August 27, 2021 10:40 a.m.  

Oregon’s U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden have announced that the Federal Emergency Management Agency, in partnership with American Medical Response, will supplement medical staff at six hospitals throughout Oregon.

A release said that includes facilities in Douglas, Jackson, Josephine and Deschutes counties. Those counties were identified to have critical staffing needs caused by surging COVID-19 hospitalization rates.

Merkley said, “Our healthcare heroes are working around the clock to treat their communities amid this new, startling spike in coronavirus cases”. Merkley said, “We need to do everything we can to help them in this fight – from wearing masks indoors and social distancing, to encouraging our friends to get vaccinated and getting our hospitals the resources they need to battle on the frontlines”. Merkley said the funding will help make that happen.

Wyden said he is glad that FEMA responded to the urgent need in southern and central Oregon. He said, “And I’ll keep battling for additional resources that help courageous caregivers statewide and the patients counting on them to weather this latest wave in the public health crisis”.