Oregon orders restaurants, gyms to close to public; new capacity limits at stores, churches

Dr. Esther Choo speaks on the dangers of medical facilities reaching capacity if Oregonians do not heed new restrictions imposed by Gov. Brown’s two-week freeze statewide. Wochit

Oregon Gov. Kate Brown has ordered a two-week “freeze” to slow the spread of COVID-19.

The statewide restrictions run from Nov. 18 through Dec. 2, and include the Thanksgiving holiday. They will limit restaurants to take-out only; close gyms, museums and outdoor recreational facilities; limit capacity at stores; and limit social get-togethers even in private homes.

They will continue for at least two additional weeks into mid-December for Multnomah County, and could also continue in other hotspot counties, Brown said during a news conference Friday. Marion County is among the areas considered hotspots. 

“The dreaded winter surge is here. Infection records are being set in states across the entire country,” Brown said. “Whether we like it or not, we’re about to face what might be the roughest days of the pandemic.” 

The new measures include:

Brown said she is also asking people to wear masks at all times, indoors and outdoors, except when eating or drinking. 

The measures do not change current regulations for personal services (such as hair salons or massage therapy), homeless shelters, youth programs, childcare, K-12 schools and sports, or higher education. 

Brown said she has directed the Oregon Superintendent of Police to work with local law enforcement agencies to enforce the rules on social get-togethers.

Violations will be Class C misdemeanors, punishable through a citation, fine or arrest.

“I am not asking you. I am telling you to stop your informal social gatherings, your house parties, and to limit your social interactions to six and under, not more than one household, and I’m asking that immediately,” she said.

The drastic measures were largely prompted by hospitals sounding alarms.

Hospitals across the state have begun reducing elective surgeries, and warn that they could soon run out of intensive care beds, said Dean Sidelinger, the Oregon Health Authority’s top health officer. 

All four intensive care units at Oregon Health and Sciences University are operating at greater than 90 percent capacity, said Renee Edwards, the hospital’s chief medical officer. 

Skyrocketing cases also are compromising public health officials’ ability to conduct case investigations and contact tracing at the same level they were able to just a month ago, Sidelinger said. 

“On a temporary basis, we’ve notified counties they can prioritize high-risk contacts, and scale back the extent of the interviews and the length of time they monitor people who’ve been exposed in response to the surge,” he said. 

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Also on Friday, Brown joined the governors of Washington and California in issuing travel advisories urging people to avoid all non-essential out-of-state travel. Visitors entering those states, or residents returning after out-of-state travel are asked to self-quarantine for 14-days.

Brown said the travel restrictions could become mandatory. That decision would be made in conjunction with the other governors, she said. 

Oregon reported a record 1,122 new COVID-19 cases Thursday, as the virus continues its uncontrolled spread. It also reported new highs for weekly cases, hospitalizations and deaths.

Restrictions on social activities in nine counties, including Marion County and the Portland metro area, went into effect on Wednesday. 

Tracy Loew is a reporter at the Statesman Journal. She can be reached at tloew@statesmanjournal.com, 503-399-6779 or on Twitter at @Tracy_Loew.

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