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3 new Oregon counties recommended wearing indoor masks based on COVID-19 cases

Kaitlin Flanigan

Nurses at OHSU care for COVID-19 patients

PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — A new CDC map on county-level community risks now recommends residents in three new Oregon counties wear masks indoors based on the prevalence of COVID-19.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s guidance, which was released online on Thursday evening, puts three new counties at high risk: Hood River County, Coos County and Curry County.

Residents in Lane, Douglas and Jackson counties were listed as high-risk last week by the CDC. However, those counties have since been placed at the medium-risk level.

A community level is rated at “high” if a county has had more than 200 new COVID-19 cases per 100,000 people and more than 10% of new COVID-19 hospital admissions per 100,000 in the past seven days. The latest calculations were made on Wednesday, June 15.

Hood River’s case rate per 100,000 is 286.55, with new COVID-19 hospital admission per 100,000 of 13.6. Curry County has a case rate of 266.09, with new COVID-19 hospital admission per 100,000 of 13.9. Coos County has a case rate of 283.78, with new COVID-19 admissions per 100,000 of 13.9.

Those in counties placed at a medium risk level means residents who are at high-risk for severe disease should be cautious and consider wearing masks, in addition to staying up-to-date on vaccination status. High-risk level communities should consider universal masking, according to the CDC. Those in a county with low risk can drop indoor masking rules.

Oregon counties are currently listed at high risk as of Thursday:

Counties currently listed at medium risk in Oregon as of Thursday:

Oregon counties are currently listed at low risk as of Thursday: