November 18, 2020 4:25 a.m.

Governor Kate Brown has issued an Executive Order following last week’s announcement of a statewide freeze to stop the rapid community spread of COVID-19 in Oregon.

A release said in light of increasing COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations, the order outlines “necessary risk reduction measures designed to limit gatherings and curb human contact”.

Brown said the new temporary measures, “…may seem daunting, but we are at a breaking point”. Brown said, “If we don’t take further action, we risk continued alarming spikes in infections and hospitalizations, and we risk the lives of our neighbors and loved ones”.

The Executive Order addresses the following in detail:

*Limiting at-home and social gatherings, as well as faith institutions

*Limiting the maximum capacity for grocery stores, pharmacies, and retail stores

*Restricting food and drink establishments to take-out only

*Requiring workplaces to mandate work-from-home as much as possible

*Closing certain businesses, including gyms, museums, zoos and indoor recreation facilities

The release said all of the freeze measures are enforceable by law upon both individuals and businesses, but the Governor is urging voluntary compliance.

Brown said, “I expect local law enforcement to continue to use an education first approach, but Oregonians need to understand that these rules are enforceable under law”. Brown said all Oregonians need to “…use common sense, make smart choices, and take seriously their individual responsibilities during a public health emergency”.

The full text of the Executive Order: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1bDrWpqXrkFpHOkk2-6SPdxv-My_CAoxd/view

In response, the Oregon State Sheriffs’ Association, The Oregon Association of Chiefs of Police, and the Oregon State Police issued a release encouraging all Oregonians to comply with the Governor’s Executive Order during the Two-Week Freeze.

Their release said business and workplace violations should be reported to Oregon OSHA while restaurant and bar violations should be reported to either OSHA or the OLCC.