PORTLAND — Gov. Kate Brown said Friday Oregon’s COVID-19 related restrictions will be lifted by June 30 or once 70 percent of adults in the state vaccinated with at least the first dose of a COVID-19 — whichever comes first.
This means statewide mask mandates, in most settings, will be lifted and there will no longer be capacity limits, required physical distancing or county risk levels.
“It means, effectively, that Oregon is 100 percent open for business,” Brown said during a news conference. “This is a pivotal moment for Oregon.”
For more than a year Oregon has faced some of the nation’s strictest COVID-19 related safety measures and restrictions — county risk levels, mask requirements inside and outside, limited gatherings and restaurants closed for indoor dining.
Currently most counties have a limited indoor dining, theaters, gyms and other indoor entertainment capacity of 50 percent. In addition indoor gatherings in those counties are limited to 10 people and retail store capacity is 75 percent.
In May Brown set a statewide vaccination target of 70 percent of Oregon’s residents who are 16 years and older receive the first COVID-19 vaccine dose, before the state fully reopens.
As of Thursday 68.9 percent of adults in Oregon vaccinated with at least the first dose of a COVID-19 shot. The state is about 35,000 more people away from reaching the governor’s vaccination goal. However the final stretch to reach the 70 percent target has turned into a crawl. Two weeks ago, the average number of people getting their shot for the first time was about 5,000 a day, according to the Oregon Health Authority.
Over the past seven weekdays — the number has dipped below 2,600.
If vaccinations continue at the current pace, it would take up to two weeks to reach the 70 percent goal.
But, there is finally a light at the end of the tunnel — with the governor announcing that even if the state does not reach the 70 percent target, the state will reopen on June 30.
Which outcome will occur first is being closely monitored as officials say backlogged vaccination data is being submitted.
However, officials also say that the historic and record heat this weekend will likely impact vaccination events, both the ability of providers to administer vaccines as well as patients seeking vaccine.
