Hood River County approved for Phase 2 starting June 19

She additionally said that the Oregon Health Authority (OHA) would "soon be issuing guidance requiring the wearing of face coverings for all individuals in indoor public settings in Hood River County," such as grocery stores and other businesses. Brown added that the guidance would be a mandate, going into effect Wednesday, June 24. 

This mandate will also be effective in Multnomah, Washington, Clackamas, Marion, Polk and Lincoln counties. Further guidelines on the mandate have yet to be released. 

The Hood River County Board of Commissioners voted 3-2 on June 8 to submit the county's Phase 2 application to the State of Oregon, with a requested Phase 2 entry date of June 12. But on June 11, Gov. Brown announced a one-week "statewide yellow-light" on all pending applications, which, at the time of the "pause," were Phase 2 applications from Hood River, Polk and Marion counties, and a Phase 1 application from Multnomah County. All four of these pending applications have since been approved.  

“I instituted the statewide pause because of the rising number of cases in both rural and urban communities. I did this to give public health experts time to assess what factors are driving the spread of the virus and make adjustments to our reopening strategy," said Brown in an official statement issued Thursday, June 18. 

Hood River County has seen an increase in new cases over the last week and is managing several simultaneous workplace outbreaks, including at least 45 known cases emanating from Duckwall Fruit in Odell.

According to OHA data released June 18, Hood River County has had 76 positive test results out of 1,987 tests conducted - which equates to 4 percent of tests coming back positive. 

Explaining her decision to approve Hood River, Marion and Polk counties for Phase 2, Brown stated, "Marion and Polk Counties are seeing a decline in hospitalizations, and Hood River has had only one new hospital admission in the past two weeks. All three counties have implemented timely follow up on cases in the past week." 

In Phase 2, gathering limits raise to 50 people indoors, and 100 people outdoors. Under Phase 1, the numbers were 25 and 50.

“The next few weeks will be difficult, and we will be monitoring the data regularly," said Brown. "We are much better prepared than we were in early March. We have increased PPE, much more widespread testing, and many more contact tracers. However, if hospitalizations spike too rapidly, if the capacity of our health care system is threatened, we will be forced to revert to stricter rules."

Brown encouraged Oregonians to continue following OHA safety protocols and social distancing guidelines.

“Our entire ability to reopen and stay open is dependent on whether each of us follows basic health and safety protections," she said. "Stay home if you feel sick, wear a face covering, keep six feet of distance, avoid crowds, and wash your hands regularly. We truly are all in this together.”