PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — Governor Kate Brown said 31 Oregon counties are eligible to apply for Phase 2 this week.
She announced new criteria for eligibility as well as what restrictions would be loosened in Phase 2 during a press conference on Wednesday.
Counties must remain in Phase 1 for at least 21 days, but may apply to enter Phase 2 after 14 days. Multnomah County, the only county not in Phase 1, is hopeful for a June 12 goal.
Prerequisites to enter Phase 2
- Declining disease prevalence
- Having an adequate number of contact tracers, including people reflective of the communities they serve
- Establishing adequate testing, isolation and quarantine facilities, sufficient hospital surge capacity, and sufficient personal protective equipment supply
- Demonstrating that they are able to trace new cases within 24 hours
- As counties see new cases, they must be able to identify where they are coming from at least 70% of the time
- Counties cannot be experiencing a significant increase in cases
Phase 2 guidance
- Gathering limits will be raised to 50 people indoors, and 100 people outdoors.
- Indoor and outdoor venues, including theaters and churches, with 6 feet of physical distancing and other measures in place, can reach a COVID-19 occupancy limit of up to 250.
- Offices can begin reopening and employees can return to workplaces with physical distancing and other measures in place, though remote work is still strongly recommended whenever possible.
- Increased travel will be allowed throughout Oregon, though staying local is still recommended to prevent overloading county health systems.
- Restaurants and bars will have curfews extended to midnight.
- Pools and sports courts will be allowed to reopen under new guidance.
- Indoor and outdoor activities such as bowling, batting cages, and mini golf, will be allowed to reopen under new guidance.
- Recreational sports can resume in a limited form, under strict physical distancing guidance.
New guidance for the whole state
- Zoos, gardens, and museums can reopen in a limited fashion.
- Professional and collegiate sports teams can return to training in their facilities with physical distancing and health and safety measures in place.
Brown was joined by Oregon Health Authority Director Pat Allen and Doctor Dean Sidelinger. Allen spoke about increased testing and contact tracing across the state, saying that the state conducted 17,447 tests last week.
Allen said the statewide capacity for tests is 37,000 tests. The positive test percentage is 1.7%, which is down from 2.6% on May 17. Nationally, the positive test percentage is 12%.
102 Oregonians are hospitalized with COVID-19 compared to two weeks ago, when there were 161. Allen pointed to a downward trend in severe cases.
Josephine County said on Wednesday morning that they believe they are ready to submit a Phase 2. According to a press release, the Board of Josephine County Commissioners voted on Tuesday to approve a letter formally requesting the county move to Phase 2 on Friday.