Marion County is renting a hotel for self-isolation in its hardest-hit community

Bill Poehler
Salem Statesman Journal

Marion County's plan to rent an 81-room hotel in Woodburn and use it as a short-term isolation facility for people who have tested positive for COVID-19 has raised concerns in the hard-hit community. 

According to the city, the county plans to rent the Super 8 on Evergreen Road for those who have no other place to self-isolate, such as released inmates, farmworkers and homeless people.

The city wasn't informed ahead of time.

"Good government goes through a process for anything we do, especially in small towns," Woodburn City Councilor Eric Morris said. "To me, it feels much more like, we’re telling you this rather than can we come into your community and set up this isolation facility.

"That tunes up people’s fears."

The Super 8 at 821 Evergreen Road in Woodburn when it was under construction in 1997.

As of June 17, the 97071 ZIP code, which includes Woodburn, had 238 cases, the highest incidence in Marion County.

As a condition of Marion County moving into phase 2 of reopening on June 19, the county was required to find a facility for COVID-19 positive patients with mild symptoms who don't have anywhere to isolate.

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Heidi Nolan N.P. administer a nasal swab to test for COVID-19 in patients at Woodburn Health Center on April 13, 2020. Legacy Medical Group has drive-thru testing sites in Northwest Portland and Woodburn, with results available in one to two days.

As part of the county’s plan, there will be an onsite nurse, a project manager and security personnel. Residents of the facility will be required to follow a code of conduct and typically remain there for 14 days.

“The hotel will allow us to slow the spread of COVID-19 by giving those with no place else to go a place to safely isolate,” Marion County’s Public Health Director Katrina Rothenberger said in a statement.

Marion County will rent the hotel for at least nine months, starting July 1.

Concerned residents of Woodburn have voiced their opinions about the potential impacts the shelter will have on the community.

“This is absolutely the LAST place that should be considered for this!” Angela Haragan wrote in a letter to the county. “My parents, who are both in their 80s live there, as do so many others in this age bracket. Why on earth are you considering sending these inmates to be housed there?”

The city said in a statement that it learned of Marion County’s plan on June 16.

“This is not a City of Woodburn project, nor was the City included in the County’s planning efforts," the statement said. "Upon learning of the pending operation of a COVID-19 Isolation Shelter, City officials reached out to Marion County seeking additional information specifically related to public safety impacts and mitigation, potential land use issues and the need for public outreach and input prior to operating the facility."

bpoehler@StatesmanJournal.com or Twitter.com/bpoehler