Credit: Alex Wong / Getty
Wait... youre telling me fucking STEVE MNUCHIN is our savior? Unngggghhh!!!
Wait… you’re telling me fucking STEVE MNUCHIN is our savior? Unngggghhh!!! Alex Wong / Getty News

• There are 13 new positive coronavirus cases in Oregon as of today, bringing the total to 88. The known death count remains at three.

• At the White House’s morning press conference, the FDA chief said we may have a coronavirus vaccine in 12 months: “We expect that to take 12 months to the stage when we can approve a vaccine.“

• First responders are looking for donations of Personal Protective Equipment, including latex free gloves, procedural masks, surgical masks, respirators, face shields, hand sanitizer, and more. Drop off at Portland Fire and Rescue, Mon-Fri, noon-4 pm, 1300 SE Gideon, AND Multnomah County Headquarters, 501 SE Hawthorne (loading dock on 6th).

• Oregon Gov. Kate Brown declined to issue a “shelter in place” rule for Oregonians this morning, but the City of Portland is prepared to push forward their own.

• At an afternoon press conference, Tri-County Health Officer Jennifer Vines said that, while she supports the intention of a shelter in place ordinance, she’s concerned how a lockdown requirement could hurt Oregonians’ mental and physical well-being. Instead, local health officers urge everyone to continue following social distancing rules—both inside and outside their homes.

• How long will all of this last? The U.S. virus plan anticipates an 18-month long pandemic with widespread shortages.

• The number of people applying for unemployment insurance in Oregon has surged by 3,200 percent, as more and more people are laid off due to COVID-19. The State of Oregon has updated their rules for dispensing and maintaining unemployment benefits during the crisis.

• It’s weird to think that the only person currently even approximating presidential behavior in the White House is STEVEN MNUCHIN (ugh), but he’s the one leading the charge to provide American families with some form of Basic Income during this crisis. Right now, the numbers being tossed around are $1,000 for adults, and $500 for children.

• Italy’s death toll surpasses China’s and becomes the world’s highest, while China reports that they’ve seen no new locally transmitted cases.

• Home-test kits are coming, via digital health company Everlywell, starting Monday, March 23.

• Did you order something to be delivered, and got a notification that delivery is going to be postponed? It’s partially because Amazon is prioritizing deliveries of healthcare-and-household related items… and partially because the first case of an Amazon warehouse employee catching COVID-19 has been reported.

• To get a good idea of why warehouse workers and delivery drivers are so worried, check out this Verge video that shows how the virus literally sticks around as you go about your normal business.

• Multnomah County is scaling back its policing, jail capacity, and court activity to help slow the spread of the coronavirus. In related news:

• Can a person be caught literally talking out both sides of their neck? Richard Burr, The Senate Intelligence Committee’s chair, made a great case for answering that question in the affirmative when NPR obtained a secret recording of him getting real with “well-connected constituents” after being decidely less-real with the general public in late February.

• Many younger folks are feeling like even if they do catch COVID-19, it won’t pose any serious health risk. New data from the CDC says “Stop thinking you’re invincible, because you’re not.”

• That Friends reunion you were hoping to watch on HBOMax later this year? COVID-19 makes sure you’re going to wait a little longer for it.