Due to the nationwide shortage in Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) supplies, Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office – Emergency Management is coordinating PPE donations.
We are asking local and regional businesses and non-health care industries, including construction, dental, veterinary, manufacturing, breweries, mining, logging, fisheries etc. to donate their PPE.
Items that can be accepted include:
Masks (N95, surgical, and procedural)
Face Shields (medical)
Gowns – Disposable
Gloves – Exam Type
Eye Protection (goggles and eye shields)
Donated PPE must be:
Unused
Original packaging is preferred but not required
Expired is okay
PPE Donation Sites in Lincoln County:
North County – North Lincoln Fire and Rescue
Bob Everest Station, 2525 NW Hwy 101, Lincoln City, OR
Drop off-times: 9:00am – 3pm, Monday – Friday
Central County – Newport Fire Department
245 NW 10th Street, Newport, OR
Drop off-times: 9:00am – 3pm, Monday – Friday
East County – Toledo Fire Department
285 NE Burgess Road, Toledo, OR
Drop off times: 9:00am – 3pm, Monday – Friday
South County – Central Oregon Coast Fire and Rescue
145 NW Alsea Hwy, Waldport, OR 97394
Drop off times: 9:00am – 3pm, Monday – Friday
Additional Information:
All donated supplies will be redistributed to our most vulnerable healthcare partners in need of supplies.
You will receive a donation letter you can use for a tax deduction.
If you require PPE for your own personal healthcare, please save those supplies for your use.
COVID-19 has claimed 2 more lives in Oregon, raising the state’s death toll from 8 to 10, the Oregon Health Authority reported at 8:00 a.m. today.
Oregon Health Authority also reported 57 new cases of COVID-19, bringing the state total to 266, as of 8:00 a.m. today. The COVID-19 cases reported today are in the following counties: Benton (2), Clackamas (4), Douglas (2), Jackson (1), Josephine (1), Lane (1), Lincoln (1), Linn (5), Marion (11), Multnomah (8), Washington (20), Yamhill (1). Oregon Health Authority reports new cases once a day on its website: www.healthoregon.org/coronavirus.
Oregon’s ninth COVID-19 death is an 80-year-old woman in Clackamas County, who tested positive on 3/23/20, and died 3/24/2020 at Legacy Mt. Hood Medical Center. She had underlying medical conditions.
Oregon’s tenth COVID-19 death is a 73-year-old woman in Marion County, who tested positive on 3/22/20, and died 3/23/20 at Salem Hospital. She had underlying medical conditions.
Stay informed about COVID-19:
Oregon response: The Oregon Health Authority and Oregon Office of Emergency Management lead the state response.
United States response: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention leads the U.S. response.
Global response: The World Health Organization guides the global response.
The Oregon Health Authority today announced Lincoln County’s first presumptive positive case of COVID-19. The new case brings Oregon’s total to 209 cases.
Lincoln County is in close coordination with Oregon Health Authority (OHA) about these cases. Test results are now coming from multiple laboratories and are delivered electronically to providers, counties, and OHA throughout the day. As a result, some counties may release county data sooner than it is reported on the Oregon Health Authority website. healthoregon.org/coronavirus.
The person is over the age of 55 and is hospitalized outside of Lincoln County. The individual had no known contact with a confirmed case, and had not traveled from a country where the virus is circulating, so the case is being investigated as a community-acquired case.
This case is unique because the patient is a resident of Lincoln County, however they became symptomatic while outside of the county and have not returned to Lincoln County prior to their hospitalization.
“I can only imagine the concern among the family and friends of this person. My concerns and positive thoughts go out to the patient and their family; may they have a speedy recovery.” said David Long, M.D., Health Officer for Lincoln County. “The Public Health system as well as Samaritan Health Services are on high alert and geared up to care for all patients who are affected by the Coronavirus. I’m asking you, as my neighbors and as my community, to keep this individual and their loved ones in your thoughts. let us all do what we can to keep our health system strong and minimize the number of other people who must go through this.”
Health officials continue to urge all Oregonians to take steps to protect those who are most vulnerable to complications from COVID-19.
