"We've Got More Work To Do": Masking Surveillance Underway In Lane Co.

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Benton Public Health officials say mandate or no, masking has become normalized in public indoor spaces.
Tiffany Eckert

Over the last two days, Lane County has seen 116 new COVID-19 cases and two reported deaths from the virus. Health officials say they have identified three established outbreaks around Halloween activities. A new surveillance effort indicates masking compliance remains an issue.

UPDATED: LCPH revised their first mask surveillance report with this correction: Facial covering use at the Bob Keefer Center in Springfield was counted only outdoors where the percentage was under 5%.

As we head into winter holiday season, the community is urged to reconsider all social gatherings. And when in *any public space—masking is required.

Lane County Public Health, in partnership with the University of Oregon, has begun a mask surveillance effort. Spokesperson Jason Davis said latest data shows 63.7% of residents are wearing masks properly, at any given time, in public settings.  

“With the increase in cases, we advise people to mask up whenever they’re in a park, or any other common space and just proactively wear that mask.”

Giving examples, Davis said mask compliance at Eugene Saturday Market is at 90% and recreational space outside at the Bob Keefer Center in Springfield is below 5%.  

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Tiffany joined the KLCC News team in 2007. She studied journalism at the University of Missouri-Columbia and worked in a variety of media including television, technical writing, photography and daily print news before moving to the Pacific Northwest.