December 18, 2020 3:45 a.m.

On Thursday, Oregon Governor Kate Brown extended her declaration of a state of emergency regarding COVID-19 for an additional 60 days, until March 3rd.

A release said the previous executive order was set to expire on January 2nd.

Brown said, “As we near 100,000 cases of COVID-19 in Oregon, and with hospitals and health care workers stretched to their limits, there is no doubt that COVID-19 continues to pose a public health threat”. Brown said the state continues to lose too many Oregonians to the disease, including over 100 reported deaths in the last two days.

Brown said, “These are the darkest days of this pandemic. And yet, hope has arrived. Beginning this week, each time another Oregonian is vaccinated against COVID-19, we are a step closer to the day when we can return to normal life”. Brown said in the meantime, residents must keep up their guard. She asked Oregonians to protect friends and loved ones by following current health and safety protocols including wearing a face covering, avoiding gatherings, and staying home when sick. Brown said, “…together we can drive down COVID-19 infections and save lives”.

The release said the declaration is the legal underpinning for the Governor’s COVID-19 executive orders and the Oregon Health Authority’s health and safety guidance. It also includes orders around childcare, schools, and higher education operations. Extending the state of emergency declaration allows those orders to stay in effect.

Emergency orders are reviewed and reevaluated every 60 days to determine whether those orders should be continued, modified or rescinded. The findings of this review process are linked here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/12gm1Dhfrls9uXLW76VqzoTKYhm_8_lHc/view