Those considered “high risk” include adults 60 and older, or anyone with a serious health condition, including lung or heart problems, kidney disease, or diabetes, or anyone who has a suppressed immune system.
People vulnerable to complications should follow federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommendations to stay home as much as possible and avoid gatherings.
Every community member should take these basic steps to protect those most at risk:
Never visit a hospital or long-term-care facility if you have a fever or cough.
Cover your mouth and nose when you cough or sneeze.
Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds.
Regularly clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces like bathrooms, desks, countertops, doorknobs, computer keyboards, faucet handles, toys and cell phones.
Avoid touching your eyes, nose, or mouth with unwashed hands.
Stay home and away from others if you are ill.
The COVID-19 virus spreads like the flu, when someone who is sick coughs or sneezes close to another person (close means about six feet).
After someone contracts COVID-19, illness usually develops within 14 days. Symptoms include fever and cough or difficult breathing.
As testing capacity increases — with Labcorp and Quest Diagnostics online, and clinical laboratories at some Oregon hospitals expected to begin testing by next week — officials expect the number of people who test positive with COVID-19 to rise.
“We are not talking anymore about stopping the spread of this virus,” Dr. Long said. “Without a vaccine and without medicine, our best bet as a community is to slow the spread so those who do get seriously ill can get the care they need from our health system.”
Stay informed
Regional response: Lincoln County updates its site with COVID-19 news and guidance. Oregon response: The Oregon Health Authority leads the state response. United States response: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention leads the U.S. response. Global Response: The World Health Organization guides the global response.
In support of the stay-at-home directive ordered by the state of Oregon, Pacific Power will maintain reliable power to all customers during the COVID-19 public health emergency.
The company will also continue to suspend late payment fees and disconnections for non-payment, as previously announced.
Under Gov. Kate Brown’s order issued Monday, March 23, 2020, utility company employees, along with other essential critical infrastructure workers, are exempted from the stay-at-home order while performing job duties. Employees have been informed of this and will carry their ID badges and any other documentation provided by the company at all times. In most cases, they will be in company branded vehicles and wearing company safety gear.
Crews will be at work ensuring that power interruptions are minimized during this time where uncertainty is high and most people are housebound. This is always the company’s top priority, but at this time crews will limit work to upgrades involving wildfire protection, projects critical to delivering power to customers, compliance obligations and outage response. Some of this work may require short-term power outages to complete work safely.
While these crews will be our most visible employees, they are not alone in serving you during this time of crisis. They are backed up by thousands of employees who are working in the six western states served by Pacific Power and its sister utility, Rocky Mountain Power, based in Salt Lake City. We are running power plants, managing grid operations and talking to customers.
If you have questions about your electric service or your account, call us 24/7 at 888-221-7070.
We are here for you
Pacific Power plans for emergencies such as the pandemic we are now experiencing. We have contingency plans for possible interruptions to supply chains for an extended period of time. Our business continuity and pandemic plans have been developed over decades and refined during regular drills. They are designed to protect our customers and employees and to ensure energy operations and infrastructure are supported properly. These measures will help us continue to provide safe and reliable electricity throughout even a prolonged emergency.
An invaluable tool for Pacific Power’s business continuity involves our ability under emergency conditions to maintain continuous service by transferring local control center and customer care responsibilities from our Portland-based teams to PacifiCorp’s Utah-based teams, or vice versa. Last week we fully exercised this capability that we routinely drill. Moments after a 5.7 magnitude earthquake occurred near Salt Lake City and our facilities in Utah were evacuated, we transferred temporary full control from our Salt Lake City-based control center and customer care center to our Portland-based control center and customer care center until our facilities in Utah were restored.
As part of PacifiCorp, Pacific Power has a broad geographic footprint that serves nearly 2 million customers in six states, operates the largest grid in the West that crosses ten states and coordinates with neighboring utilities and grid operators to plan for, prepare, and respond to all hazards that could potentially impact the energy grid—including a pandemic—with our partners in government at the local, state and federal levels. We are also following the recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and coordinating with state and local emergency management leaders.
We are dedicated to serving you in this crisis and know that working together we will get through this uncertain time.
