August 20, 2020 9:45 a.m.

Governor Kate Brown has announced that Umatilla County will move from Baseline Stay Home status to Phase 1, effective on Friday.

Brown said the county has succeeded in reducing the spread of COVID-19.

A release said Umatilla County was placed on baseline status on July 31th due to the dramatic community spread of COVID-19 during July. In the past three weeks, the county has reported:

*Test positivity has gone down from 32 percent to 18.8 percent

*Total weekly cases have dropped from 320 to 166

*Case rate per 100,000 is down from 394 to 205

*Sporadic case rate per 100,000 is down from 94 to 58

Brown said as the county re-enters Phase 1, its important that all community members be vigilant and follow the orders and guidelines that have been put in place to protect health and save lives.

The county will remain in Phase 1 for at least 21 days. The release said the Governor’s office, along with public health experts, will review the situation and data on a weekly basis and remain in close communication with county leaders.