SALEM, Oregon (KTVZ) – Gov. Kate Brown on Tuesday announced updates to provincial risk levels under the state public health framework to reduce transmission and protect Oregonians from COVID-19, bringing back 10 counties, including Crook and Jefferson. the “high risk” level, due to a deterioration in the number of cases.
The framework uses four different risk levels for counties based on COVID-19 distribution – extreme risk, high risk, moderate risk, and lower risk – and assigns health and safety measures for each level.
From April 23 through May 6, there will be 23 counties with a High Risk level, three with medium risk and 10 with a lower risk. As cases and hospitalizations increase and counties qualify for higher levels of risk, increased security measures for businesses and operations will resume.
The 10 counties moved to the High Risk category are: Baker, Clatsop, Columbia, Crook, Jefferson, Lane, Polk, Wasco, Washington, and Yamhill.
A full list of counties and their associated risk levels is available here.
“As we face more infectious variants and a wider spread of COVID-19 in our communities, the best way to protect yourself and others is vaccination,” said Brown. “Until you, your family, your friends and your neighbors are fully vaccinated, it is also critical that we all continue to wear masks, keep physical distance and stay at home when we are sick.”
Statewide hospitalization metrics for determining extreme risk
For counties to move (or remain) to Extreme Risk, they must meet county statistics for the number of cases and positivity rate, plus statewide hospital admission statistics: COVID-19 positive patients occupying 300 hospital beds or more, and a average of seven days of hospitalization over the past week. This week, there are 11 counties that qualify for Extreme Risk, based on their county statistics, but are assigned a High Risk because statewide hospitalization triggers have not been met: Baker, Clackamas, Columbia, Crook, Deschutes , Jackson, Josephine, Klamath, Linn, Marion and Polk.
Three provinces are entering a two-week precautionary period
The two week caution period applies to counties moving backward. Counties that have reduced their COVID-19 distribution enough to lower the risk level in the previous two-week period, but see their numbers increase again in the next two-week period, will be given a two-week warning period to refocus efforts to reduce creeping business numbers and provide local businesses with additional certainty about their plans to operate. This week, the caution period applies to three counties:
- Grant County qualifies for High Risk, but is given a two-week precautionary period with a lower risk because it went down from Moderate Risk in the last exercise period.
- Malheur County qualifies for moderate risk, but will be given a two-week warning period with a lower risk because it has gone down from moderate risk in the last exercise period.
- Umatilla County qualifies for High Risk, but is given a two week caution period at Moderate Risk because it went down from High Risk in the last exercise period.
The Oregon Health Authority will examine and publish county data on a weekly basis. District risk levels are reassigned every two weeks. The data from the first week will provide a “week of caution” to prepare counties for potential changes in the level of risk. The next allocation of risk levels will be announced on May 4 and will take effect on May 7.
Updates to Alert Week data and county risk levels will be posted at coronavirus.oregon.gov.