By YachatsNews and the Oregon Capital Bureau
A slightly declining rate of COVID-19 cases is keeping Lincoln County from joining 15 other Oregon counties Friday after Gov. Kate Brown moved them into the “extreme risk” category, closing restaurants and bars to indoor service and tightening restrictions on many other businesses.
After rising steadily for three months, Lincoln County’s COVID-19 rate dropped slightly in the past two weeks, keeping it in the “high risk” category. That level of restriction allows indoor dining at 25 percent of a restaurant or bar’s capacity – and similarly for entertainment venues and churches.
On Tuesday, Brown put 15 counties – which account for more than half of the state’s 4.3 million population — back under the extreme risk category as she sought to stem the latest spike in COVID-19 infections.
The affected counties are Baker, Clackamas, Columbia, Crook, Deschutes, Grant, Jackson, Josephine, Klamath, Lane, Linn, Marion, Multnomah, Polk and Wasco.
“If we don’t act now, doctors, nurses, hospitals, and other health care providers in Oregon will be stretched to their limits treating severe cases of COVID-19,” Brown said.
Brown changed one part of the extreme risk restrictions, increasing the outdoor capacity limits for bars, restaurants and operations covered by the rules from 50 to 100 people in extreme risk counties.
“We know that the risk of COVID-19 transmission is lower outdoors,” Brown said. “I am urging all Oregonians, if you choose to gather with others, keep it outdoors.”
As of Tuesday, cases in Oregon are accelerating faster than in any other state, a position Oregon also maintained last week, according to The New York Times. New cases have grown in Oregon by about 54 percent in the past two weeks, compared to a 20 percent decrease nationwide.
Hospitalizations are up at least 37 percent to 39 percent, depending on the source. That compares to a 2 percent increase nationwide.
Brown said health officials would review infection statistics each week and that no county would remain at extreme risk level for more than three weeks. The next report will be on May 4, with possible revisions on May 7 if the numbers rise or fall.
But the statement from Brown’s office also said that if statewide hospitalizations stay above 300 and one or more counties fail to fall out of the extreme risk category, Oregon Health Authority will review why the numbers haven’t dropped and recommend options for additional action to Brown.
To cushion the financial blow to businesses, which will again have to shut their doors or curtail capacity and hours, Brown said she is working with the legislature on an emergency $20 million financial aid package in extreme risk counties.
“I recognize the burden these restrictions place on Oregon businesses and working families,” she said. “My goal is to lift these restrictions as soon as it is safely possible, and keep Oregon on the path for lifting most health and safety requirements by the end of June so we can fully reopen our economy.”
The governor’s impending restrictions drew immediate push back from business groups, including the Oregon Restaurant & Lodging Association, which stated that “yet again,” the governor had “punished” local restaurants and bars. The association’s president, Jason Brandt, said he believes that COVID-fatigued Oregonians will continue to gather socially in less controlled and less safe environments than eating and drinking establishments.
“I firmly believe the end result is going to be more private gatherings and more transmission, not less,” Brandt said.
Coastal counties OK, except Lane
Coastal counties fared well under the new orders.
Tillamook, Curry and Douglas are in the “moderate risk” category, and Clatsop and Coos counties join Lincoln in the “high risk” category. The exception is Lane County, which stretches from the Oregon Cascades to the ocean, which was moved into the “extreme risk” category, once again closing Florence-area restaurants to indoor dining.
Lincoln County Public Health spokeswoman Susan Trachsel told county commissioners Monday that the leveling off of COVID-19 cases and the county staying at the high risk level “is really good news.”
“Depending on how this week goes we could drop into the moderate risk level,” she said. “… but we need to not relax our guard.”
Brown said April 6 that no county would be moved into the extreme risk level as long as fewer than 300 people statewide were hospitalized for COVID-19. Tuesday’s total was 328.
The key infection measurement for larger counties is cases per 100,000, with Klamath topping the list at 787 and Deschutes at 467. Lincoln County is at 128.5 per 100,000.
The spread of more contagious variants is outpacing vaccinations, which now top 1.1 million out of the state’s 4.3 million residents. The OHA said the highly contagious B.1.1.7, known as the “UK Variant” because it first appeared in Britain, now accounted for the largest number of new cases in Oregon.
The governor said despite this most recent surge, she believes the virus’ spread can be reversed in weeks and the economy can start to fully reopen by the end of June. Modeling by Oregon Health & Science University indicates cases could peak May 4, with hospitalizations following May 19.
“The fastest way to lift health and safety restrictions is for Oregonians to get vaccinated as quickly as possible and follow the safety measures we know stop this virus from spreading,” Brown said.
“But,” she added, “we will only get there if enough Oregonians get vaccinated. There are appointments available right now all across the state.”
The complete list of counties and their risk levels, effective Friday:
Lower Risk (8): Gilliam, Harney, Lake, Morrow, Sherman, Union, Wallowa, and Wheeler;
Moderate Risk (4): Curry, Douglas (Moved from High), Malheur (Moved from Lower), and Tillamook (Moved from High);
High Risk (9): Benton, Clatsop, Coos, Hood River (Moved from Moderate), Jefferson, Lincoln, Washington, Umatilla (Moved from Moderate), and Yamhill;
Extreme Risk (15): Baker (Moved from High), Clackamas (Moved from High), Columbia (Moved from High), Crook (Moved from High), Deschutes (Moved from High), Grant (Moved from Lower), Jackson (Moved from High), Josephine (Moved from High), Klamath (Moved from High), Lane (Moved from High), Linn (Moved from High), Marion (Moved from High), Multnomah (Moved from High), Polk (Moved from High), and Wasco (Moved from High).
Moving to “extreme risk” means:
- Indoor dining is prohibited. A maximum of 50 people can eat outdoors in groups of four at most.
- Faith institutions and funeral homes will have a maximum 25% occupancy or 100 people total, whichever is smaller, and an outdoor capacity of 150 people maximum.
- Entertainment establishments (theatres, aquariums, concert halls) 500 square feet or larger can have a total of six people (not including employees) in shared spaces. Employee capacity is limited to the minimum number of employees needed to operate the establishment. Venues smaller than 500 square feet have a customer capacity of one person total and an employee capacity of one. Venues of all sizes can no longer serve food or drink that is consumed on-site.
- Gyms 500 square feet or larger can have a maximum of six clients and require a minimum 25 feet physical distancing between households. Employee capacity is the minimum number of employees needed to operate the space. Gyms smaller than 500 square feet have client capacity of one and an employee capacity of one.
— The Oregonian/OregonLive and the Eugene Register-Guard contributed to this report