Of the 33 Oregon counties that applied to enter the first phase of Gov. Brown’s reopening plan, the Oregon Health Authority (OHA) has approved 28. Oregon has 36 counties.
Click here to see a list of counties allowed to start reopening. Two counties submitted applications and were not approved, Marion and Polk. Multnomah, Clackamas and Washington counties have not yet applied, and are not expected to begin reopening until late May or early June.
This Phase 1 reopening includes limited reopening of restaurants and bars, personal services like hair salons and barbers, gyms, and malls. Gatherings of up to 25 people allowed for recreational, social, cultural, civic or faith events – with physical distancing requirements. Employees that have been teleworking or working from home must continue to do so even if the county has been accepted under Phase 1. Read more here.
The 28 approved counties have proved that they can meet certain criteria, including:
- A decline in diagnosed COVID-19 cases, or fewer than 5 hospitalizations
- Sufficient testing and contract testing capacity· Established plans for isolation and quarantine of new cases
- Hospital capacity to handle a potential surge in cases
- Enough personal protective equipment for health care workers.
If you live or work in Clackamas, Jefferson, Marion, Morrow, Multnomah, Polk, Umatilla or Washington counties, the Governor’s stay home order still applies. It is unclear when those counties will be approved to enter Phase 1, but information is expected soon. (Ambien) The governor’s office clarified what businesses and gatherings are allowed in those counties that are still sheltering in place:
- Grocery stores, pharmacies, banks and credit unions, and gas stations are all open.
- Restaurants are open for take-out service only.
- Stand-alone retail operations are open provided they meet required safety and physical distancing guidelines.
- Indoor and outdoor malls are closed. At many malls, curbside pick-up has been instituted.
- Local outdoor recreation activities are open, including many state parks.
- Non-emergency medical care, dentist offices and veterinary care are open and operating, provided they meet required safety guidelines.
- Local cultural, civic and faith gatherings are allowed for up to 25 people provided physical distancing can be in place.
- Local social gatherings over 10 people are prohibited and those under 10 people must use physical distancing.
- Personal care services such as salons and barbers, as well as gyms, are closed.
- Childcare is open under certain restrictions, with priority placements for children of health care workers, first responders, and frontline workers.