City of Eugene: COVID-19 Community Update

The number of COVID-19 cases in our area and across Oregon continue to rise. On Wednesday, July 22, Governor Kate Brown announced new statewide requirements that will become effective Friday, July 24:

• Face coverings are required for ages 5 and up.
• Restaurants and bars must close at 10 p.m. statewide.
• Face coverings are required when exercising indoors, plus outdoors when you can’t physically distance.
• Capacity limit for restaurants, gyms, venues (e.g. concert halls, movie theaters) is reduced to 100 people indoors, including staff.

Governor Brown also announced that her team, in coordination with the Oregon Health Authority, is looking into further restrictions on tourists coming from states that are currently considered hotspots, and is evaluating the counties on the state’s watch list. She said announcements could becoming later this week.

While we realize these changes are difficult, it takes the entire community and state working together to make a difference and stop the spread of COVID-19.

New Face Covering Requirement

Starting Friday, July 24 face coverings including masks or face shields, are required statewide for anyone age five and up in indoor public spaces and outdoors when 6 feet of distance can’t be maintained.

Children who are three and four years old are recommended, but not required, to wear a mask, face shield or face covering as long as they’re able to remove it themselves.

Here are a few ideas to help your child feel comfortable if they feel unsure about wearing a mask or other face covering:

• Let your child choose and decorate their mask.
• Try different styles to see which is the most comfortable.
• Put a mask on a favorite stuffed toy or draw one on a favorite book character.
• Introduce the mask when everyone is relaxed but not too sleepy.
• Practice wearing the mask at home to help your child get used to it.
• Play some “let’s pretend” games with characters who wear masks.
• Point out other people wearing masks while you’re out.

If someone with a disability is unable to wear a mask or alternate face covering (like a face shield), they can request a reasonable accommodation from the business. These accommodations might look like grocery store pick-up or pharmacy delivery. Learn more about face covering requirements.

New Business Requirements

Also beginning Friday, July 24, the following requirements apply to businesses statewide:

• The maximum indoor capacity limit is capped at 100 for all venues, such as larger restaurants, bars, community centers, churches or other houses of worship, movie theaters and gyms.
• Restaurants and bars will be required to stop serving customers at 10 p.m.

COVID-19 Test Site Finder

Are you wondering where you can find a COVID-19 testing site? Oregon Health Authority has introduced a new online tool to find the nearest testing site.

1. If you are experiencing symptoms of COVID-19, such as fever, cough, or shortness of breath, please contact your healthcare provider or tele-health program to discuss whether you should be evaluated for testing.

2. Each coronavirus test provider will determine if testing is appropriate based on your symptoms, risk factors and test availability.

3. Because of an increase in demand, there may be longer than usual wait times for testing and results in certain areas.

Call the COVID-19 testing site before you go to learn about testing criteria, availability and hours. 

Lane County Public Health Hosting Frontline Worker Testing Event 

Lane County Public Health is offering free testing for frontline workers from 1:00-5:00 p.m. on Wednesday, July 29 at the Lane Events Center.  

Lane County Public Health considers frontline workers to be individuals with public-facing jobs who have worked throughout the outbreak. Examples include grocery store workers, gas station attendants, food and coffee servers or anyone who has a public-facing job but doesn’t have access to ongoing testing. This event is not designed to serve individuals who are already being regularly tested as part of their employment, such as many first responders and healthcare workers. Please bring your insurance card if you have insurance. The test is free regardless of insurance status. Learn more on Lane County’s website or call Lane County Public Health at 541-682-4041.

How You Can Help

Practice the 4 Ws 

It’s up to all of us to do our part. Help protect yourself and others:

1. Wear a face covering – indoors and out, it’s a statewide requirement.

2. Watch your distance – stay 6 feet apart from those outside your household.

3. Wash your hands – often with soap and water for 20 seconds throughout the day.

4. Wait it out – stay home if you are sick.

Answer the Call – Contact Tracing is Important to Stop the Spread 

If you get a call or voicemail from a Public Health contact tracer, please answer or return the call. Contact tracing is critical to our community’s ability to continue limiting the spread of COVID-19. People who participate in contact tracing are actively helping to keep their community safe by helping public health officials track the virus. For more information from Lane County Public Health on contact tracing please visit their contact tracing webpage. The State of Oregon’s contact tracing webpage also offers useful information and resources.

Broadway Street Closure for Expanded Streatery Supports Downtown Businesses 

Beginning July 16, the section of East Broadway between Willamette and Olive streets was closed to motor vehicle traffic to enable expanded café seating for area bars and restaurants. The Broadway Streatery is a temporary measure to support business activity, safe social gathering and community recovery in response to COVID-19. The initiative will be evaluated on an ongoing basis to determine whether it is having a positive impact for downtown Eugene and our community as whole. If it is successful, the Broadway Streatery will remain open until at least Oct. 31, 2020. The City of Eugene is working directly with the business owners on this section of Broadway, who are all supportive of this arrangement. Physical distancing and proper hand hygiene are strongly encouraged, and face coverings are required if 6 feet of distance can’t be maintained. Learn more about the Broadway Streatery and how businesses can apply for a streatery permit as part of the City of Eugene’s Streatery Program.