Pandemic changes life at prison

As of Sunday, the COVID-19 coronavirus has arrived in Wasco.

Prayer chains have become one of several means of communication during this time of self-quarantine.

A member of a local church started a prayer chain for those in need of prayer. Prayers were requested for several Wasco residents that have the coronavirus. By the last day of March, four Wasco residents – two couples -- were confirmed to have the virus.

Both couples asked not to be identified.

The first couple booked a trip to Northern Italy, even after friends and relatives asked them not to go. When they arrived at their destination, the trip was canceled, and they were forced to find their own way home, a friend told the [BEGIN ITAL]Tribune[END ITAL].

Both needed hospitalization, and one of the two had pneumonia and is now on a ventilator. Both are currently still under hospital care, according to the friend.

The second couple is resting and recuperating at home. "We went to Accelerated Urgent Care on Truxtun on Friday and had the results time-tested," one of the two said. "The results came back positive on Sunday."

"It's a very rough virus," one said. "The fevers come and go. You have no taste, diarrhea, nausea and no appetite along with coughing. It never seems to end."