February 23, 2021 3:00 p.m. 

Douglas County will be back to the Extreme Risk level for COVID-19, under the updated risk levels announced by Governor Kate Brown on Tuesday.

Brown said 16 Oregon counties improved in risk level with 10 of those improving from Extreme Risk. A release said county risk levels under the state’s public health framework aim to reduce transmission and protect Oregonians from COVID-19. The framework uses four different risk level – Extreme Risk, High Risk, Moderate Risk, and Lower Risk – and assigns health and safety measures for each level.

From this Friday through March 11th, there will be five counties in the Extreme Risk level. Along with Douglas County, Benton, Coos, Jefferson and Josephine remain at Extreme Risk.

11 counties will be at High Risk, with 10 at Moderate Risk and 10 at Lower Risk. A complete list of counties and their associated risk levels is posted: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1kZKNpZJj9j2nkBPfmJT4OdOGYvnMFAkz/view

Douglas is one of only three counties in the state, to see it’s risk level increase. Curry and Harney counties are each moving from Lower Risk to Moderate Risk.

The next assignment of risk levels will be announced on March 9th and will take effect March 12th.