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About The Blue Mountain eagle. (John Day, Or.) 1972-current | View Entire Issue (May 13, 2020)
STATE MyEagleNews.com Wednesday, May 13, 2020 A9 Oregon coronavirus council points out ambiguity, uncertainty in state reopening plan By Dick Hughes For the Oregon Capital Bureau State officials initially did not want to include bars in the first phase of reopening Oregon coun- ties. That is why bars and restaurants that open for dine-in service must close by 10 p.m. under the guidelines announced by Gov. Kate Brown. “It was an imperfect way to get at kind of what the intent was. Our intention was never to open bars,” said Leah Horner, who is Brown’s adviser on jobs and the economy. “But we didn’t want to close down people’s ability to get a drink from a bar in a restaurant.” There was not a clear licensure that would allow restaurants to serve liquor but keep other bars closed. “The only way to get at that was by putting a 10 p.m. closure time,” Horner said Friday during a videocon- ference of the Governor’s Coronavi- rus Economic Advisory Council. Council members pointed to ambi- guity and uncertainty in the state’s three-phase criteria for when cer- tain businesses operations and public activities should resume. Horner acknowledged that offi- cials were still figuring out how to share adequate information about the reopening from closures due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Bulletin/Ryan Brennecke Lights from downtown businesses glisten off the pavement Saturday after a passing rain shower covered a nearly emp- ty Wall Street in downtown Bend. As of May 15, furniture stores, art galleries, jewelry shops and bou- tiques may reopen if they follow the state’s physical distancing and health guidelines. Many other businesses can’t open until their county govern- ment files a reopening plan and then receives state approval. Horner, who also is the gover- nor’s Regional Solutions director, said many details remain in flux, such as when face coverings would be required at certain types of businesses. “It may take a little bit to ramp up to that. We’re still looking at what that timeline looks like but acknowledging there needs to be a little more clarity on that,” she said. Guidelines on child care, sum- mer school, camps, gyms and transit will be announced next week. After talking with gym owners, Horner said, officials realized that some gym oper- ations could reopen safely. Members of the economic advi- sory council asked for clarity on lia- bility protections, travel and other issues. “As counties open up, if Deschutes County is open but Marion County is closed, could the residents of Salem travel to Deschutes County?” asked Todd Davidson of Travel Oregon. Jason Brandt of the Oregon Restaurant and Lodging Association pointed out that Brown did not shut down lodging but restricted travel, leaving the lodging industry in a bind. “For a lot of our lodging opera- tors, they’re kind of just waiting on pins and needles to understand where they fit in on the phases,” Brandt said. “And then how they can prove, which a lot of them can already right now, that their operations are entirely safe for their guests and also for their employees?” He and others also asked about the prospects for weddings, group meetings and other events in hotels and elsewhere, as well as operations of zoos, museums and gardens. “State Fair folks said they’re not going to operate, but does that mean some of these maybe smaller meetings can still occur? I think the answer is probably yes,” Horner said. “So we’re going to be working through some of those pieces.” Union officials asked that better information be provided for workers, including what they should do if they are called back to their jobs but lack child care or are at high risk of con- tracting COVID-19. The governor’s staff said they are starting on developing worker guide- lines. They also confirmed that the annual state minimum wage increase would occur in July as scheduled. Officials also announced that Business Oregon will be taking appli- cations for matching grants for local governments that create COVID-19 grant or loan programs to assist very small businesses. The state initially will dispense $2.5 million. Governor: Oregon could reopen under 3-phase plan, but distancing likely for months A plan to reopen Oregon’s businesses and allow social gatherings will rely on a three- phase approach, with major decisions being made at the county level, depending on local health conditions. On Thursday, Gov. Kate Brown and state health offi- cials cautioned that current measures regarding physi- cal distancing and hygiene likely will remain in place for months to come, as some retailers in rural counties pre- pare to enter the first phase of reopening for in-person activi- ties by Friday, May 15. Brown’s office said the goal with the phased reopen- ing is to “minimize hospi- talizations and deaths” and reduce risk to health care and frontline workers. So far, Oregon has seen far fewer cases and fatalities from COVID-19 compared to other states and countries. The gov- ernor credited the stay-home orders and Oregonians’ adher- ence to safety precautions with the state’s infection rate. “These sacrifices have pre- vented as many as 70,000 COVID-19 infections,” Brown said. “We still don’t have everything we need, but things are definitely improving.” Brown likened the state’s plans to testing out the ice on a frozen pond before going ice skating. She and other health offi- cials warned that “reopening still comes with risk.” “As we reopen parts of our economy, we know and expect that there may be an uptick in new coronavirus cases,” Brown said Thursday. Oregon’s three-phase plan allows businesses, personal service providers and retail- ers to reopen on a conditional basis, with specific guide- lines for each business sec- tor. Returning to in-person activities will be dependent largely on the risk factor of each activity, as well as health conditions and the number of COVID-19 cases in each county and region across the state. In all cases, state officials