Oregon health experts say we should be cautiously optimistic—but keep up your distancing!
Oregon health experts say we should be "cautiously optimistic"—but keep up your distancing! Drew Angerer / Getty Images

Here's your daily roundup of all the local and national news about COVID-19. (Like our coverage? Please consider donating to the Mercury to keep it comin'!)

• As of yesterday, the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in Oregon has risen to 826, with 21 reported deaths. UPDATE: Today the number of cases has risen to 899, with 22 deaths.

• The number of healthcare workers in Oregon and SW Washington who have COVID-19 is climbing, up to 57 cases from 31 just a few days ago.

• The good news? Experts are "cautiously optimistic" that thanks to all our preparation, Oregon hospitals will have the beds and equipment necessary to weather the worst of the coming COVID-19 surge.

• While the jury is still out over whether you (a healthy person) should be wearing face masks in public... what's the harm, right? Here's our tutorial on how to make face masks for yourself or donations.

• Portland Parks and Recreation have laid off 750 staff members and 200 seasonal workers (for a total of 950) due to the COVID-19 crisis. Alex Zielinski has the details.

• The state's biggest landlord advocacy group is pushing back after members of Portland's city council called for rent and mortgage forgiveness for the duration of the crisis yesterday. Our Alex Zielinski has more!

• Oregon made vote-by-mail even easier, thanks to Gov. Kate Brown signing a bill back in August that requires the state to pay for ballot postage. Multnomah County officials are reminding people of that ahead of the May 19 primary election.

• While Portland Public Schools is gearing up to provide online classes in the next week or so, here are over 40 great educational documentaries, shows, and podcasts that will keep your kids and teens learning!

IN NATIONAL NEWS:

• New York has reported nearly 3,000 COVID-19 deaths this morning. Gov. Andrew Cuomo has authorized the seizure of medical equipment if necessary.

• After Jarod Kushner scolded governors about not knowing what medical equipment was in their own stockpiles, the website for the national stockpile was mysteriously changed this morning to reflect Kushner's version of the "facts." HMMMMMMMMMM.

• Today in chilling visual representations of how inadequate the federal response to the coronavirus has been:


• You know that chart the president pulled out the other day, where he talked about the estimated COVID-19 death toll possibly reaching just under a quarter-million people? Leading experts have no idea how the White House arrived at those numbers, and the White House refuses to explain how they came up with those figures.

• "You hate to see it" headline of the day: ‘It's a sh— sandwich': Republicans rage as Florida becomes a nightmare for Trump.

• Vice President Pence told reporters on Wednesday that the coronavirus task force "will continue to... defer to state and local health authorities" regarding shelter-in-place orders. Dr. Fauci, however? He doesn't understand why a nationwide stay-at-home order hasn't already happened, and told Anderson Cooper as much Thursday night.

• While you wonder if/when you'll ever get tested for COVID-19, read about how everyone who visits the White House has their temperature taken before entering the building, and then is given a 15-minute coronavirus test before coming into "close proximity" with the President.

• You might also be worrying about that super-pressing, very important Homeland Security Committee probe into Hunter Biden. Don't worry! Even though the coronavirus is wreaking havoc on basically every aspect of American life, a spokesman for committee chair Ron Johnson (R-Wisc) has assured us this absolutely necessary and sure-to-be-hugely consequential investigation is full-steam-ahead! Priorities!

• The Coronavirus got Corona! Grupo Modelo, the company that produces Corona brand beer, was deemed non-essential by Mexico's government, and so Corona, Pacifico, and Modelo production will be halted this coming Sunday.

• Hey local news stations who insist on showing Trump's press conferences live:

If you're already having a tough day, get your mood going in a different, more positive direction with the Mercury Cheer Up Club!

You need a crap-ton of fun stuff to do while staying safe at home this weekend, right? Well, we have a crap-ton of stuff for you to do right here, courtesy of your pals at the Mercury!

And finally, the coronavirus quarantine horror movie you've been waiting for.