Health and Medicine

Umatilla County Public Health Officials Hope Crowds Coming For Pendleton Round-up Won’t Increase COVID Cases

Oregon Public Broadcasting | By Julie Sabatier

Published September 14, 2021 at 5:14 PM PDT

Trick roper Rider Kiesner nonchalantly twirls a lasso around himself as he rehearses for opening night of the Happy Canyon show at the Pendleton Round-up.

Umatilla County currently has the highest number of COVID-19 cases per capita in Oregon. And this week, the Pendleton Round-Up is bringing an influx of people. The rodeo and surrounding events are requiring people to wear masks, but anecdotal evidence suggests that compliance is low and enforcement minimal. We hear from Umatilla County Public Health Director Joseph Fiumara about hospital capacity, case numbers and the outlook for the next few weeks.

If you’d like to comment on any of the topics in this show, or suggest a topic of your own, please get in touch with us on Facebook or Twitter, send an email to thinkoutloud@opb.org, or you can leave a voicemail for us at 503-293-1983. The call-in phone number during the noon hour is 888-665-5865.