COVID-19 has claimed three more lives in Oregon, raising the state’s death toll to eight, the Oregon Health Authority reported 8 a.m. today.
Oregon Health Authority reported 18 new cases of COVID-19, bringing the state total to 209, as of 8 a.m. March, 24. The COVID-19 cases reported today are in the following counties: Clackamas (3), Clatsop (1), Jackson (1), Marion (2), Multnomah (4), and Washington (7). Oregon Health Authority reports new cases once a day on its website: www.healthoregon.org/coronavirus.
Oregon’s sixth COVID-19 death is a 78-year-old man in Clackamas County, who tested positive on March 15, and died March 22 at Kaiser Sunnyside Medical Center. He had underlying medical conditions.
Oregon’s seventh COVID-19 death is a 63-year-old man in Multnomah County, who had underlying medical conditions and was not hospitalized at the time of death. He tested positive on March 16, and died March 23.
Oregon’s eighth COVID-19 death is a 90-year-old woman in Washington County, who tested positive on March 19, and died March 23 at Providence St. Vincent Medical Center. She had underlying medical conditions.
Stay informed about COVID-19:
Oregon response: The Oregon Health Authority and Oregon Office of Emergency Management lead the state response.
United States response: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention leads the U.S. response.
Global response: The World Health Organization guides the global response.
Commission Chair Kaety Jacobson, left, and County Counsel Wayne Belmont at an emergency joint meeting Monday night
Order 3-23-85 – Minimize the effects of the COVID-19 Emergency – was approved during a joint emergency meeting by the Lincoln County Board of Commissioners and mayors, city councils and staff of all Lincoln County Cities.
The order is a move to slow the spread of the novel coronavirus and a concerted effort between Lincoln County and the cities of Siletz, Newport, Lincoln City, Depoe Bay, Toledo, Waldport and Yachats.
Short term lodging for all of Lincoln County has been closed with exceptions listed in the full order below.
BEFORE THE BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS FOR LINCOLN COUNTY, OREGON
In the Matter of ORDER NO. 3-23-85
Exercising Authority to Act to Protect Lincoln County Citizens and Minimize the Effects of the COVID-19 Emergency
WHEREAS Lincoln County, by Resolution dated March 13, 2020 and ratified and extended by the Board of Commissioners on March 18, 2020[1], declared an emergency in Lincoln County created by the COVID -19 pandemic crisis which is threatening citizens of Lincoln County[2]; and
WHEREAS the Cities of Lincoln City[3], and Newport[4], have also declared emergencies and the Cities of Toledo, Depoe Bay, Yachats and Waldport have recently adopted declarations or are planning to adopt declarations and/or have taken precautionary actions including closing public facilities to address the crisis; and
WHEREAS the Governor of the State of Oregon declared a state of emergency for the entire state on March 8, 2020 finding that COVID-19 has created a threat to public health and safety and constitutes a statewide emergency under ORS 401.025(1)[5]; and
WHEREAS the President of the United States signed a proclamation declaring a national emergency concerning the novel coronavirus disease (COVID -19) outbreak on March 13, 2020; and
WHEREAS local, state and national public health agencies[6] have instituted guidelines, recommendations and actions to curb the spread of the disease in an attempt to “flatten the curve” of the disease’s progression in the United States. Many of those recommendations have been adopted by States and local governments across the country. In Oregon, the Governor has issued Executive Orders 20-3 through 20-20 to slow the spread of the virus through closure of schools, restricting restaurants and bars to carry out and delivery dining, limitations on public gatherings, higher education restrictions and other requirements; and
WHEREAS the Governor has directed Oregonians to “stay at home to stay healthy”[7] through social distancing actions undertaken by each Oregonian. Social distancing includes taking “staycations” (stay at home) during what is normally the spring break season in Oregon and surrounding states. This also includes voluntarily limiting trips and contact with other people[8]; and
WHEREAS the implementation of the Governor’s social distancing order and public campaign has not proven effective on the Central Oregon Coast in Lincoln County as significant out of county visitors have continued to come to the Coast in recent days despite the stay at home order/directive. Repeated instances of violation of the social distancing norms have placed county resources and residents at much greater risk of the spread of the virus. Closure of short term rentals in northern parts of the Oregon Coast[9] threaten to move significant vacationers south to Lincoln County if no actions are taken; and
