NEWS
Wednesday, May 19, 2021
HeRMIsTOnHeRaLd.COM • A3
State provides updated mask guidance
By JADE MCDOWELL
neWs edITOR
Announcements by the
Centers for Disease Con-
trol and Prevention and
Governor. Kate Brown
last week signaled a move
toward fewer COVID-19
restrictions as the pan-
demic begins to wane in
the United States.
On Thursday, May 13,
the CDC updated its guid-
ance for vaccinated indi-
viduals, stating continuing
research indicates vac-
cinated individuals can
safely go without masks in
most settings, not just out-
door areas and small gath-
erings where everyone is
vaccinated.
Governor Kate Brown
responded in a video
address, stating that Ore-
gon would be following
the same guidance, allow-
ing fully vaccinated indi-
viduals two weeks past
the date of their final shot
to go unmasked in most
settings, while continu-
ing the mask mandate for
those who are unvacci-
nated and therefore at risk
for serious or fatal cases of
COVID-19.
“Oregonians now have
a choice of how to pro-
tect themselves and others
from COVID-19: either
get vaccinated, or con-
tinue wearing a mask and
following physical dis-
tancing
requirements,”
she said.
On Tuesday, May 18,
OHA released new guide-
lines for businesses, stat-
ing that those that wish to
allow vaccinated custom-
ers to not wear masks must
verify customers’ vacci-
nation status at the door.
Indoor businesses that do
not wish to do that must
require everyone to mask.
OHA also stated that
the mask mandate is lifted
for everyone outdoors,
although it strongly rec-
ommends those who are
unvaccinated continue to
wear a mask and social
distance while in crowds
outdoors.
All students and staff
at schools are required to
continue wearing masks in
the classroom for now.
Some
Oregonians
responded to the updated
guidelines on social media
by stating that a business
asking to see their vac-
cine card is a violation
of HIPAA, or the Health
Insurance Portability and
Accountability Act. But
according to the U.S.
Department of Health and
Human Services, which
administers HIPAA, the
act only restricts certain
health care entities —
mainly hospitals, medi-
Hatrockhounds dig
nature’s treasures
HeRMIsTOn HeRaLd
After a one-year hia-
tus because of the global
pandemic, members of the
Hatrockhounds Gem &
Mineral Society are looking
forward to their annual rock
and gem show.
Nature’s Treasures Under
Foot: Rock & Gem Show
2021 is Saturday, May
22, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
and Sunday, May 23, from
10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The event
will be held at Eastern Ore-
gon Trade and Event Cen-
ter, 1705 E. Airport Road,
Hermiston. Admission is $3
for adults, $2 for ages 60 and
up and free for children 12
and under. Safety protocols
will be observed, including
masks and social distancing.
Hermiston Herald, File
Members
of
the
Hatrockhounds
Gem
&
Mineral Society staff the
silent auction table during
the 2018 Rock & Gem Show.
After a one-year hiatus, the
event returns this weekend
at the Eastern Oregon Trade
and Event Center, Hermiston.
The show features more
than a dozen dealers selling
rocks, gems, jewelry, bead
supplies, mineral specimens
and more. Also, it includes
silent auctions throughout
each day, door prize draw-
ings every 30 minutes and
a special children’s corner
with games, fun and prizes.
The Hatrockhounds Gem
& Mineral Society is a non-
profit group that meets the
second Tuesday of each
month at 6:30 p.m. at the
First Christian Church,
775 W. Highland Ave.,
Hermiston.
For more information,
visit
www.jall23.wixsite.
com/hatrockhounds or email
show chairman Mike Filar-
ski at stonemorlin1@nets-
cape.net.
cal clinics, care facilities
and health insurance pro-
viders — from sharing a
patient’s medical records.
It does not restrict peo-
ple from asking ques-
tions or talking about oth-
ers’ health outside of those
limited restrictions.
“Many organizations
that have health informa-
tion about you do not have
to follow these laws,” the
department states on its
website. “Examples of
organizations that do not
have to follow the Pri-
vacy and Security Rules
include
life
insurers,
employers, workers com-
pensation carriers, most
schools and school dis-
tricts, many state agencies
like child protective ser-
vice agencies, most law
enforcement agencies and
many municipal offices.”
As for other COVID-
19 restrictions, Brown
announced that Oregon
could expect the lifting of
most restrictions — includ-
ing bans on indoor dining
and rules reducing capac-
ity for businesses — once
70% of Oregonians age 18
and up have had at least
once dose of a COVID-19
vaccine. According to Ore-
gon Health Authority, that
number currently stands at
62%.
“Thanks to you, Ore-
gon, it looks like we’ve
crossed the tipping point of
the fourth surge,” Brown
said in a news release.
“Our hospitalization rates
have stabilized. Our infec-
tion rates are on a down-
ward trajectory. And in the
race between vaccines and
variants, our efforts to vac-
cinate Oregonians are tak-
ing the lead. We still have
some work to do to reach
our 70% goal, but I am
confident we can get there
in June and return Oregon
to a sense of normalcy.”
Brown also said individ-
ual counties could apply to
have their restrictions lifted
sooner if they reached a
65% vaccination rate of
residents age 16 and up
before the state as a whole
hits 70% of residents age
18 and up. According to
OHA, Morrow County is
currently at 38.4%, while
Umatilla County remains
the second lowest in the
state at 32.7%.
Both counties have
turned down new ship-
ments of the vaccine in
recent weeks after see-
ing a significant reduc-
tion in demand. Umatilla
County has indicated a
renewed interested in the
Pfizer vaccine, however,
after the FDA and CDC
approved the vaccine for
use in children ages 12 to
15 last week.
Maxwell Market set to
open for season May 27
By KATY NESBITT
FOR THe HeRMIsTOn HeRaLd
The Maxwell Market
opens for the 2021 season
on Thursday, May 27, at
the Maxwell Siding Event
Center and Pavilion in
Hermiston.
The seasonal market,
open Thursdays from 4 to
8 p.m. through Oct. 7, fea-
tures 15-20 vendors a week
selling produce, preserves
like jams and salsas, fresh
flowers, handmade soaps
and jewelry. Popular ven-
dors of prepared food offer
barbecue, baked goods,
cotton candy and hand-
made chocolates.
According to Max-
well Event Facility Man-
ager Miranda Torres, freeze
Hermiston Herald, File
A child eats a strawberry at
the Maxwell Farmers Market
in 2019, at the Maxwell
Siding Pavilion. The market
returns for its 2021 season
on May 27, 2021.
dried candy will be a new
item at the market this year.
While early spring veg-
etables like greens and rad-
ishes will be available at
the first market, Torres said
customers should look for
their favorite seasonal fruits
and vegetables as the sum-
mer wears on, like straw-
berries in June, melons in
July, tomatoes in August
and apples in September.
Torres said she recom-
mends market customers
keep an eye on the market’s
Facebook page, Maxwell
Market Hermiston Oregon,
and their Instagram site,
Maxwell Event Center and
Pavilion, to check out the
live music schedule, which
will be posted soon.
“We are gearing up for
our fourth year and hope
everyone comes out and
supports their local ven-
dors,” Torres said.
The pavilion is at 255 S.
First Place, Hermiston.