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Mask Guidelines Get Some Clarification From Oregon Health Officials

Rachael McDonald
/
KLCC

Officials from the Oregon Health Authority released updated mask guidelinesTuesday.

OHA says businesses and churches can choose to no longer require masks and distancing for fully vaccinated people. OHA’s Doctor Dean Sidelinger said it’s up to those businesses to ask customers for proof of vaccination.

“For businesses that think this is too much of an administrative burden or they don’t want to be responsible for checking vaccination records they don’t have to review those records,” Sidelinger said. “They can continue to serve their customers to have their employees wear masks in these settings.”

Masks are still required at Oregon K-12 schools,  on public transportation, and in health care settings.

They’re no longer required outdoors, but health officials recommend people continue to wear a mask in crowded areas and in large gatherings. The new guidance follows last week’s Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announcement that fully vaccinated people could stop wearing masks and physical distancing in most public spaces. Oregonians have been required to wear masks inside public spaces and outside since last summer. 

Under new OHA guidelines, if counties meet the goal of 65% vaccinated among those 16 and older they can move to the low risk category for covid-19 restrictions.

Copyright 2021 KLCC.

Rachael McDonald is KLCC’s host for All Things Considered on weekday afternoons. She also is the editor of the KLCC Extra, the daily digital newspaper. Rachael has a BA in English from the University of Oregon. She started out in public radio as a newsroom volunteer at KLCC in 2000.
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