and then communicate whatever steps we take. Our goal is to protect our community members who are the most vulnerable to this type of illness.  We anticipate offering the same, current level of service on Monday, March 16:

  • Library: CLOSED until further notice.  Due to the limited space in our facility, our patrons & staff can not practice recommended, "social distancing." Further, the dominant user groups of the facility tend to be the most susceptible to these types of illnesses.  Library patrons can access books online through Library2Go. All due dates have been extended. Dates for items on hold have also be extended. 
  • Public Works: ​Fully operational but CLOSED to the public​
  • City Hall: OPEN normal business hours.​ 
  • Courts: OPEN normal business hours.​ 
  • Police: OPEN normal business hours.​ They have suspended public fingerprinting and request people to limit their visit to the lobby to emergency situations. 

Here are updates from our local partners: 

Sweet Home Senior Center: Closed for the next two weeks. Wednesday lunch will still be served but will be take-out only (at the regular lunch price).

Sweet Home School District: Schools will be closed March 16th-31st. During the week of Monday, March 16 to Friday, March 20 the Sweet Home School District Nutrition Services staff will be serving all children 18 years and younger free lunches in a grab and go bag. The grab bag will also include breakfast for the following day. The meals will be distributed from 10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. each day from the loading dock area on the northwest corner of Sweet Home High School. The meals will be served on a first come first serve basis each day until they run out.

Sweet Home Community Pool: Closed until further notice.

Linn Shuttle: Continuing their regular routes (minus the Express). They will not transport anyone who appears ill in an effort to protect their drivers and passengers.

Remember, the goal of the response to the pandemic is to "flatten the curve," which should lower the initial infection rate and avoid overwhelming the healthcare industry.  Those over the age of 60 or with compromised immune systems should practice extra diligence in their personal hygiene efforts.  If we can help "flatten the curve," this should allow health care systems to handle the patients who need their care. 

Flatten the Curve

Staff is following CDC recommended cleaning and disinfecting protocols. ​Our focus is on the safety and well-being of our community members and employees. We will strive to help keep people informed on issues related to prevention, warnings, and changes to city operations. 

There are two information sources we are continuously monitoring, which we recommend you follow them as well:

Oregon Health Authority (OHA) - COVID-19 

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)

Our next update will be released mid-afternoon on Saturday.


PREVIOUS PRESS RELEASES

Coronavirus (COVID-19) - 1 - 03/04/20
Coronavirus (COVID-19) Update - 2 - 03/12/2020
Coronavirus (COVID-19) Update - 3 - 03/12/2020
Coronavirus (COVID-19) Update - 4 - 03/13/2020