September 4, 2020 4:30 a.m.

Oregon Governor Kate Brown updated the County Watch List on Thursday.

Brown said Baker County had succeeded in reducing the spread of COVID-19 sufficiently enough to be removed from the list.

After consultation with the Oregon Health Authority, Brown added a new prerequisite for entering Phase 2. A release said the original prerequisites for Phase 2 were based on trend-based metrics. At that time, counties had a relatively low infection rate. As reopening progressed, case counts have risen. The new prerequisite is that counties with more than 100 cases must have their case counts reduced to 100 cases or less per 100,000 people per week.

Over the past two weeks, Morrow County had had a total of 46 cases which is a rate of 362.7 per 100,000 people. In that same time, Umatilla County has had a total of 236 cases which is a rate of 292.1 per 100,000 people. Both counties have also reported large workplace outbreaks.

Due to those high case counts, Brown said Morrow and Umatilla counties will remain in Phase 1.

No counties were added to the Watch List this week. Jackson, Jefferson, Malheur, Morrow and Umatilla counties remain on the County Watch List.