15 Oregon counties will move ‘extreme risk’ category from April 30 to May 06th
Governor Brown announced 15 counties will move to the “extreme risk” level from Friday, April 30 to Thursday, May 06, as Covid-19 spreads across Oregon.
The 15 Counties in the Portland area include Baker, Clackamas, Columbia, Crook, Deschutes, Grant, Jackson, Josephite, Klamath, Lane, Linn, Marion, Multnomah, Polk, and Wasco.
In addition to it, another nine counties will be in the “high risk” level, four at “moderate risk”, and eight at “lower risk.”
“If we don’t act now, doctors, nurses, hospitals, and other health care providers in Oregon will be stretched to their limits treating severe cases of COVID-19,” said Governor Brown. “Today’s announcement will save lives and help stop COVID-19 hospitalizations from spiking even higher. With new COVID-19 variants widespread in so many of our communities, it will take all of us working together to bring this back under control”
Governor Brown also announced outdoor capacity limits for bars, restaurants, and other sectors to be raised from 50 to 100 people in “extreme risk” counties, with health and safety norms, including physical distancing.
“We know that the risk of COVID-19 transmission is lower outdoors. I am urging all Oregonians if they choose to gather with others, to keep it outdoors. Indoor transmission is a key driver in the COVID-19 surge that is making renewed health and safety restrictions necessary,” the Governor stated. Oregon Health Authority will also be working with the CDC guidance to align Oregon’s outdoor mask guidance.
Governor Brown’s office shared that she is also working along with lawmakers to approve a $20 million small business emergency relief package in order to immediately support impacted businesses in the 15 Oregon “extreme risk” counties through the commercial rent relief program.
For business operations to return back to normal, Governor Brown announced county COVID-19 data will be evaluated weekly for at least the next three weeks.
Any updates to county risk levels next week will be announced on Tuesday, May 4 and take effect on Friday, May 7, stated the official.
Only counties that improve their COVID-19 metrics will have the chance of moving to a lower risk level. Counties will remain at “extreme risk” for a maximum duration of three weeks.
Counties will be able to move to a lower risk level only if their COVID-19 case rates are brought down in the intervening weeks’ time, or if Oregon moves below 300 statewide hospitalizations or even the seven-day hospitalization average percentage increase goes below 15 percent overall.
And even after three weeks, if Oregon still exceeds statewide hospitalization metrics and one or more counties, among 15 listed above, still meet the case rates and percentage positivity for “extreme risk,” the Oregon Health Authority will evaluate the possible reasons and make suggestions to the governor’s office.