SALEM, Ore. – *UPDATE* — After nearly a month and a half lockdown, counties in southern Oregon are being allowed to reopen at the end of the week.
“Overall I was incredibly impressed by the work counties put into their applications,” said Governor Kate Brown during a press conference Thursday morning.
During the announcement, Gov. Brown said 31 of Oregon’s 36 counties had been approved. That includes are Jackson, Josephine, Klamath, Coos, Curry, Douglas and Lake counties.
“Oh man I tell you I was absolutely relieved,” said Jackson County Commissioner Rick Dyer, who received the notice Wednesday night.
With the county now moving into Phase 1, Dyer is hopeful they can continue to see positive results. All of that is contingent however on how well communities do through phase one.
The governor announced businesses like restaurants, bars, hair salons, and gyms can reopen. Each must meet guidelines like physical distancing, sanitizing equipment, and wearing masks.
“It’s going to be up to the business owners to put the right safeguards in place and to enforce them in their businesses,” said Dyer. “And people in general – we’ve been pretty good down here.”
The state data continues to show a downward trend in the number of positive cases according to the Oregon Health Authority but everyone is being encouraged to keep wearing masks and follow physical distancing.
“We are venturing out onto thin ice and we need to step carefully and cautiously,” said Gov. Brown.
Each approved county will be reassessed after three weeks. If any do not meet the state’s requirements or there’s an uncontrollable spike in cases they will be forced into another stay-home order.
The governor increased the number of people that gather in a group up to 25. However physical distancing must be maintained. People in counties that can’t reopen are asked to continue to respect stay-at-home orders until they are lifted.
Governor Kate Brown is announcing the Oregon counties that can start Phase 1 of the plan to open the state.
Watch the video above for a live feed of Governor Brown’s press conference, scheduled for 10:00 a.m. on May 14.
On May 7, Brown said individual counties who show they meet certain guidelines can apply to start “Phase 1” of the opening plan. In order to begin reopening, counties must:
- Show a decline in cases, or have fewer than five hospitalizations
- Have sufficient COVID-19 testing and contact tracing capability
- Establish plans for isolation and quarantine of new cases
- Have hospital capability to handle any surge in new COVID-19 cases
- Have enough personal protective equipment for healthcare workers
According to Brown, restaurants and bars will be able to provide sit-down service once again if they’re in a county that meets the prerequisites. Brown said some of the requirements include face covering and physical distancing.
Salons, barbershops, gyms, and retailers can also open if their county is approved.
Once approved, counties will be monitored by the state for 21 days. At that point, if everything looks good, the counties will be able to move forward to “Phase 2.” The details of the next phase have not been announced.
Between Wednesday night and Thursday morning, numerous southwestern Oregon counties said they got a letter from Gov. Brown saying they can start Phase 1. These include Jackson, Josephine, Coos, Curry, Douglas, Lake, and Klamath Counties.
Governor Brown also said gathering limits have been increased to 25 in abiding counties, as long as there is adequate social distancing. However, there will be no live sporting events with audiences, festivals, concerts, or similar gatherings until at least September.
According to Governor Brown, the state will reveal plans for childcare and summer schools next week.
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