WHEREAS numerous public and private health officials in the state of Oregon[10] and beyond have called for more stringent and aggressive social distancing measures including stay at home/shelter at home mandates because the voluntary social distancing actions are not being followed in many areas including the Central Oregon Coast; and
WHEREAS the Lincoln County Public Health Administrator and Local Health Officer both confirm that continued influxes of visitors, turning over on a short term basis, increases the likelihood of the spread of the coronavirus more than longer term tenancies and threatens the limited health care resources available in Lincoln County and therefore recommend the County consider temporarily limiting short term visitors to the County until the crisis ends; and
WHEREAS it is necessary that a coordinated and collaborative action be taken by all impacted jurisdictions in Lincoln County and therefore concurrence of the city councils of all County coastal cities (Lincoln City, Depoe Bay, Newport, Waldport, Siletz, Toledo and Yachats) is necessary to full implement the action authorized by this Order and desired from the cities of Siletz and Toledo to evidence the full support of Lincoln County entities; and
WHERAS pursuant to the authority granted the Lincoln County Board of Commissioners under ORS Chapter 401, ORS Chapter 431 as the Local Public Health Authority, Lincoln County Ordinance # 502[11] (Emergency Services) and the Lincoln County Emergency Operations Plan[12], the Board of Commissioners deems it necessary to institute a temporary order closing hotels, motels, short-term rentals and homestay lodging, RV parks and public and private campgrounds to recreational visitors.
NOW, THEREFORE, IT IS HEREBY ORDERED AS FOLLOWS:
State parks are closed by Order of the Governor. County and city parks are closed to camping except for camp hosts or other persons authorized by the County or City for stays 30 days or longer until the emergency ends.
All short term rentals, defined as rentals of a duration of less than 30 days, in vacation rental dwellings or short term dwellings and homestay lodgings, are prohibited in Lincoln County until the declared emergency ends (April 30, 2020) or this prohibition is otherwise ended or modified by separate Order of the Board of Commissioners, whichever occurs first.
All hotels and motels, RV Parks and Private Campgrounds and similar lodgings or housing not identified above are closed to short term rentals of less than 30 days except as follows:
Stays for 30 days or longer are allowed.
Local county residents effecting a COVID-19 self-quarantine or who have moved from their local residence in order to allow a family member or roommate to self-quarantine in their local residence.
Families or individuals residing in lodging for less than 30 days if this is their only means of shelter. Includes, but is not limited to, vouchers for stay provided by local or regional governments or nonprofit agencies.
Employees of the facility provided lodging as a requirement or benefit of their employment.
Patients or families of patients receiving medical care at local facilities.
Essential workers, including but not limited to doctors, nurses, other health staff, home and health care workers, Coast Guard members, truck drivers and supply providers, workers in the county whose employer pays for lodging, construction workers on local projects (including public contractors), utility crews, and other persons whose work in the county requires temporary accommodations.
Other persons or categories of people who City managers or County Counsel deem consistent with the intent of this Order, after consultation with the Local Public Health Administrator.
All pools, spas and other public bathing facilities are closed at lodging properties for the duration of this Order.
Lodging property owners or managers are required to keep a log of what exception is met by current lodgers. This list will be made available upon request to city and county officials.
This Order takes effect upon adoption by the County. Property owners and managers of properties effected by paragraphs 1-3 above shall take all reasonable steps to terminate current occupancy of any guests not exempted herein by no later than 12:00 (noon) on Wednesday March 25, 2020. No new occupancies in violation of this Order may be rented effective 8:00 am Tuesday March 24, 2020.
This Order may be modified, rescinded or extended by authority of the Board of Commissioners in consultation with the Cities and Local Public Health Administrator. If so modified, a copy shall be provided to the Cities of Lincoln City, Depoe Bay, Newport, Toledo, Siletz, Waldport and Yachats.
