Oregon Governor Kate Brown took the dramatic step Thursday night by announcing that she will re-send eastern Oregon Umatilla County to her home state after a six-week blitz of coronavirus cases.
Brown said neighboring Morrow County will return to Phase 1 of reopening.
The measures mark Brown’s first actions to reinstate restrictions for selected counties after she began lifting the limitations on May 15. The restrictions will take effect on Friday and will be in effect for 21 days.
“COVID-19 has spread dramatically in Umatilla and Morrow counties in the past month,” Brown said in a statement. “My heart goes out to the families in Morrow County, Umatilla County and the Confederate tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation who have been affected by this disease.
“If we don’t act immediately, we could see the virus spread even faster, infecting and killing more members of the community,” he said. “I know this is difficult news for business owners and working families in the region.”
It’s unclear what prompted Brown to act Thursday in a press release issued at 7:39 p.m., more than five hours after Oregon health officials suggested the state had seen a relatively positive week in his fight. against the pandemic.
Cases had been piling up in both jurisdictions for weeks, with a most notable high number in Umatilla County, which has recorded more than 1,900 confirmed or suspected infections.
Authorities announced 101 new infections for Umatilla County on Thursday, but said the count was due to a delay in the processing results. Wednesday’s total was just four.
Umatilla County had been in Phase 2 reopening, but is now returning to the reference state, as Brown ordered from March through May 15. Businesses are supposed to implement telecommuting options for employees, restaurants can only offer takeout and delivery service, and residents are supposed to stay home as much as possible. Social gatherings are limited to 10 people, church gatherings are limited to 25, and gyms and playgrounds must close.
Grocery and retail stores, gas stations and banks are among the businesses that may remain open.
Meanwhile, Morrow County will move from Phase 2 to Phase 1. Among other things, movie theaters and bowling alleys must be closed.
Brown said both counties have cumulative coronavirus case counts of more than 2 per 100 residents. Umatilla County’s percentage of positive tests in the past week was 23%, while it was 30% in Morrow County, he said, approximately five to six times above the state average.
Meanwhile, about half of the cases in the past week do not go back to a known source.
“After weeks of trying other measures to control the disease, our only option is to temporarily close certain businesses and other community amenities,” said Brown. “I hope that these measures help the community to control the spread of COVID-19 quickly.”
Umatilla and Morrow counties had been identified by President Trump’s coronavirus special force as “red zones,” according to a July 26 report obtained by The New York Times. The feds also designated Malheur and Jefferson counties in red numbers.
The federal government recommends that counties in the red zone close bars and gyms, institute routine weekly tests for all nursing home workers, and track contacts and contact tests in areas with the highest case rates.
– Brad Schmidt; [email protected]; 503-294-7628; @_brad_schmidt
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