September 4, 2021 7:50 a.m. 

On Friday, Governor Kate Brown urged Oregonians to stay safe over the Labor Day weekend.

Brown said the weekend is traditionally a time for residents to celebrate the achievements of working families and relax, explore and “…enjoy everything our great state has to offer before the end of summer”.

Brown said, “This year, with the highly contagious Delta variant surging and our hospitals and health care workers stretched to their absolute limits treating COVID-19 patients, we all have a personal responsibility to watch out for the health and safety of our friends, neighbors, and loved ones”.

Brown said it is safest for unvaccinated residents to stay close to home and to not gather with people from other households this weekend. She said vaccinated residents should still wear a mask.

Brown said residents should also rethink activities that could put them at risk for a physical injury, due to many hospitals and emergency departments being full, because of COVID-19 cases.