This Order was presented and concurred to by either authorized city personnel or the direct action of the City Councils of the City of Lincoln City, Depoe Bay, Newport, Waldport and Yachats on March 23, 2020 at a joint public meeting with the Board of Commissioners and therefore applies within the incorporated boundaries of those cities. At any time, the City Council of any of these cities may opt by Council Action to rescind that concurrence, at which time the Order will have no effect within the boundaries of that city without necessity of any further action.
Copies of this Order shall be provided to Jenny Demaris, Emergency Manager, Wayne Belmont, County Counsel, and representatives of each of the cities listed above.
DATED: March 23, 2020
LINCOLN COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
Kaety Jacobson, Chair
Doug Hunt, Commissioner
Claire Hall, Commissioner
[1] Resolution # 20-18-3A, signed by Chair Jacobson on March 13, 2020, ratified by the full Board on March 18, 2020. Resolution # 20-18-3B adopted by the Board on March 18, 2020 extended the declaration through April 30, 2020.
[2] The Declaration of an Emergency applies throughout Lincoln County since this health issue is not confined to specific geographic portions of the County but threatens county residents across the entire County. On March 11, 2020 the US Center for Disease Control (CDC) declared the threat pandemic in the US and cases have been reported in all 50 states.
[6] Including but not limited to Lincoln County Public Health, a division of the Lincoln County Health and Human Services Department (County Public Health), the Oregon Health Authority (OHA), and the federal Center for Disease Control (CDC).
[7] Characterized as an order and public awareness campaign according to the Governor in a press conference held March 20, 2020 with the Mayor of Portland and Chair of the Multnomah County Commissioners.
[8] As recommended by Public Health Officials in Washington, Multnomah, Clackamas, Columbia and Clark County Washington in a press conference on March 19, 2020.
[9] To date, the Cities of Warrenton, Seaside, Astoria, and Tillamook and Clatsop counties have all acted to limit or prohibit short term occupancies in their respective jurisdictions during this emergency.
[10] Including but not limited to the Oregon Public Health Association, the Oregon Nurses Association, and the Oregon Academy of Family Physicians.
Twenty-four-year-old Newport woman Ashley Hunt was arrested for arson Sunday night for allegedly setting the 4-plex where she lives on fire.
Hunt was reported to be walking away from a flaming apartment garbage-area close to midnight by a neighbor. The neighbor attempted to put out the flames with a garden hose, but according to the neighbor who was fighting the fire, Hunt shut off the water to the hose as it was being used.
Ashley Hunt’s booking photo has been changed since the arrest
Newport Police investigated the incident and found Hunt had been acting erratic all day and had told several of the residents she was going to burn down the complex.
Officers located Hunt barricaded in her apartment where it was reported she had poured accelerant inside. Investigators were able to distract the woman long enough to force entry and take her into custody. Hunt used a boot in her hand to strike an officer, injuring him.
Two of the apartments were occupied at the time of the fire and damage was caused to the storage area and siding of the building.
Hunt was evaluated at Samaritan Pacific Communities Hospital and transported to the Lincoln County Jail where she faces arson, recklessly endangering, reckless burning, criminal mischief and assaulting a public safety officer charges. Her bail was set at $250,000.
This is an ongoing investigation and anyone with information should contact the Newport Police Department.
FINAL UPDATE 7:28 p.m. 3/23: City Manager Ron Chandler read the order aloud on the City’s live stream during Monday night’s City Council meeting.
Chandler said the cost for one month of lost transient room tax due to closures would be $900,000.
Lincoln City Mayor Dick Anderson said the City has barricaded beach access points, making it “unattractive” to any who see it. Chandler said the Oregon State Parks and Recreation Department barricaded D River Wayside and Roads End state parks.
Councilors Diana Hinton and Judy Casper voted along with the mayor at the meeting to ratify the order, with councilors Mitch Parsons Riley Hoagland, Diane Kusz, and Rick Mark voting unanimously via telephone.
Anderson apologized to his citizens for the appearance of not acting fast enough. He said there were many proposed fixes for the problem but Lincoln County ultimately took the lead.
Hinton thanked Anderson and Chandler for all the work they had done in previous days leading up to the order.
Casper said “this was a good wake up call for all of us,” and expressed concern for the information disconnect between the City and getting information out. She called on the City’s information technology department for a fix.
