Officials in Lincoln County say they expect the county to be moved into the “extreme risk” category for the coronavirus when the state updates the list next week.
Lincoln County Health Department director Rebecca Austen told commissioners this week that a continued surge in COVID-19 cases is bad news for the area. “We can probably get the award for going into 2021 on the worst foot possible," she said. "We're kind of bouncing in the wrong direction here."
Right now Lincoln County is considered “high risk.” If the county is downgraded to “extreme risk,” restaurants could no longer offer indoor dining. Gyms and indoor recreational establishments would have to close, and outdoor recreational establishments would have to reduce capacity from 75 people to 50 people. Additionally, inside visitation at long-term care facilities would no longer be permitted.
"I'm very worried," said Lincoln County Board Of Commissioners Chair Kaety Jacobson.
Still, Jacobson noted that county had a spike in cases earlier in the pandemic, though not to this level. "Unfortunately, this is not our first rodeo, so we have been down this before," she said. "Previously our community has come down from high case loads in the past. I hope that people heed the messages we always talk about," in terms of following safety protocols.
Based on number posted on the Oregon Health Authority's website, Benton County is also on track to move from "high risk" to "extreme risk" with the next update. Most Oregon counties, including Lane, Linn, Deschutes and Douglas, are already considered "extreme risk" and will likely stay that way through the rest of December.
