News

LA GRANDE – Tuesday, our President and CEO Jeremy Davis was notified by the Oregon Health Authority (OHA) that Grande Ronde Hospital (GRH) has been included in their most recent COVID-19 Workplace Outbreak Report. Per the OHA, case counts for the listed employers include all persons linked to the outbreak, which may include household members and other close contacts of employees. Employers that report five or more positive COVID-19 test results are included in the report.

With more than 750 employees, GRH represents nearly five percent of Union County’s workforce. In March, screening procedures were put in place for each worker and each shift at all GRH facilities. Employees who do not pass initial screening questions or a temperature check are sent immediately to the Employee Health Center for further evaluation.

“Given the current outbreak in our community, an increase in testing and contact tracing; and given the fact that Grande Ronde is the largest private employer in Union County, we had anticipated this announcement could come,” Davis said.

Davis said that although it is not the news Grande Ronde wanted to hear, the potential to be included due to the current situation in Union County has been a realistic concern.

“I also want to reassure the community, that employees identified through the recent contact tracing and testing efforts, as well as any that may have been identified through our internal employee screenings, were asked to not come to work and quarantine as recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention,” Davis added.

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