29 of Oregon's 36 counties have received approval by Gov. Kate Brown to begin a Phase One reopening.
Marion and Polk counties did not recieve approval to reopen. Murrow and Umatilla are still under review. Multnomah, Washington and Clackamas counties have not yet applied to reopen.
The first phase begins Friday, May 15th. The counties will be among the first in the state to start the process of reopening businesses after the mandated closures were issued by Governor Brown in her March 17th Executive Order #20-12.
At least 21 days must pass before counties can request moving to Phase Two. In order to keep moving through the phases, Oregon counties have to prove several key items, including: decreasing COVID-19 cases, and having the infrastructure and supplies to deal with a possible increase in infections.
Lane County’s COVID-19 Incident Commander Karen Gaffney says the application was “developed with the health and safety of our community as the topmost priority.”
Douglas County Commissioner Chris Boice says "This has been a tumultuous time for many of our citizens, as well as for the livelihood of our local businesses, but hopefully the reopening process will bring renewed life back into our struggling economy. Douglas County worked hard to make sure every aspect of managing the health and safety of our citizens was carefully prepared and organized in order to be on the forefront of the reopening process.”
