Update: Jefferson County joins Deschutes, Crook in Phase 1 reopening Friday

(Update: Adding Jefferson County, other approvals, governor's news release)

PORTLAND, Ore. (KTVZ) -- A total of 28 Oregon counties, including Deschutes and Crook, have received state approval of Phase 1 business reopening plans, Gov. Kate Brown said Friday. A few hours later, after providing more details to the governor's office, Jefferson County became the 29th to be approved.

Brown had told reporters that two counties fell short, while three others, including Jefferson, were still pending and three Portland-area counties had not yet applied.

Jefferson County Commissioner Kelly Simmelink said the county learned for the first time on a phone call Thursday morning with Brown's staff that they needed more detailed data regarding contact tracing of active cases.

Simmelink said the state officials indicated they'd review the response and offer feedback by the end of the day Thursday. "Please know that we are working every possible angle and fully cooperating," Simmelink said.

After that information was provided, Jefferson County, too, got the letter Gov. Brown sent to all of the approved counties, thanking them for their hard work.

Acknowledging the severe impact on Oregonians’ lives and income, Brown told reporters, “This has been extraordinarily difficult, for all of us -- but it is saving lives.”

“Our success so far gives me confidence as we take the next steps toward reopening,” the governor said, noting that the state issued new guidance Wednesday for child care and will do so soon for transit, youth summer camps, summer school and operation of gyms in Phase 1 counties. All will be available at http://coronavirus.oregon.gov.

“Most retail businesses were never required to close, but many did – thank you,” she said. Also, Brown urged all businesses that have people working from home to continue to do so, calling it a “very important” element to continue curbing the spread of COVID-19.

The detailed plans and applications by 33 counties were reviewed by the state for completeness and the details by the Oregon Health Authority’s team of medical and public health experts.

Brown said she approved Phase 1 reopening applications from Baker, Benton, Clatsop, Columbia, Coos, Crook, Curry, Deschutes, Douglas, Gilliam, Grant, Harney, Hood River, Jackson, Josephine, Klamath, Lake, Lane, Lincoln, Linn, Malheur, Sherman, Tillamook, Union, Wallowa, Wasco, Wheeler and Yamhill counties.

Two other counties that applied have not yet met the criteria, Marion and Polk. Multnomah, Washington and Clackamas counties have not yet applied. The applications by the three other counties, Jefferson, Umatilla and Morrow, were still under review, she said, and they were asked to provide more information.

Brown said she hoped to make a decision on those as soon as possible -- and by afternoon, Umatilla and Morrow county officials said they'd won approvals, bringing the tally to 31 of the state's 36 counties.

"I've been in this job long enough to know I'm not here to make everyone happy," Brown said. “My job is to make hard decisions, even if they’re unpopular,” and “when it comes to public health, the buck stops right here,” pointing to herself.

“We are all much better prepared now than we were before going through this exercise,” Brown said, but “we must remain vigilant.”

Restaurants and bars can open in Phase 1 counties for sit-down service, as long as they maintain six feet physical distance, serve parties of no more than 10 people, require all workers to wear face coverings and end on on-site consumption by 10 p.m.

Personal care businesses such as barbers and salons can reopen if they screen clients prior to service (asking if they are sick, etc.), limit business to scheduled appointments, record a client list, maintain distance and require providers to wear face coverings. Gyms can reopen in limited capacity if they maintain distance, close all showers and pools and “have very strong cleaning protocols in place.”

Other gatherings that previously were limited to 10 people can now have up to 25, as long as physical distancing is maintained.

“Let me be clear: Some people will see these rules and say we’re still being too restrictive,” the governor said. “Others will hear the exact same information and say we’re moving too quickly to reopen.

“I’ve been in this job long enough to know that if I tried to please everyone, nothing would get done,” Brown said.

The governor again noted that the reopening carries risk and likely to lead to more cases, but said any surge in cases will be addressed as the state continues to monitor every county’s situation.

“The virus is still very dangerous, and until there’s a reliable treatment or vaccine, we won’t be able to go back to life as we knew it,” she said.

The counties entering Phase 1 reopening will be monitored for at least three weeks before any can propose to move toward more relaxed restrictions under Phase 2 guidelines under development.

"People need to know that if there is a significant spike in cases in a community, a spike that cannot be addressed and contained via contact tracing and quarantine, that we may need to put the stay-at-home rules back in place, in order to contain the virus," Brown said.

“I know this is a tough reality to face,” she said. “We are venturing out onto thin ice, and we need to step carefully and cautiously.”

And she again called on everyone to continue wearing face coverings “because we are on the lockout for ourselves, our family and neighbors.”

