The Oregon Department of Education has issued guidelines for the state’s public schools to adopt distance learning strategies as officials anticipate Gov. Kate Brown’s stay-home orders may extend until the summer.

State schools chief Colt Gill told superintendents he anticipates “the strong possibility that our students may not come back through our school house doors this academic year.”

Districts should implement their distance learning plans by April 13, Gill said. Throughout the education department’s guidance for local districts, officials urge that plans will be a work-in-progress as many teachers sail into uncharted waters.

Local districts will spend the next two weeks developing their plans and tweak them as necessary after launching them in mid-April. Portland Public Schools began training its educators in online learning this week.

Here are the latest developments to know Tuesday:

CASES: Three more Oregonians have died from COVID-19, bringing the toll of people killed by the coronavirus in Oregon to at least 16. The overall count of infected patients has surpassed 600 statewide. At least some of those cases caused employers to take extra precautions. Intel reported its first coronavirus case among its Oregon employees.

SYMPTOMS: Multnomah County health department investigators talked to 75 people who had contracted COVID-19, and discovered that nearly half reported the loss of taste or smell. The survey provides a glimpse into how the virus is affecting the Oregonians who catch it.

TESTING: Gov. Kate Brown told Oregonians Sunday the state’s capacity to test for COVID-19 had dramatically increased, in part because Asante in Southern Oregon had started processing tests. In reality, Asante won’t begin processing labs for patient tests until next week.

VACCINE PROPOSAL: Researchers at the Providence Cancer Institute have swiftly switched gears from cancer and thrown themselves into finding a vaccine for the novel coronavirus, hoping to redirect a technique used for battling cancer.

HIRING: Though hundreds of Oregon businesses have shut down during the coronavirus pandemic, and tens of thousands of workers have been laid off, grocers and food producers report continued struggles to fill openings. Fred Meyer, New Seasons and Walmart are among those looking for workers.

GRADUATION: Students at Portland State University are protesting what they claim was a precipitous and self-serving decision by the university to hold this year’s graduation ceremonies online.

INSPECTIONS: Oregon fielded more than 1,100 complaints last week about coronavirus issues at workplaces. In response, safety officials have launched surprise inspections to ensure employers are taking steps to protect people from exposure.

LABOR: Federal prison workers in Oregon and elsewhere filed a federal lawsuit seeking hazardous pay after guards in Louisiana were exposed to coronavirus. Oregon’s Federal Public Defender Lisa Hay said she’s continues to hear about the lack of social distancing or protective measures being taken behind bars at the federal prison in Sheridan.

HELP IN PORTLAND: More than two dozen businesses in Portland’s Jade District and Old Town Chinatown neighborhoods became first small businesses to receive city-backed coronavirus assistance grants. Another round of grants for businesses across Portland could go out as soon as Friday. City officials also want to provide cash assistance to as many as 2,000 low-income households.

SPORTS: Some high school sports fans are circulating a petition to consider moving spring sports to the summer. The governing body of international track and field, meanwhile, confirmed the World Outdoor Championships will still in Eugene, but one year later than planned.

LISTEN: The Oregonian/OregonLive’s editor, Therese Bottomly, joined the Beat Check podcast this week to discuss what’s it like leading the state’s largest news organization through a pandemic.

YOUR CORONAVIRUS STORIES:

-- The Oregonian/OregonLive

Subscribe to Oregonian/OregonLive newsletters and podcasts for the latest news and top stories.