Mayor Mays Statement for Sherwood Community

Today we are in unchartered waters as we as a country, a state and as a community work together to slow the growth rate of Covid-19.  Everyone has a role to play and I am thankful I live in Oregon, in Sherwood specifically, as I know we are all up for this challenge to help protect those at greatest risk.

The experts say we are at the beginning of this pandemic so the more we do to put the brakes on it–the better.  It likely also means doing things differently for longer than we might expect.

I have been participating in almost daily conference calls with one group or another, with the largest being Sunday night, where I was on a statewide conference call with Governor Brown and almost 300 mayors and county chairpersons across Oregon.  From all corners of the state, local elected leaders expressed support for additional social distancing to flatten the pandemic’s curve.  They also expressed concern that their local health care providers will not have the resources to properly care for the sick if they get even a medium size local outbreak due to limited number of area respirators and other medical equipment as well as limited medical professionals and hospital beds. 

From what I am told and what I read from medical experts–most of us are not at risk of anything beyond catching a type of flu that we will not enjoy having but will recover from.   I am in that category.  I have no plans to panic or try to buy every can of beans in the grocery store.  I plan to buy what I need, but when I need it.  I plan on shopping locally, getting lots of take-out meals to support our restaurants.  I plan on continuing to wash my hands with soap many times each day and keeping things clean.  I also plan on checking in with my family, my friends and neighbors to make sure they are well, seeing if they need help and also are being smart about what they do and how they do it. 

Please join me in this approach.  Stay calm, be smart and help each other.  Think of others first, think of your parents, your grandparents, extended family and friends that are at greater risk if they get infected.

If you are 65+ years old and/or considered at higher risk based on CDC guidelines (e.g. people who have serious underlying medical conditions like heart disease, diabetes, lung disease, HIV, etc.), you and everyone in your household please stay home, and stay away from others for at least the next 10-14 days.  I know this might not be easy–but it is the best thing for you and your household to do right now.  If you do this and need help, ask for help.  You can call Kelsey Beilstein at City Hall at 503.217.9026 and she can help connect you with the growing list of community resources.

Local officials across our state have expressed concern about their local businesses and employees of those businesses.  The federal government has now passed a huge funding package to help families and business weather this storm, but it is just the first major funding effort.  More are being discussed and I am sure more will be passed.

Every day things change and continue to challenge us all.   One thing is clear–this pandemic will alter how many things are done, how many of us live our lives, and we absolutely don’t know when we will get to a new normal. 

As I write this, Washington County has 23 individual cases confirmed, up from just 13 on Monday, and one death.  We don’t know which cities they are in, just the totals in our county.  Odds are the real number is larger, since states have had to limit testing (due to lack of supply) so far.  Soon more testing will be possible, and we can then expect numbers to jump, but don’t panic when that happens, it is good to have the information so individuals, families, companies and local government can have the facts to make good choices and to see when those actions start to impact the pandemic curve.

I am thankful I live in Sherwood.  As this started to impact our area, as restrictions started, it has been wonderful to see the response from individuals, families, organizations, churches and businesses stepping up to do their part and to help each other.  I am not surprised by this response.  I am incredibly proud of our community!!

Please go to www.sherwoodoregon.gov for more information on this pandemic and what Sherwood is doing in response.

Media Contacts:

Joseph Gall, City Manager, 503.625.4200, gallj@sherwoodoregon.gov