Knopp and Zika criticize OHA for not disclosing COVID-19 death information

Salem, Oregon (KTVZ)-The Oregon Department of Health has announced that it will not provide details on individual cases of COVID-19 deaths.

Information on daily OHA releases since the outbreak of the pandemic last spring includes the county in which the person lived, age and gender, when they were positive, when and where they died, and whether the person had an underlying illness. Something was included.

Instead, OHA says it will share information On the dashboard About the trends, underlying conditions and COVID-19 symptoms experienced by dead people. The county count is also updated with newly reported deaths.

The move has sparked some backlash, including among state legislators.

Senator Tim Knopp, R-Bend, asked OHA officials about the issue at a virtual budget hearing on Thursday.

“There are reports that OHA has decided to change the way it speaks and informs about death because it is related to COVID-19,” Knopp said. “So my question is, is that true, and if so, how does the loss of transparency harmonize with the values ​​of transparency?”

Patrick Allen, director of OHA, said it took a lot of time for the staff to elaborate daily on individual deaths.

“I think what we’re doing is trying to be smart about how to provide good information to Oregons,” Allen said. “We are improving the quality and depth of information, but instead of spending time reviewing press releases, epidemiologists spend time finding ways to address new variants and the effectiveness of the disease. I’m trying to spend it. Treatment and stuff like that. “

Republican Parliamentarian Jack Zika is also plagued by this change.

“I understand they think it’s going to take too long, but we’re in a pandemic and information is important,” Zika complained.

“In an article I read, Governor Brown also bothered me by making a statement requesting that all information be provided, except for patient privacy,” Zika said. .. “It will include what they are doing now, so I don’t know why OHA decided to do this.”

Dr. Jennifer Faith, an epidemiologist at the Deschutes County Health Service, said the county will begin to provide new information on its website.

“From today, the weekly epidemiological report has that cumulative number, but we’ll also provide a breakdown of specific ages,” she said.

Faith added that he found the new information provided by OHA useful.

“The press release only had some general statement about whether the person had a fundamental condition, and I think this provides more details,” Faith said. ..

However, Republican leaders at the Oregon House also expressed sharp criticism in a news release issued late Thursday.

House Republican leaders urge Governor Brown to overturn the decision to limit COVID-19 information and statistics to OHA

Salem, I- House Republican leader Christine Drazin (R-Canby) issued the following statement in response to a decision by the Oregon Department of Health. Limit release Of important COVID-19 information.

“Yesterday, the Oregon Department of Health suddenly announced that it would not release important information related to COVID-19 death in Oregon. This information has been published daily without problems for months, and the virus It’s important for the general public to understand how and who is affecting them.

“Oregons have been asked to make many sacrifices in many ways. They deserve access to all relevant available information.

“The decision to suspend access to important information was made when the state-level decision ignored the CDC guidelines and made Oregon a national outlier by rejecting a science-based approach to vaccine distribution. Governor Brown and OHA have overturned yesterday’s decision to maintain confidence and transparency, questioning the Governor’s commitment to transparency and accountability, and will be clear and consistent in all categories going forward. We must promise to provide timely data with. “