January 26, 2021 1:30 p.m.(updated Jan 27 3:15 a.m.)

Douglas County remains at the High-Risk level for COVID-19, as Governor Kate Brown announced updates to the county risk levels on Tuesday.

Brown said the risk levels are part of the state’s framework to reduce transmission and protect Oregonians from COVID-19. The framework uses four different risk levels – Extreme, High, Moderate and Lower risk, and assigns health and safety measures for each level.

From this Friday through February 11th there will be 25 counties at the Extreme Risk level, two – including Douglas – at High Risk, one at Moderate Risk and eight at Lower Risk. Only four counties are changing their risk level status due to the update. Curry County and Lake County both moved to Lower Risk from the Moderate level. Tillamook County moved to Lower Risk from Extreme Risk. Grant County moved to Moderate Risk from the lower level.

Brown said most of the state remains at the Extreme Risk category. She said, ‘This is an important reminder for all Oregonians to continue to do their part by abiding with the health and safety guidelines in place”. Brown said until vaccines are widely available with high participation rates, “…the surest way to lower our risk and open our businesses and communities is to continue practicing the measures we know are effective in reducing the spread of COVID-19”. She said that included wearing masks, keeping physical distance from others, avoiding gatherings, washing hands often and staying home when sick.

The Oregon Health Authority will examine and publish county data weekly. County risk levels will be reassigned every two weeks. The first week’s data will provide a “warning week” to prepare counties for possible risk level changes. The next assignment of risk levels will be announced February 9th and take effect February 11th.

A complete list of counties and their associated risk level is posted: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1JTmKsfxxRqy5RODJXhoeYWsnn0JHv7vB/view