Hundreds of people in Douglas County, Oregon, are in quarantine, and seven people have died after two coronavirus outbreaks in the community. The cause of the outbreaks were not “super spreader events,” such as a wedding or a holiday gathering, but instead a result of a simple “super spreader action” — going to work.
According to local health officials, one person knowingly went to work sick and later tested positive for COVID-19. The Washington Post reports that two recent outbreaks in the county were traced back to the individual. As a result of the epidemic, over 300 people are in quarantine.
“We can’t even imagine the tremendous remorse these people are feeling right now, and we sympathize with them,” Public Health Officer Bob Dannenhoffer said in a statement.
The name of the company where the individual worked has not been released to the public. According to the publication, the seven deaths attributed to the outbreak account for “nearly one-fifth of the county’s reported deaths since the start of the pandemic.” Last week, the state announced that Douglas County is considered an “extreme risk” designation.
Oregon Governor Kate Brown recently extended a state-of-emergency order until the end of March. The extension keeps certain restrictions in place for activities, such as indoor dining, large gatherings, and several businesses. Additionally, a mask mandate is in effect statewide.