Chandler said City bathrooms with attached parking would remain closed. Bathrooms near businesses could be left open, he said. He said keeping bathrooms closed would help keep “day-trippers” away. Anderson said truckers would need a place to go to the bathroom. Chandler said bathrooms close at night and that practice would stay the same no matter what the City decides to do with bathrooms. Hoagland disagreed with closing the bathrooms, saying locals might need to use them, as well as the homeless population.
After a lengthy discussion, public restrooms will remain open in a limited capacity to be determined. Most likely it will be bathrooms the City maintains at beach access points, but not at parks declared closed.
Hinton said she was inundated by communications from the public with suggestions and comments. Of note was that one grocery store was following best practices and others were not. She also said the financial impact was concerning.
Chandler said the Chamber of Commerce requested there should be payments to businesses affected by the emergency and suggested the City Council look at it at a future meeting. Anderson said planning the recovery should be addressed.
Hoagland asked if the old Samaritan North Lincoln Hospital could be used to increase bed capacity.
The order has been ratified and will take effect tomorrow.
This concludes our live updates.
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Lincoln City will join other cities in Lincoln County who have been working to draft a joint declaration ordering lodging to close.
Lincoln City, Newport, Toledo, Depoe Bay, Yachats and Waldport have already taken precautionary measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19 that includes closing public facilities.
Numerous public and private health officials in the State of Oregon have called for more stringent and aggressive social distancing measures because voluntary actions have gone unheeded.
In a news release from the City of Lincoln City, the City said it has been working with the Lincoln County Board of Commissioners and the other cities to draft a joint declaration, ordering the closure of:
Vacation rentals
Short term rentals
homestay lodgings
Hotels
Motels
RV parks
Private campgrounds
The order outlines some exceptions:
All hotels and motels, RV Parks and Private Campgrounds and similar lodgings or housing not identified above are closed to short term rentals of less than 30 days except as follows:
Stays for 30 days or longer are allowed.
Local county residents effecting a COVID-19 self-quarantine or who have moved from their local residence in order to allow a family member or roommate to self- quarantine in their local residence.
Families or individuals residing in lodging for less than 30 days if this is their only means of shelter. Includes, but is not limited to, vouchers for stay provided by local or regional governments or nonprofit agencies.
Employees of the facility provided lodging as a requirement or benefit of their employment.
Patients or families of patients receiving medical care at local facilities.
Essential workers, including but not limited to doctors, nurses, other health staff, home and health care workers, Coast Guard members, truck drivers and supply providers, workers in the county whose employer pays for lodging, construction workers on local projects (including public contractors), utility crews, and other persons whose work in the county requires temporary accommodations.
Other persons or categories of people who City managers or County Counsel deem consistent with the intent of this Order, after consultation with the Local Public Health Administrator.
All pools, spas and other public bathing facilities are closed at lodging properties.
The news should be welcome to scores of coastal citizens who decried the influx of “COVID-19 refugees and tourists” who descended upon the Oregon Coast over the last week.
Homepage reached out to Lincoln City Mayor Dick Anderson Sunday to find out what the City was doing to protect citizens. He responded the same day with:
“Justin, Call with Governor is over. She took input and suggestions. Not sure what her revised stance will be. Lincoln County and the separate Lincoln County Cities are trying to coordinate a message and position that is consistent. More to come. Fast moving. Dick.”
Lincoln City City Manager Ron Chandler has advised Lincoln County that Lincoln City concurs with the draft order. The City Council will meet electronically at 6 p.m. tonight to ratify.
Chandler said representatives from Lincoln County and the other cities will meet electronically at 8 p.m. to provide further information.
Oregon Governor Kate Brown issued an executive order Monday, tightening restrictions on commerce and ordering Oregonians to stay home to the “maximum extent possible.”
Those who fail to comply with the order will be considered an immediate danger to public health and subject to a Class C misdemeanor.
“I started by asking Oregonians to stay home and practice social distancing. Then I urged
the public to follow these recommendations,” Governor Brown said. “Instead, thousands crowded the beaches of our coastal communities, our trails, our parks, and our city streets, potentially spreading COVID-19 and endangering the lives of others across the state. Now, I’m ordering it. To save lives and protect our community.”
