US: Oregon eases restrictions in five counties May 20 due to high COVID-19 vaccination levels /update 29

Officials in Oregon, US, ease COVID-19 restrictions in five counties May 20 due to high levels of vaccination.

Event

Authorities in Oregon have issued orders to ease COVID-19-related restrictions in five of the state's 36 counties effective May 20 due to the high share of the population within those jurisdictions who have been vaccinated against the virus. In the five counties of Benton, Deschutes, Hood River, Lincoln, and Washington, more than 65 percent of the population 16 years or older has received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine, a threshold that moves them to the Lower Risk level of restrictions.

Under Oregon's current system, authorities track COVID-19 infections and vaccinations within each of the state's counties and impose localized restrictions accordingly. Counties are categorized at one of four levels, ranging from the Lower Risk (or "green") level to the Extreme Risk (or "red") level, with each involving increasingly tight restrictions. For details on Oregon's COVID-19 risk level system, click here.

Effective May 20-27, the counties at each level will be:

Lower Risk (green): Benton, Deschutes, Gilliam, Harney, Hood River, Lake, Lincoln, Morrow, Sherman, Union, Wallowa, Washington, and Wheeler
Moderate Risk (yellow): Coos, Curry, Grant, Tillamook, and Wasco
High Risk (orange): Baker, Clackamas, Clatsop, Columbia, Crook, Douglas, Jackson, Jefferson, Josephine, Klamath, Lane, Linn, Malheur, Marion, Multnomah, Polk, Umatilla, and Yamhill
Extreme Risk (red): None

Statewide, authorities have also lifted the requirement for fully vaccinated residents to wear facemasks in most indoor settings, except in schools, healthcare facilities, and public transport; unvaccinated individuals must continue to wear them in all indoor public settings.

Authorities have indicated that once 70 percent of adults statewide have received at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine, most restrictions will be lifted.

Authorities could reimpose, extend, further ease, or otherwise amend any restrictions with little-to-no notice depending on disease activity over the coming weeks.