June 1, 2021 4:50 p.m. 

Douglas County will remain at High Risk level for COVID-19, as Governor Kate Brown announced updates to county risk levels on Tuesday.

Effective this Friday through Thursday June 10th, there will be 13 counties at High Risk level, 4 at Moderate Risk and 19 at Lower Risk. Clatsop County moves to Lower Risk while Lane and Polk counties move to Moderate Risk. A complete list of counties and their risk levels are linked: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1V3oOCGKuT9tZHC1Y2cRHhPRWe5pHwVkL/view

Brown said that thanks to the number of Oregonians that have been vaccinated, Oregon’s case rates have continued to decline. Brown said, “But COVID-19 remains a serious threat to unvaccinated individuals and communities with low vaccination rates. If you have been waiting to get vaccinated, go get your shot today”.

On May 11th, Governor Brown announced that counties that vaccinate at least 65 percent of their adult residents with at least one dose and submit documentation on how they will close equity gaps in vaccination efforts are eligible to move to the Lower Risk level. A release said while additional counties have submitted equity plans this week, none of those counties achieved the 65 percent threshold needed to move to Lower Risk this week.

County risk level changes will be announced every week. The next risk level changes will be announced on Tuesday June 8th to take effect on Friday June 11th. Counties facing moves back up to higher risk levels this week are in a warning week only, giving county health partners an additional week to focus efforts on driving case numbers back down before additional health and safety restrictions are renewed.

The release said when Oregon achieves a first dose 70 percent statewide vaccination rate for residents 18 or older, Oregon will lift all risk level health and safety restrictions. Some restrictions based on Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidance for use of masks and physical distancing may remain in place.