July 23, 2020 1:30 p.m.

A COVID-19 local workplace outbreak at Norris Farms makes up a majority of the 20 new positive test results in Douglas County reported on Thursday.

An update from the Douglas County COVID-19 Response Team said the total number of cases, including positive test results and presumptive, is now at 107.

Thursday is the largest single day increase since the first positive test result reported March 8th. Along with the workplace outbreak, the update said due to an increase in test availability and the increase in those being tested nationwide, there is a backlog of tests at the COVID-19 lab sites that has created a longer than expected delay in the return of test results and an unexpected return of a large number of test results all at once.

County Commissioner Tim Freeman said “Today serves as a wakeup call for everyone in Douglas County”.

Of the total cases, 98 are people with positive test results, while 9 are presumptive. There has been 1 death and 1 person remains in the hospital. 6,958 people have tested negative for COVID-19 in the county

The workplace outbreak at Norris Farms was reported by the Oregon Health Authority on Wednesday. As of Thursday, there are 22 cases associated with Norris Farms. That can include all persons connected to the outbreak, which may include household members and other close contacts to employees.

County Public Health Officer Dr. Bob Dannenhoffer said “This is an unfortunate situation and we will continue to work closely with Norris Farms”. Dannenhoffer said he remains certain the risk of this outbreak to the public is low. Dannenhoffer said many of the workers came from other states that have a high level or hot spots of COVID-19 cases. He said the farm continues to “…do all the right things from testing, changing operations to promote social distancing and hygiene, daily screening on site and supporting those positive cases and their contacts in quarantine and isolation”.  Dannenhoffer said Norris worked with public health and completed more than 300 tests of their employees.

Norris Farms is a family-owned and operated farm and has been in the Umpqua Valley since 1976. For more information about the company and their response to COVID-19, go to www.norrisblueberryfarms.com

Go to www.dougpublichealthnetwork.org for more local information about COVID-19.