PAGE A6, KEIZERTIMES, MARCH 04, 2022
MASK,
Continued from page A1
Both Marion and Polk counties are record-
ing medium spread of COVID, according
to CDC data, as is the Portland Metro area.
Counties further south along the I-5 corridor,
including Linn, Benton and Lane, are still
seeing high spread of COVID, as is much of
southern and southeastern Oregon.
In Oregon, the mandate will lift for most
indoor public places, including schools, at 11:59
p.m. March 11. Masks will remain required in
some settings because of other state or federal
rules.
Those include hospitals and health care
facilities, including long-term care and skilled
nursing facilities, said state epidemiologist Dr.
Dean Sidelinger in a Monday news conference.
“This is where some of the most vulnera-
ble members of our Oregon community seek
care. It’s also where people with COVID-19
often go to seek care," Sidelinger said. "We
want to ensure that the workforce, as well as
the visitors and patients in those settings have
the highest level of protection. We'd like to
see cases come down more before we lift the
requirement for masks in these settings."
Federal rules set to expire March 18 cur-
rently require masks be worn on public transit,
including city buses, as well as on airplanes
and in airports.
The announcement comes as new COVID
infections and related hospitalizations have
been falling rapidly from a late January peak
during the omicron surge.
As of Feb. 25, there were 527 Oregonians
hospitalized with COVID, according
to Oregon Health Authority data. That’s down
from 741 one week prior, and an Omicron peak
of 1,130 on Jan. 27.
In region 2, the hospital area including
Marion, Polk, Linn, Benton, Lincoln and
Yamhill counties, there were 136 people hos-
pitalized with COVID on Feb. 25, down from
151 a week before, and a peak of 205 on Jan. 28.
State health officials previously said they
aimed to lift the mask mandate by the end of
March, or once the state had fewer than 400
people hospitalized with COVID.
With the lifting of a statewide mask man-
date for schools, local school boards and
district leaders may still choose to impose
mandates locally.
Christy Perry, superintendent of the Salem-
Keizer School District, said last week district
leaders and the school board would consult
with local health authorities and develop a
plan before the district’s spring break, which
begins March 21.
The faster timeline Brown announced
Monday means district leaders will have to
make a decision sooner. The school board is
next scheduled to meet March 8. Perry said
Monday morning she was in meetings review-
ing federal masking guidelines.
Colt Gill, who leads the state Department
of Education, said in a Monday news confer-
ence that his agency would release updated
guidelines Wednesday for quarantining stu-
dents exposed to COVID and other safety pro-
tocols in light of changing federal guidelines
and the mask mandate lifting.
Gill said his agency moved up the time-
line to drop school mask requirements with
the rest of the state because school leaders in
Oregon have previously said it's challenging
when K-12 schools have different rules than
the rest of the state.
He said he expects some districts may
elect to temporarily continue requiring masks
as they sort out policies and agreements with
employee unions.
“Many (school districts), we may see con-
tinue with masks locally for that week before
spring break before they begin to implement
changes," Gill said.
Chemeketa to offer free introductory
criminal justice course
Chemeketa Community College will
offer a special one-day class for local high
school students with an interest in criminal
justice.
Criminal
Justice:
Aspiration,
Exploration, and Preparation is a brand
new, one-day, non-credit, no cost explor-
atory class slated for May 21, from 8 a.m. to 5
p.m. The course is for high school students,
but it’s open to anyone who wants to learn
more about law enforcement. Professionals,
instructors, and current students will lead
the class.
Coursework will cover the field of cor-
rections: Corrections-Related Experience
(CORE), which covers the prison and jail
systems; and Parole and Probation in
both juvenile and adult settings and Law
Enforcement-Related Experience (LERE),
which covers the law enforcement arm.
The group will break into the two groups
(CORE and LERE) after the introductory
portion. Demonstrations will take place
for a hands-on experience. The course will
also briefly cover the FBI’s role, however
additional experience and higher educa-
tion are required to become a federal offi-
cer. Instructors will also guide students to
financial aid, help fill out applications, and
cover general enrollment information.
“The Chemeketa Criminal Justice
Department is excited to offer a completely
free course to prospective or continuing
students to Aspire, Explore, and Prepare for
a career in criminal justice,’’ said Michael
Withington, Chemeketa Law Enforcement
Instructor. “This brand new course offering
is designed to help you navigate to the right
criminal justice career for you, through
presentations by professionals, hands-on
opportunities with current students, and
direct guidance to get you started towards
your future.”
For
more
information,
contact
Withington at
michael.withington@
chemeketa.edu or (503) 589-7768.
Celebration of Flowers show
The Keizer Art Association has scheduled its annual juried Celebration of Flowers
Show that opens on Tuesday, April 26 and runs through the end of May.
The association is calling for artists to submit art in a number of categories: 2D, 3D,
photography, digital and youth (by children 4 to 14 years of age).
Artists can download the shows’ prospectus at keizerarts.com.
Gervais school plans BBQ dinner
St. Louis Parish’s Sacred Heart School will hold a drive-through BBQ chicken
dinner on Sunday, March 13, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
The dinner will include 1/2 barbecued chicken, baked potato, coleslaw, dinner roll
and dessert. Cost per dinner is $13. An all carte dinner of 1/2 barbecued chicken and
a quart of coleslaw is $5.
Sacred Heart School Hall is located at 515 7th Street in Gervais
For more information or for pre-orders of 10 or more, contact Joan at 503-951-1000,