State Legislators from Lane County hosted about 130 people in a virtual town hall Tuesday evening, to address questions about restarting public life as cases of COVID-19 decrease in parts of Oregon.
To enter Phase One, which allows small gatherings and limited operations for some businesses, a county must prove decreased cases, increased testing and tracing, and enough hospital capacity.
Karen Gaffney, Director of Lane County Health and Human Services, says, “It sounds like we will be able as early as Friday to submit our application to be able to move into Phase One, with the expectation that if it gets approval through the Health Authority and the Governor’s office that we would be able to move to Phase One as early as May 15th.”
Gaffney says Lane County will follow the state’s guidance on restaurants and parks, and will not ask for exceptions.
A spokesperson for Governor Kate Brown says later this week, the Governor will announce specific steps for the public and for businesses during Phase One.
