This document was published May 6, 2020. For the most up to date information on the City’s work related to COVID-19, please visit our website.
This update provides information on the latest City activities and links to more information. For health and safety information about COVID-19 please visit Lane County Public Health’s website.
Recovery Plan Taking Shape
The good news about our flattened curve has everyone wondering when the Stay Home order will be lifted. Last week, Governor Brown outlined her plan for relaxing restrictions and reopening sectors of our community.
Most importantly, Governor Brown said the efforts to move forward with safely reopening Oregon will be gradual, incremental and based on science and data. The state has laid out seven pre-requisites that each county must reach before beginning Phase 1 of Reopening Oregon.
The seven pre-requisites include seeing a decline in COVID-19 cases, establishing a minimum testing regimen, creating a robust contact tracing system, identifying isolation facilities, finalizing and following the Oregon Health Authority’s guidelines to protect employees and consumers, having sufficient capacity to handle ongoing cases and having enough PPE on hand.
For a complete look at the Governor’s plan, please visit the State of Oregon website.
As the state rolls out more information this week and next we’ll keep you informed on what that means for you.
Lane County is Preparing
The Lane County Board of Commissioners met Tuesday to discuss its efforts and move forward to make sure we are in compliance with the state’s guidelines. After discussing a proposed Blueprint for Reopening Lane County, the Board endorsed the plan. You can watch a webcast and access the meeting materials including the Blueprint on the County’s website.
The Blueprint for Reopening Lane County will follow the Governor’s laid out phases. Once Phase 1 begins in Lane County it’s expected to last several weeks and to allow for small social gatherings and limited reopening of some businesses that are better positioned to maintain physical distance for their customers and employees. The County is preparing to apply to the state to start this phase but to be clear, as of today we are not yet in it. The Governor has stated the earliest Phase 1 may start in any county in Oregon is May 15. Lane County is positioning itself to be ready to begin Phase 1 as soon as the State allows and approves of our petition.
If all criteria are still being met the County would move to Phase 2, which would likely expand the number of people allowed to gather in groups, allow for non-essential travel and widen the types of businesses allowed to resume services. After several weeks of Phase 2, if all criteria are still being met, consideration would be made to move to Phase 3.
Phase 3 would be our new normal for the foreseeable future. It would likely allow an increase in gatherings, unrestricted staffing at work sites, visitors to assisted living facilities and increased seating at bars and restaurants.
We would like to caution everyone, though, that while it feels great to be thinking about a return to day-to-day life, the Governor’s plan may change based on new circumstances and that may require changes to the County’s plan.
Oregon will use a careful, step-by-step process to safely reopen our state based on clear public health criteria and signs our health care system is able to respond to a spike in new infections. Some counties will be eligible to begin limited reopening of additional business sectors as early as May 15 if they demonstrate they have met all requirements for reopening. These requirements include:
- See fewer Oregonians getting sick from COVID-19 or have fewer than 5 hospitalizations
- Have sufficient COVID-19 testing and contact tracing capability
- Establish plans for supporting the isolation and quarantine of people who are sick from COVID-19
- Have the hospital capacity to handle any surge in COVID-19 cases
- Have enough safety equipment for health care workers
Local Recovery
City staff, regional partners and members of our business community are working together on plans for our long-term community recovery. Our Emergency Operations Center team also now includes staff who are focusing solely on long-term recovery efforts. The developing plan includes business and employment recovery assistance, housing assistance and development support such as process improvements and public-led projects, as well as the City’s Cultural Services, events and activities that bring engaging experiences to the community. At the May 11 City of Eugene Council work session there will be a presentation to Council on this work. You can follow this link to find all upcoming public meetings.
We Can All Still Help
It’s also important to keep in mind our ability to progress through these phases quickly depends upon every resident actively participating in keeping themselves healthy and continuing to make smart choices.
Practice good hygiene, wash your hands often and stay home if you are feeling sick. Wearing a mask in public and crowded areas is still recommended. We are still in this together.
Progress Toward a Healthy and Safe Community
For the past seven weeks, our COVID-19 Emergency Operations Center has been working to acquire necessary resources, coordinate logistics with our regional partners, maintain critical services and identify community needs to slow the spread of the novel coronavirus in Eugene.
We are proud of the work this team has done in a short amount of time, many serving outside of their normal scope of work to help manage the COVID-19 response in Eugene.
The work we’ve accomplished in our Emergency Operations Center is only part of the story. We are making progress in the fight to flatten the curve of this pandemic in our community with your help. Together we’ve slowed the spread of the virus by staying home and practicing physical distancing.
Resources for More Information
The City of Eugene is working hard with our partners at Lane County and Springfield to ensure our community has important information about local, state and federal resources to help those who have been significantly impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. See a list of Community Resources for physical and mental health, food, housing, businesses, employees, schools and children, as well as information in Spanish. Also learn how you can help.
Wondering what’s open at the City? Get the latest information at City Services – What’s Open?
Our partners also have a significant amount of information available online. Please visit these resources for the most up to date information:
- Lane County Public Health
- Lane County Call Center, open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m.- 5 p.m. 541-682-1380
- Oregon Health Authority
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
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