Face coverings will be mandatory for some Oregon counties starting next week

Jun 18 2020, 12:12 am

Portland Governor Kate Brown announced Wednesday that she will institute a mandatory face covering regulation for all indoor public spaces.

Starting next week, masks will be required when visiting any indoor public space, business, or facility in Multnomah, Washington, Clackamas, Hood River, Marion, Polk, and Lincoln counties.

Brown’s announcement comes a week after her decision to put a one-week pause on Oregon’s phased reopening, following spikes in confirmed cases sprouting from larger gatherings, outbreaks at workplaces, and business owners not having proper guidelines in place.

Marion, Polk, and Hood River counties will be allowed to move to Phase 2 of the economic reopening plan on Friday, June 19. Brown also announced that Multnomah County will be allowed to enter Phase 1 of the plan on the same day.

“Your actions will determine whether your local businesses can stay open,” says Brown. “If hospitalizations spike too rapidly … unfortunately, I will be forced to reinstate stricter rules including, if needed, a new stay-at-home order.”

Wyatt FossettWyatt Fossett

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