Sean C. Morgan
With the number of persons testing positive for COVID-19 in Oregon reaching 191 as of Monday morning, Gov. Kate Brown issued an executive order requiring Oregonians to stay at home, closing businesses and requiring social distancing measures.
A resident of the Oregon Veterans’ Home in Lebanon died Saturday morning, the first in Linn County and the fifth in the state. Linn County had a total of 20 persons test positive as of Monday morning.
Out of 3,840 tests, 3,649 persons tested negative in the state as of Monday morning.
In Sweet Home, the city closed its parks, said City Manager Ray Towry.
“We’re more worried about the equipment. I think we can’t guarantee it’s sanitized as it should be as a public space.”
That option had been under discussion since the city began stepping up its response, Towry said, but the city left parks open due to concerns that it would be the only place to use restrooms for some.
Additionally, the closure follows the governor’s executive orders issued Monday morning.
The City Council canceled its meeting scheduled for Tuesday, March 24, and police have stopped handling animal complaints.
The reason is the virus threat, said Police Chief Jeff Lynn.
“Unknown if it lives on fur for very long, and when dealing with dogs, officers often have to get up close and personal with them to get them into the vehicles. We will always respond to an aggressive dog call.”
Oregon businesses are now eligible for economic injury disaster loans to help meet their financial obligations and expenses. Loans are available up to $2 million over terms as long as 30 years.
City officials are considering a grant program that could cover some or all of the interest charged on these loans. Anyone interested should contact Community and Economic Development Director Blair Larsen at [email protected].
Statewide, “in a short time, COVID-19 has spread rapidly,” Gov. Kate Brown said in her order Monday. “Additionally some Oregonians are not adhering to social distancing guidance provided by the Oregon Health Authority, as represented by crowds this last weekend at the Oregon coast, Smith Rock State Park, the Columbia River Gorge and other places around the state.”
To slow the spread of the virus and to protect the health and lives of Oregonians, particularly those at the highest risk, Brown said, and to help avoid overwhelming local and regional healthcare capacity, she issued the order to reduce person-to-person interaction.
Calling it “Stay Home, Save Lives,” Brown’s order includes the following, most effective Tuesday morning:
– Non-essential social and recreational gatherings of individuals outside of a home or place of residence are immediately prohibited, regardless of size, if a minimum of 6 feet between individuals cannot be maintained.
– Individuals are directed to minimize movement other than essential travel or among a home, residence or workplace; to obtain food, shelter, consumer needs, education, healthcare or emergency services; for essential business or government services; for the care of family members, household members, elderly person, minors, dependents, persons with disabilities or other vulnerable persons, pets or livestock; and other essential travel consistent with the directives of the executive orders and guidance by the Oregon Health Authority.
– Individuals are prohibited from patronizing businesses that are closed pursuant to the executive order.
– When individuals need to leave their homes or residences, they should at all times maintain a distance of 6 feet from any person who is not a member of their immediate household to the greatest extend possible.
– Individuals may go outside for recreational activities, like walking and hiking, but those are limited to where there is no contact with other persons. Activities where social distancing of 6 feet cannot be maintained are prohibited.
– Business that remain open must designate an employee to enforce social distancing policies. Those that do not will be closed until they demonstrate compliance. This provision does not apply to grocery, healthcare, medical or pharmacy services.
– Work in offices is prohibited whenever telework and work-at-home options are available in light of position duties, availability of teleworking equipment and network adequacy. Where employees must work, an employee must implement and enforce social distancing polices consistent with guidance by the Oregon Health Authority. Failure to do so will result in closure until they can demonstrate compliance.
– All state government executive offices and buildings must follow similar guidelines for working at home. Where personal contact between staff and the public is required, it should be by appointment when possible while maintaining social distance.
– Childcare services must be carried out in maximum “stable” groups of 10 or fewer children in a classroom that cannot be accessed by children outside the stable group. Childcare providers must prioritize the needs of first responders, emergency workers and healthcare professionals followed by critical operations staff and essential personnel with guidance provided by the Oregon Department of Education Early Learning Division.
– All private and public campgrounds are closed, but it does not prohibit camp hosts and veterans from remaining in state campgrounds or extend to RV parks and other housing.
– All pools, skate parks, outdoor sports courts and playground equipment areas are closed.
– Public recreational areas remain open but must be posted with signs requiring social distancing. They must have trash cans, soap and water and sanitizer available. Users must adhere strictly to social distancing requirements.
Violation of the order is a class C misdemeanor.
The order officially prohibits the operation of amusement parts, aquariums, arcades, art galleries except by appointment, barber shops and hair salons, cosmetic stores, dance studios, esthetician practices, fraternal organization facilities, furniture stores, gyms and fitness studios, hookah bars, indoor and outdoor malls, indoor party places, jewelry shops and boutiques unless they provide goods exclusively through pickup or deliver service, medical spas, facial spas, day spas, non-medical massage therapy services, museums, nail and tanning salons, non-tribal card rooms, skating rinks, senior activity centers, ski resorts, social and private clubs, tattoo and piercing parlors, tennis clubs, theaters, yoga studies and youth clubs.
Restaurants, bars, taverns, brew pubs, wine bars, cafes, food courts, coffee shops and similar establishments remain subject to a previous executive order that prohibits on-site consumption but allows takeout and delivery services.
Indoor and outdoor malls are not prohibited from providing food, grocery, healthcare, medical, pharmacy or pet store services.