Today, Governor Kate Brown issued a new executive order to direct Oregonians to stay home as much as possible to stop the spread of coronavirus. This Stay Home, Save Lives directive is essential for our public health as we work through this pandemic.
Reasons for leaving your home include buying food, accessing health care, fueling up your car and caring for family members and others in need. Physical activity, like jogging or walking, is permitted so long as you can maintain proper social distancing (staying at least six feet away from others). Restaurants that serve takeout and delivery can remain open for those purposes.
All non-essential social and recreational gatherings are immediately prohibited, regardless of size, if a distance of at least six feet between individuals cannot be maintained. Gatherings of members of the same residential household are permitted.
The order closes playgrounds, sports courts, and skate parks, among other types of outdoor recreation facilities. It outlines new guidelines for child care facilities, setting limits and rules on numbers of children allowed in care and outlining that child care groups may not change participants. Failure to comply with the order will be considered an immediate danger to public health and subject to a Class C misdemeanor.
Retail businesses closed by the order include:
- Shopping: Outdoor and indoor malls and retail complexes, although individual types of businesses not subject to the measures may stay open.
- Fitness: Gyms, sports and fitness centers, health clubs and exercise studios.
- Grooming: Barbershops, beauty and nail salons and non-medical wellness spas.
- Entertainment: Theaters, amusement parks, arcades, bowling alleys and pool halls.
Below is a general guide to what everyone should do and not do as long as this executive order is in place.
Please, stay home and do your best to be part of the solution to reduce the spread of the virus.
Important Links:
- Childcare information from the Oregon Early Learning Division
- Resources from the Higher Education Coordinating Commission
- Oregon Employment Department – COVID-19 Related Business Layoffs, Closures, and Unemployment Insurance Benefits
- Meals on Wheels – For Homebound Seniors
- Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program (SNAP)
- 211.org
- Local Food Banks
For up to date information, please check this link to the Oregon Health Authority where regular updates are posted: https://www.oregon.gov/oha/ERD/Pages/News-Releases.aspx
SHiNA 