OHA Director Patrick Allen said the curve remains flattened and test results continue to rise, at more than 4,000 lab results received Wednesday. The larger number of tests mean more positive cases, but also a relatively smaller percentage of positive tests, down to 3 percent this week, “meaning we can quickly identify people who are sick."

Since some people might see this Phase 1 start as freedom to travel, Brown again stressed, especially to residents of the Portland area, “to be thoughtful of fellow Oregonians: Stay home, and limit travel to essential needs. I know this is hard, but we obviously don’t want to overwhelm the rest of Oregon by traveling outside the metro area.”

Asked about plans to reopen schools in the fall, Brown said guidance is still being developed to “make sure we can get children back into school at the outside of next school year. … I think the challenge is, it might look a little different than it used to in our pre-COVID life.”

Another reporter asked why Deschutes County was approved, even with fewer than the Phase 1 requirement of 15 contact tracers per 100,000 residents.

Allen said other factors also come into play, such as the number of cases in the county, their success over the past week and longer period, of being able to conduct contact tracing of 95 percent of a cases contacts within 24 hours. If shy of that contact tracing staff ratio, counties need a “solid plan to be able to ramp up that capacity,” he said, “rather than make them hire people without something for them to do” at present.

Asked about how salons are to screen clients, Dr. Dean Sidelinger, state epidemiologist, said it’s mainly asking questions before a customer comes in, to find out how they are feeling and to ask that they not come in and reschedule if they are sick. Some businesses may choose to take customers’ temperatures when they arrive, but Sidelinger said that’s “not something we require. We want them to have that dialog ahead of time.”

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News release from Gov. Kate Brown's office:

Governor Kate Brown Announces Phase I Counties Reopening

County updates and guidance available at coronavirus.oregon.gov

(Portland, OR)—Governor Kate Brown announced today the counties that can begin entering Phase I of reopening on May 15 under her framework for building a safe and strong Oregon. Qualifying counties demonstrated that they met all of Oregon’s safety and preparedness prerequisites for reopening, as well as a declining prevalence of COVID-19.

"In each of these counties we will continue to monitor testing rates, effectiveness at contract tracing and isolation of new cases, hospitalization rates and other metrics that are required to remain open in Phase One," said Governor Brown. “I am focused on protecting the health and safety of Oregonians, while understanding that job losses have a negative impact on public health––both physical and emotional health.”

Of the 33 counties that applied to reopen on May 15, 28 counties were approved. (Three Portland Metro-area counties did not apply to reopen on May 15.) Three applications are pending review today. The applications for Marion and Polk counties were not approved, and those counties will be monitored for seven days to see if conditions in those counties have improved. Full county application information is available here.

County Reopening Status Lists and Guidance Documents Available at coronavirus.oregon.gov

Oregonians can view the reopening status of their county, as well as sector-specific guidance documents with more information about the reopening process, at coronavirus.oregon.gov.

Available information includes:

• County reopening status
• Completed county applications
• Statewide guidance on businesses and activities open across Oregon
• County guidance for reopening businesses and activities approved for Phase I

Statewide Guidelines
In counties not entering Phase I the following guidelines take effect or remain in effect beginning May 15:

• Grocery stores, pharmacies, banks and credit unions, and gas stations are all open.
• Restaurants are open for take-out service only.
• Stand alone retail operations are open provided they meet required safety and physical distancing guidelines.
• Indoor and outdoor malls are closed.
• Local outdoor recreation activities are open, including many state parks.
• Non-emergency medical care, dentist offices and veterinary care are open and operating, provided they meet required safety guidelines.
• Local cultural, civic and faith gatherings are allowed for up to 25 people provided physical distancing can be in place.
• Local social gatherings over 10 people are prohibited and those under 10 people must use physical distancing.
• Personal care services such as salons and barbers, as well as gyms, are closed.
• Child care is open under certain restrictions, with priority placements for children of health care workers, first responders, and frontline workers.
• Summer camp and summer school program guidelines are forthcoming.

Phase I Counties
In counties approved for Phase I, the following additional areas can operate if they comply with sector-specific health and safety guidance beginning May 15:

• Restaurants, bars, and other such establishments for dine-in service until 10 pm
• Personal services businesses
• All retail businesses, including malls and shopping centers
• Gyms and other fitness facilities
• Local gatherings of up to 25 people

Gyms and Fitness Guidance
Gyms and other fitness facilities in counties that have reopened for Phase I will be required to follow new health and safety guidance as well. The new guidance is available here.

Finalized guidance documents, as well as updates to county reopening statuses will be posted to the website on an ongoing basis.

A full copy of Governor Brown’s remarks is available here.

Video of Governor Brown’s press availability is available here.

Governor Brown’s executive order to build a safe and strong Oregon is available here.

A video presentation explaining the phased reopening process is available here.