want residents to wear face masks when working in or entering any business, with exceptions for eating and drinking. Phase 1: As soon as Friday, May 15 in some areas In counties approved to open during Phase 1, restau- rants and bars could allow patrons to dine on-site, so long as tables are 6 feet apart. Employees would need to wear face masks and cover- ings supplied by the business, and all activity must end by 10 p.m. Fitness centers could open, with limits on the number of occupants, and salons also could reopen by appointment only, but they’d need to keep a log of every customer who visits, to allow for contract tracing by health departments if needed. Standalone retail shops and boutiques also could resume activity under the Phase 1 plans, as long as they can fol- low specific guidelines laid out by the Oregon Health Authority. State leaders said they aren’t recommending group gatherings of more than 10 people yet. A county could move on to Phase 2 after three weeks, only if they continue to meet the parameters of Phase 1. Before entering Phase 1, a county would need to demon- strate a declining prevalence of COVID-19: that is, a steady drop in hospitalizations for 14 days, with emergency room visits for COVID-like illness being below what they typi- cally are for influenza. Specific guidelines for test- ing regimens and contact trac- ing systems, along with sup- plies of personal protective equipment and other health care capacity also are iden- tified as prerequisites in the state plan. Phase 2: Similar to Phase 1, with expanded gathering sizes Brown’s office said the goal of Phase 2 is to further expand allowable gathering sizes, allow more people to work together in offices and allow visitation at congregate care facilities. Phase 3: Concerts, festivals will be last to return Large gatherings at places like festivals, con- certs and sporting events, won’t see a comeback any- time soon. Initial guidance from the state indicates they will be postponed until at least September, but large events could be delayed beyond that, until a vaccine or prevention is developed, draft guidelines indicate. Thursday’s announce- OUTPATIENT EAR AND FOOT CLINIC Open Mon. - Thurs. 8AM - 4PM Grant SWCD Weed Weed Control Control Dept. Dept. Grant SWCD Working for You You in in 2020 2019 Working for Regular and High Risk Foot Care done by specially trained RN or CNA. 422 West Main John Day OR, 97845 Thanks to the Grant County Court and Northeast Oregon Forests Resource Advisory Committee, Grant Weed Control is able to offer a 50% Cost Share Program for Noxious Weed Control on Private Grazing Lands, through a Title II funded Grant Project. This program will provide a maximum $5,000 of noxious weed control services with a $2,500 maximum landowner contribution to qualifying participants. To be eligible for participation, the treatment property must not be actively irrigated and must be primarily managed for livestock grazing, minimum of 20 acres in size, located within Grant County, and must contain weed species listed on the Grant County Noxious Weed List. Applications for this limited weed control assistance opportunity will be funded on a first come first serve basis. Applications due by June 5th. Contact the Grant Soil and Water Conservation District Office at (541) 575-1554 or visit 721 S. Canyon Blvd., John Day, OR 97845 for applications and additional information. S184611-1 117734 ment followed draft plans the governor’s office released earlier this week, and a reopening of some of the state’s parks and recreational sites, where physical distanc- ing could be practiced. “It worked. Oregon flattened the curve,” Pat Allen, director of the Ore- gon Health Authority, said Thursday. “So far, we have avoided the tragic worst case scenarios we have seen play out around the world and in other places in the United States.” Allen said Oregon’s COVID-19 death rate was the “eighth lowest in the coun- try,” but Allen and Brown cautioned that reopening cer- tain aspects of public life doesn’t mean the virus has diminished, and increased public activity could lead to a spike in infection. Ears are examined and cleaned by Registered Nurses. S164450-1 By Courtney Vaughn Oregon Capital Bureau Call to make an appointment today! 541-575-1648 Dear Community, John Day Volunteer Fire Department Association would like to thank the following community members and businesses. With Great Regret, Due to covid-19, we had to cancel this year’s event. However, all the donations will be used towards next year’s Easter Egg Hunt Event. Blue Mountain Lodge, Eastern Oregon Reality, Frontier Equipment, John Day True Value, OTEC, Stylish 10, Doug’s Motor Repair, Mobile Glass, Bank Of Eastern Oregon, Rocky Mountain Dispensary, Katrina’s Barber Shop, OTEC Board Position 2 Credentialed Cooperative Director, Board Leadership Certificate Dave’s RV, Squeeze Inn, Ed Staub & Sons Petroleum, Les Schwab, Snaffle Bit, Leathers’ Gas, Lens Drugs, Radio Shack, Melanie Cochran, Old West Federal Credit Union, John Day Eye Care, Russell’s Custom Meats, Dark Horse, Mountain View Mini Mart, Farmers Insurance, OTC Connections, Dreamers lodge, A Cut Above, Hutch’s Printing, DG Driscoll’s Books, Stephen Harwood, etc., El Cocinero, Chuck’s Little Diner, Prairie, City Motor and Cycles, Beverly Board Member 2014-2015, 2017-2020 Roe, A&Z electronics, Cloud 9 Hair Salon, John Day River Vet, Norco Medical Supply, Triangle Oil, Bar WB, Timbers Bistro, Napa Paid for by Aletha Bronebrake 2347 Cambell St., Baker City Auto Parts, Tax Solutions, John Day Video, Budget 8 Motel, Mills building Supply, Nydam’s Ace Hardware, Ken Kindig Tax, Jesse Saloon, Karin Barntish S188083-1 Service to Members Focus on safe, reliable and affordable power while meeting challenges of changing energy marketplace Experienced Leadership - Local, Regional and State Informed advocacy for OTEC interests in rule-making and regulatory actions Commitment to Community - 35 years in Eastern Oregon Equitable service to every member and every community for the good of the whole I ask for your vote to continue serving you as a member of your OTEC Board
