bend, or Deschutes County Public Health Director Nahad Sadr-Azodi participated in the virtual news conference held by the mayors of Bend and Redmond yesterday. He said recent COVID-19 cases have been spread by local people traveling out of the area and coming back infected and by tourists who come here infected and spread the virus. Sadr-Azodi says recent virus cases have also been spread by multiple family gatherings on recent holidays He says it’s important to wear a mask, wash hands and watch distancing. Sadr-Azodi says an important factor in helping to slow the spread of COVID-19 is testing, which he says has been expanding in recent weeks.