Monday, Jan. 17, 2022 - Juvenile Services Division (JSD) notified of another employee who tested positive for COVID-19

January 17, 2022

UPDATE: Monday, Jan. 17, 2022 - Multnomah County’s Juvenile Services Division (JSD) was notified on January 17, 2022 of another employee who tested positive for COVID-19. All individuals who meet the exposure criteria are being notified.

In coordination with Public Health, JSD has implemented pre-planned infectious disease protocols. These actions include:

  • Notifying impacted staff and youth/families.
  • Quarantining impacted youth in detention and notifying their parents/guardians. 
  • Offering testing to impacted youth.
  • Working closely with Multnomah County’s Public Health Officer and Infectious Disease Control specialist to review case history, information, and protective actions. 
  • Meeting with health partners to review and analyze potential exposure and coordinate next steps.

This brings the total number of COVID-19 cases reported to the Juvenile Services Division to 23 (20 employees and 3 non-employes) since mid-December.

The division continues to work side-by-side with Public Health Infectious Disease Control experts and Multnomah County’s Health Officer to take all recommended measures to best protect the health and safety of staff, youth, families and the community. This includes following guidelines set by the CDC, the state and local health partners to reduce the spread of COVID-19 in the workplace, including staying home if you are sick and continuing to properly wear masks. 

Get a vaccine. Get Boosted.

Surges in COVID-19 cases and new variants are being experienced locally and nationwide. Public Health Officials are emphasizing the importance of minimizing transmission and taking actions that work: get boosted, get vaccinated, stay home if exposed or sick, and upgrade your face covering to a higher quality mask. Vaccination remains the single most effective tool at preventing serious disease, which is why Multnomah County, acting as the Local Public Health Authority, is reallocating staff and other resources away from case investigations and contact tracing to increase vaccination and boosters among those who are at highest risk of severe illness.

What you can do

Get boosted. People 16 and older who got a full series over six months ago (or over two months for J&J), should get their booster now. Don’t wait. If you are older, have an underlying health condition. This is especially important to avoid severe illness.

Get vaccinated. If you haven’t yet, get your first dose now. Even one dose starts to reduce your risk of severe illness and death, at least for a few weeks. The second and booster doses add much more protection.

Stay home if sick or exposed. If you have symptoms — even if you are vaccinated and especially if you can’t get a test — we are asking you to stay home and isolate to prevent potentially spreading it to others. If you have been a close contact and can’t get a test, quarantine yourself for five days from the date of exposure, and then wear a mask for the next 5 days when you are out in the world.

Wear a quality mask. Wear a well-fitting mask indoors, outdoors in crowded spaces, and when you are around people who are at high risk of severe illness from COVID-19. People should wear the highest-quality mask that they can get that is comfortable to wear.

For more information on COVID-19, including symptoms, visit the County’s COVID-19 website, which has practical advice and information on testing and other guidance and the Oregon Health Authority COVID-19 website or the US Centers for Disease Control & Prevention COVID-19 websites.

Find Vaccination Clinics: 

Anyone can dial 2-1-1 to find the clinic closest to them or check out the vaccine finder at Vaccines.gov