Oregon governor announces more COVID-19 restrictions

(NOVEMBER 7, 2020) Every day more people in Oregon learn that they have coronavirus or COVID-19. This rate (the number of new infections per day) has increased lately. On Saturday, November 6, it was the highest since the pandemic began earlier this year. Oregon reported 988 new infections that day and 13 deaths.

Dean Sidelinger is the state epidemiologist. He studies diseases. He said the data is clear. More people are gathering together indoors. They are letting their guard down. That means more risks. For example, they may get together with people outside their household without masks.

Kate Brown is the governor of Oregon. On Friday, she announced a "pause" on social activities for two weeks.

"Let me be clear, we cannot allow this disease to continue to spread so rapidly in our communities. Lives are at stake,” said the governor.

The new restrictions begin November 11. They last until November 25 in Malheur, Marion, Multnomah, Jackson, and Umatilla counties. The governor may add other counties if the numbers do not improve.

The new rules include:

• stopping visits to long-term care facilities

• allowing fewer people to eat indoors at restaurants

• encouraging more people to work at home

• encouraging people not to gather together with people from outside their household (and, if they do, limit it to six people)

“This two week pause is really a wakeup call for everyone I think, to show them just how serious the situation is right now,” said Charles Boyle. He works for the governor’s office. “This is the step before we need to consider additional closures.”