Washington County has been approved for first phase of reopening
As of Thursday, Washington County in Oregon has been approved to enter Phase 1 of the state’s economic reopening plan.
Businesses and social restrictions will begin to lift Monday, June 1, and the first phase will see a major hub of Oregon begin the long road to returning to a new normal.
Phase 1 will require any county wishing to reopen to meet specific state requirements. If regulations are met, the following sectors are eligible for reopening:
- Restaurants and bars (provided they follow adequate physical distancing, and face masks must be worn by employees)
- Beauty and personal hygiene businesses (following similar guidelines as restaurants and bars)
- Salons and other personal services (operating via appointment only and provided they keep a record of patrons for contact tracing)
Local gatherings will also be permitted but with a new maximum of 25 people.
This phase will last a minimum of 21 days while under monitoring. If said county of Oregon reaches the 21-day mark without an uptick of cases, their situation will be reviewed and potentially approved for Phase 2.
Washington County consists of large Oregon cities like Hillsboro and Beaverton.
So far, two counties have been denied Phase 1 but have since reapplied with new regulations and have been approved, and all but one county in the state has or will soon enter the first phase of reopening.
Oregon Health Authority
Multnomah County, where Portland and other major cities are located, has yet to apply to enter Governor Kate Brown’s phased reopening system. With six times the population as the next closest city in Oregon, Portland has a lot of preparation and planning to do before it will begin this process.
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