Douglas County Continues to Improve, Dropping to Moderate Risk Level

Even as 15 Oregon counties are moving into extreme risk levels this Friday, Douglas County is moving in the opposite direction, dropping to the moderate risk level. Notable changes, basically it allows more people to gather just about everywhere. Here is the full breakdown: https://sharedsystems.dhsoha.state.or.us/DHSForms/Served/le3461.pdf Here is the latest update from the DCCRT: Congratulations Douglas County! We want to thank our residents for their attentiveness during these difficult times, and for continuing to persevere through the state-mandated guidelines. While we have seen a huge spike in positive COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations throughout the rest of Oregon, Douglas County will be among one of the few to actually move to a lower State Mandated COVID-19 Risk Level guidance starting on Friday, April 30, 2021, according to the State. Due to the rapid spread of COVID-19 in Oregon, the State announced today, Tuesday, April 27, 2021, that they are changing their State Mandated COVID-19 Risk Level Guidance for counties immediately. The State has eliminated their two-week COVID-19 data review window, and has chosen to move to a one-week COVID-19 data review window for the next three weeks to determine County movement within their State Mandated COVID-19 Risk Level Guidance. So, county health and safety restrictions will be evaluated and moved weekly. As a result of the changes, 15 Oregon Counties will move to the Extreme- Risk level effective Friday, April 30, 2021 and go through Thursday, May 6, 2021, nine counties will be in the High-Risk level, four will be in Moderate-Risk, and eight will be in Lower-Risk. But, the good news is that, due to our decreasing numbers, Douglas County will be moving to the State’s Mandated Moderate-Risk Level guidance. Click on the link below to review the State’s Mandated Risk Level Chart for details on the guidance. https://sharedsystems.dhsoha.state.or.us/DHSForms/Served/le3461.pdf A complete list of Oregon Counties and their current State Mandated Risk Levels is available here. https://drive.google.com/file/d/19KtrH6AM5jsHXzLkeU87-_314soO8bdq/view Also, in news we are happy to finally see, the State said that, “in an effort to speed up the return to normal business operations in Oregon,” they will be evaluating the county COVID-19 data weekly for at least the next three weeks, as well as partnering with the State Legislature for an emergency relief package to immediately aid businesses in Extreme Risk counties. Updates to the State’s Mandated County Risk Levels next week will be announced on Tuesday, May 4, 2021 and take effect on Friday, May 7, 2021. Counties that improve their COVID-19 metrics will have the opportunity to move to a lower risk level.