Executive Order 20-12 is effective immediately, and remains in effect until ended by the Governor.
“This order is designed to flatten the curve over the coming weeks, preserving scarce hospital space and equipment. It will also ensure that any place of business that remains operational does its part to enforce social distancing rules,” said Governor Brown. “It is designed to be more sustainable over time, to allow Oregonians to keep their jobs when their work does not add to the growth of COVID-19 in Oregon.”
About the order:
All non-essential social and recreational gatherings of individuals are prohibited immediately, regardless of size, if a distance of at least six feet between individuals cannot be maintained. Gatherings of members of the same residential household are permitted.
It closes and prohibits shopping at specific categories of retail businesses, for which close personal contact is difficult to avoid, such as arcades, barber shops, hair salons, gyms and fitness studios, skating rinks, theaters, and yoga studios.
It requires businesses not closed by the order to implement social distancing policies in order to remain open, and requires workplaces to implement teleworking and work-at-home options when possible.
It directs Oregonians to stay home whenever possible, while permitting activities outside the home when social distance is maintained.
It closes playgrounds, sports courts, and skate parks, among other types of outdoor recreation facilities. Those that remain open are required to strictly adhere to social distancing guidelines.
It outlines new guidelines for child care facilities, setting limits and rules on amounts of children allowed in care, and outlining that child care groups may not change participants.
Retail businesses closed by the order include:
Shopping: Outdoor and indoor malls and retail complexes, although individual types of businesses not subject to the measures may stay open.
Fitness: Gyms, sports and fitness centers, health clubs, and exercise studios.
Grooming: Barbershops, beauty and nail salons, and non-medical wellness spas.
Entertainment: Theaters, amusement parks, arcades, bowling alleys, and pool halls.
Other retail businesses will not be able to continue to operate unless they can implement strict social distancing measures and designate an employee or officer charged with ensuring compliance. Retail businesses able to adapt to take-out style shopping experiences can also remain open. If businesses can have employees work from home, then they must do so. Many of the businesses outlined in the order have voluntarily closed their doors already, to do their part to protect Oregon’s communities. In addition, non-retail businesses like manufacturers and the construction industry must ensure that their employees are maintaining social distancing measures.
The full list of businesses includes:
The order states Oregon Health Authority has the authority to determine if additional business closures are necessary to slow the spread of COVID-19, subject to approval of the Governor.
Individuals are directed to minimize travel, other than essential travel to or from home or work, to obtain food, essential consumer needs, education, health care, emergency services, essential business and government services; to care for family members, household members, the elderly, minors dependants, persons with disabilities, or other vulnerable persons, pets or livestock.
The Oregon Office of Emergency Management (OEM) has a website where Oregonians can donate supplies, volunteer and get real time information about COVID-19.
The website allows Oregon residents to donate or sell supplies, offer services or volunteer and has “surveys” website visitors can fill out to coordinate pickup of offered items and services.
Those with something to sell can engage in a business relationship with the state by filling out a form. OEM is looking for masks, gowns, gloves, hand sanitizer, boot/shoe covers and anything else that can help fight the virus. The same form is used for donations.
Low-risk individuals who wish to volunteer with an organization can complete a volunteer interest form. Remote and low-contact hands-on volunteer opportunities are available. Examples of types of volunteering include:
An interactive dashboard with current Oregon COVID-19 information can be found on the website that includes Oregon Health Authority updates and cases across the state.
The website also has a comprehensive list of federal and local resources and tools:
On March 8, 2020, Gov. Kate Brown declared a state of emergency to address the spread of COVID-19 in Oregon. This declaration gives the Governor authority to direct state agencies to use and employ state personnel, equipment, and facilities for activities designated to prevent or alleviate actual or threatened damage due to the emergency.
In response to the declaration, the Office of Emergency Management (OEM) mobilized the state Emergency Coordination Center (ECC) to coordinate and support state and local recovery efforts. The ECC is collaborating with the Oregon Health Authority (OHA) and its Agency Operations Center (AOC).
OHA serves as the lead agency for public health response efforts and the ECC is focused on minimizing any disruption to critical services in Oregon.
