Oregon joined California’s COVID-19 Scientific Safety Review Workgroup, which would independently review the safety and efficacy of any vaccine approved by the FDA for distribution. (October 27)
Governor Brown announced that Oregon would receive 60,000 to 80,000 COVID-19 rapid tests per week until the end of the year. (October 6)
ECONOMIC RESPONSE
Essential Service Designations:
The State of Oregon has reached an agreement with several health insurance companies to continue providing expanded telehealth options through at least June 30, 2021. (December 17)
Under Governor Brown’s executive order, essential needs were listed as: hospitals and health care, grocery stores, banks and credit unions, pharmacies, take-out and delivery from restaurants and bars, pet stores, gas stations, certain retail stores, outdoor activities(such as walking your dog, jogging, or biking), and childcare facilities. (Oregon Coronavirus Page)
Labor & Workforce Guidance, Standards and Regulations:
Oregon released sector specific reopening guidelines, which can be found here.
Oregon OSHA announced it intends to repeal the basic face covering and physical distancing requirements of its COVID-19 rule when the state reaches 70 percent of its adults vaccinated against the virus with at least one dose. (June 7)
Oregon OSHA proposed an extension of protective measures against COVID-19 for workers who rely on housing provided by employers, including farm workers. (March 2)
Oregon OSHA adopted a temporary rule to combat the spread of COVID-19 in all workplaces by requiring employers to carry out a comprehensive set of risk-reducing measures. (November 6)
Governor Brown extended COVID-19 protections for agricultural workers in employer-provided housing through the off season. (October 23)
The Oregon Department of Consumer & Business Services announced the COVID-19 Temporary Paid Leave Program to help people who work in Oregon and need to quarantine or isolate due to COVID-19 exposure, but did not have access to COVID-19-related paid sick leave. (September 14)
Governor Brown announced the launch of a new source of financial assistance for agricultural workers who must self-quarantine in order to slow the spread of COVID-19. (August 1)
Oregon OSHA began accepting grant applications for the creation of innovative safety and health training, as well as education projects specifically designed to help combat the risk of infectious disease in the workplace. (July 31)
Economic Stimulus & Relief:
Governor Brown released a 10-Point Economic Recovery Plan for Oregon. (March 23)
Governor Brown established a moratorium on residential evictions for non-payment and other no-cause evictions between September 30 and December 31. (September 28)
Governor Brown extended protections from foreclosure for Oregon homeowners through executive action until December 31. (August 31)
Business Support & Resources:
Governor Brown announced the Oregon Department of Revenue would eliminate penalties and interests on 2019 income tax due from Oregon businesses who were struggling to pay tax bills amid COVID-19 restrictions. (December 14)
Governor Brown announced the state would commit $55 million in financial assistance to support Oregon businesses who have been impacted by COVID-19 restrictions. (November 17)
Governor Brown extended protections from foreclosure for Oregon business owners through executive action until December 31. (August 31)
SOCIAL RESTRICTIONS
Reopening:
A full list outlining which counties are in Phase 1, 2, and 3 or reopening can be found here.
Oregon will lift most state restrictions and move away from a state-led emergency COVID-19 response effort after reaching a 70 percent vaccination rate. (June 4)
Effective June 4 through June 10, 13 Oregon counties will be at the High Risk level, four will be at Moderate Risk, and 19 will be at Lower Risk. (June 1)
Governor Brown announced that the Oregon Health Authority would revise health and safety protocols for businesses in Lower Risk counties to allow for the option of creating vaccinated sections. (May 24)
Beginning May 21, counties will have the option to move to the Lower Risk health and safety restrictions in Oregon’s Risk Level Framework on a weekly basis. (May 11)
Governor Brown extended her declaration of a state of emergency for COVID-19 until June 28 unless rescinded or extended. (April 29)
Governor Brown announced that all Oregonians 16 years of age or older would be eligible to sign up for a COVID-19 vaccine on April 19. (April 6)
Oregon announced it would expand COVID-19 vaccine eligibility to include all family members of frontline workers. (April 2)
On April 5, all residents in Phase 1B Group 7 became eligible to receive the COVID-19 vaccine. (March 26)
Beginning March 8 and continuing until further notice, counties that improved from Extreme Risk to any other risk level in the latest two-week period, and that are facing a move back to Extreme Risk in the next two-week period, would be given a two-week extension at their current risk level. (March 4)
Governor Brown announced the prioritization for the next groups of Oregonians to be included in the state’s COVID-19 vaccine distribution schedule, including residents with underlying health conditions and frontline workers. (February 26)
Governor Brown extended her state of emergency declaration for COVID-19 for 60 days, until May 2. (February 25)
Oregon launched a new online tool to help people determine vaccine eligibility and to sign up for email alerts and text notifications when they become eligible. (February 5)
Governor Brown announced that Oregon would expand COVID-19 vaccinations to include all individuals age 65 and older. (January 12)
Governor Brown activated the Oregon National Guard to support vaccination efforts. (January 8)
Governor Brown issued an executive order that limited at-home and social gatherings, reduced the maximum capacity for grocery stores, pharmacies, and retail stores, restricted food and drink establishments to take-out only, required workplaces to mandate work-from-home as much as possible, and closed certain businesses, including gyms, museums, zoos, and indoor recreation facilities. (November 17)
Governor Brown issued a travel advisory urging visitors entering the state or returning home from travel outside the state to self-quarantine to slow the spread of the virus. (November 13)
SCHOOL PLANNING
K-12:
Governor Brown issued an executive order requiring all Oregon public schools to offer universal access to hybrid or full in-person instruction by the weeks of March 29 for grades K-5, and April 19 for grades 6-12. (March 12)
Governor Brown, Senate President Courtney, and House Speaker Kotekannounced a restorative $250 million Summer Learning and Child Care package. (March 8)
Governor Brown directed all Oregon public schools to offer universal access to in-person instruction on or before the weeks of March 29 for K-5 students and April 19 for students in grades 6-12. (March 5)
Governor Brown announced that most elementary school students would return to classrooms at least part-time by the end of April. (February 19)
Outdoor contact school sports were allowed to resume with precautions in place in schools that have returned to classrooms for at least limited in-person instruction. (February 10)
Governor Brown directed the Oregon Department of Education and the Oregon Health Authority to implement several new policy initiatives, with the goal of putting more school districts on track to return students to in-person instruction by February 15. (December 22)
Governor Brown announced updates to Oregon’s school metrics that would allow more students to return to classroom instruction with health and safety measures in place. (October 30)
Officials at the Oregon Health Authority and the Oregon Department of Education said that certain counties would be allowed to have in-person instruction to one-fifth of its students. Due to population sizes, Multnomah, Clackamas, Washington and Lane counties would still excluded. (October 30)
State Higher Education:
A list of Oregon universities and colleges that planned to reopen in the fall can be found here.
Produced by Marathon Strategies, an independent PR firm that delivers intelligent communications and research solutions. For information, email Phil Singer at [email protected]
