Oregon’s new COVID-19 rules start Thursday. Here’s what to know – OPB News

Oregons new COVID-19 rules start Thursday. Heres what to know - OPB

"),r.close()),!r)throw Error("base not supported");var a=r.createElement("base");a.href=n,r.getElementsByTagName("head")[0].appendChild(a);var i=r.createElement("a");return i.href=t,i.href}finally{e&&e.parentNode.removeChild(e)}}());var l=i(t||""),f=function(){if(!("defineProperties"in Object))return!1;try{var e={};return Object.defineProperties(e,{prop:{get:function(){return!0}}}),e.prop}catch(t){return!1}}(),h=f?this:document.createElement("a"),m=new o(l.search?l.search.substring(1):null);return m._url_object=h,Object.defineProperties(h,{href:{get:function(){return l.href},set:function(e){l.href=e,r(),u()},enumerable:!0,configurable:!0},origin:{get:function(){return"origin"in l?l.origin:this.protocol+"//"+this.host},enumerable:!0,configurable:!0},protocol:{get:function(){return l.protocol},set:function(e){l.protocol=e},enumerable:!0,configurable:!0},username:{get:function(){return l.username},set:function(e){l.username=e},enumerable:!0,configurable:!0},password:{get:function(){return l.password},set:function(e){l.password=e},enumerable:!0,configurable:!0},host:{get:function(){var e={"http:":/:80$/,"https:":/:443$/,"ftp:":/:21$/}[l.protocol];return e?l.host.replace(e,""):l.host},set:function(e){l.host=e},enumerable:!0,configurable:!0},hostname:{get:function(){return l.hostname},set:function(e){l.hostname=e},enumerable:!0,configurable:!0},port:{get:function(){return l.port},set:function(e){l.port=e},enumerable:!0,configurable:!0},pathname:{get:function(){return"/"!==l.pathname.charAt(0)?"/"+l.pathname:l.pathname},set:function(e){l.pathname=e},enumerable:!0,configurable:!0},search:{get:function(){return l.search},set:function(e){l.search!==e&&(l.search=e,r(),u())},enumerable:!0,configurable:!0},searchParams:{get:function(){return m},enumerable:!0,configurable:!0},hash:{get:function(){return l.hash},set:function(e){l.hash=e,r()},enumerable:!0,configurable:!0},toString:{value:function(){return l.toString()},enumerable:!1,configurable:!0},valueOf:{value:function(){return l.valueOf()},enumerable:!1,configurable:!0}}),h}var c,s=e.URL;try{if(s){if("searchParams"in(c=new e.URL("http://example.com"))){var f=new l("http://example.com");if(f.search="a=1&b=2","http://example.com/?a=1&b=2"===f.href&&(f.search="","http://example.com/"===f.href))return}"href"in c||(c=undefined),c=undefined}}catch(m){}if(Object.defineProperties(o.prototype,{append:{value:function(e,t){this._list.push({name:e,value:t}),this._update_steps()},writable:!0,enumerable:!0,configurable:!0},"delete":{value:function(e){for(var t=0;t1?arguments[1]:undefined;this._list.forEach(function(n){e.call(t,n.value,n.name)})},writable:!0,enumerable:!0,configurable:!0},toString:{value:function(){return r(this._list)},writable:!0,enumerable:!1,configurable:!0}}),"Symbol"in e&&"iterator"in e.Symbol&&(Object.defineProperty(o.prototype,e.Symbol.iterator,{value:o.prototype.entries,writable:!0,enumerable:!0,configurable:!0}),Object.defineProperty(u.prototype,e.Symbol.iterator,{value:function(){return this},writable:!0,enumerable:!0,configurable:!0})),s)for(var h in s)s.hasOwnProperty(h)&&"function"==typeof s[h]&&(l[h]=s[h]);e.URL=l,e.URLSearchParams=o}(),function(){if("1"!==new e.URLSearchParams([["a",1]]).get("a")||"1"!==new e.URLSearchParams({a:1}).get("a")){var r=e.URLSearchParams;e.URLSearchParams=function(e){if(e&&"object"==typeof e&&t(e)){var a=new r;return n(e).forEach(function(e){if(!t(e))throw TypeError();var r=n(e);if(2!==r.length)throw TypeError();a.append(r[0],r[1])}),a}return e&&"object"==typeof e?(a=new r,Object.keys(e).forEach(function(t){a.set(t,e[t])}),a):new r(e)}}}()}(self);}).call('object' === typeof window && window || 'object' === typeof self && self || 'object' === typeof global && global || {}); document.createElement("picture"); Most of Oregon is considered at extreme high risk, and thus faces significant limits on social gatherings, dining and work. Your browser does not support the audio element.

The temporary freeze Gov. Kate Brown implemented two weeks ago to curb the spread of COVID-19 is over as of Thursday. But new restrictions are coming as state leaders and public health officials wait to see if Thanksgiving gatherings added to the growing number of cases and prepare for the possibility of even greater risks over the Christmas and New Years holidays.

The new system is a bit more complicated than the freeze; its a four-tiered system based on how each of Oregons 36 counties is doing when it comes to tracking and testing for the virus.

The bulk of Oregon 25 counties, including the Portland region and much of the Willamette Valley, the Rogue Valley and Central Oregon are now classified as extreme high risk.

Related: Sector Risk Level Guidance Chart

For at least the next two weeks, the rules in those communities will look and feel similar to what has been in place since the governors freeze took effect.

Indoor dining is not allowed, and social gatherings are restricted to six people and no more than two households. Stores are limited to 50 percent capacity thats less than what was allowed over the past two weeks.

Gyms, movie theaters, bowling alleys and other indoor recreational spaces will remain closed. Indoor K-12 and college sports are prohibited. Some outdoor recreation, including outdoor gym classes, is allowed as long as they involve 50 or fewer people and social distancing rules are met.

Churches, synagogues and other faith organizations are limited to a maximum of 25% capacity or 100 people indoors, whichever is smaller, or 150 people for outdoor services.

Salons, chiropractors and other personal service industries are allowed to stay open with proper safety protocols in place. Nursing homes and assisted living centers can allow visitors.

Offices and other workplaces must make employees work remotely if possible.

Outdoor visits are allowed at nursing homes.

The guidelines are looser in places with less dangerous conditions. Some indoor dining is allowed in these 11 counties, as are some indoor sports. Stores and religious institutions are still limited in how many people they can allow in at once. Indoor visits are allowed at nrusing homes and assisted living facilities in lower-risk communities.

Only four counties Gilliam, Sherman, Wallowa and Wheeler are currently considered low risk. Even in those places, life is not back to pre-pandemic normal: The new restrictions limit social gatherings to 10 people or fewer in low risk counties, cap restaurant seating at 50% capacity and limit stores to 75% capacity.

State leaders and public health officials remain very worried about the next few weeks. Its too soon to tell if Thanksgiving gatherings will lead to a feared spike in cases. State regulators will reconsider the current limits and risk levels in two weeks, so the new limits are in place until at least Dec. 17.

The numbers continue to rise: The Oregon Health Authority reported 9,100 new daily cases over Thanksgiving week, the highest weekly total since the pandemic began.

Sign up to get important news and culture from around the Northwest, delivered to your inbox six days a week.

Oregon is now expected to be able to vaccinate more than 100,000 health care workers in December. That's three times what was expected just a month ago.

About 70,000 Oregonians are expected to lose unemployment benefits this month. Meanwhile, COVID-19 has hit the agency's largest claims center.

See the original post:

Oregon's new COVID-19 rules start Thursday. Here's what to know - OPB News