November 13, 2020 3:15 p.m.
On Friday Governor Kate Brown announced a statewide Two-Week Freeze, implementing new measures to limit social gatherings and stop the rapid spread of COVID-19 across Oregon.
A release said the new measures will be in effect from November 18th to December 2nd statewide. Brown said they are critical in limiting the spread of COVID-19, reducing risk in communities more vulnerable to serious illness and death, and helping conserve hospital capacity so that all Oregonians can continue to have access to quality care, according to the release.
Brown said some COVID-19 hotspot counties will likely need to stay in the Freeze for much longer than two weeks. She said that Multnomah County will be under the Freeze for at least four weeks.
Measures include:
*Limiting social get-togethers both indoors and outdoors, to no more than six people, total, from no more than two households
*Limiting faith-based organizations to a maximum of 25 people indoors or 50 people outdoors
*Limiting eating and drinking establishments to take-out and delivery only
*Closing gyms and fitness organizations
*Closing indoor recreational facilities, museums, indoor entertainment activities and indoor pools and sports courts
*Closing zoos, gardens, aquariums, outdoor entertainment activities and outdoor pools
*Limiting grocery stores, pharmacies, retail stores and retail malls to a maximum of 75 percent capacity and encouraging curbside pickup
*Closing venues that host or facilitate indoor or outdoor events
*Requiring all businesses to mandate work-from-home to the greatest extent possible, and closing offices to the public
*Prohibiting indoor visiting at long-term care facilities. Outdoor visitation is permitted for supporting quality of life
*The Freeze does not apply to or change current health and safety protocols for personal services such as barber shops, hair salons, and non-medical message therapy, congregate homeless sheltering, outdoor recreation and sports, youth programs, childcare, K-12 schools, K-12 sports currently allowed, current Division 1 and professional athletics exemptions and higher education – all of which continue operating under previous guidance issued by the Oregon Health Authority.
The release said for other permitted activities, OHA will be issuing sector-specific guidance within the next week.
Governor Brown’s full remarks are available with this link: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1j1WR4sxEMz35wVcWZIea0vQZ0LLNJXuN/view
A link to the press conference is posted with this link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=youtu.be&v=_et0zYftCsw&app=desktop