Governor Announces 10 Counties Improve from Extreme Risk; Tillamook County Remains in Lower Risk

From Tillamook County Community Health Centers:

Tillamook County will stay in the “Lower Risk” category for an additional two weeks effective this Friday Feb. 12, 2021. As calculated by Oregon Health Authority (OHA), Tillamook County had 13 new confirmed positive and presumptive COVID-19 cases from Sunday Jan. 24, 2021 – Saturday Feb. 6, 2021. If cases increase with 30 or more cases over the next two weeks (Sunday Feb. 7 – Saturday, Feb. 20, 2021) Tillamook County would be at risk of moving back up in risk level effective Feb. 26, 2021.

While this is positive news, we ask you to not let your guard down. Continue to take COVID-19 safety precautions: wear a mask, wash your hands frequently, watch your distance (6ft), stay home if ill, seek COVID-19 testing and answer the call from public health contact tracers.

Updated county risk levels take effect Friday February 12

(Salem, OR) — Governor Kate Brown today announced that 12 counties improved in risk level, with 10 improving from Extreme Risk for the first time since November, effective February 12. County risk levels under the state’s public health framework aim to reduce transmission and protect Oregonians from COVID-19. The framework uses four different risk levels for counties based on COVID-19 spread—Extreme Risk, High Risk, Moderate Risk, and Lower Risk—and assigns health and safety measures for each level.

Effective February 12 through February 25, there will be 14 counties in the Extreme Risk level, 11 at High Risk, two at Moderate Risk, and nine at Lower Risk. A complete list of counties and their associated risk levels:

County Risk Categories, Effective February 12 – 25 (Data as of February 6, 2021)

Changes from Previous Two-Week Period are Marked in Red

Lower Risk (9)

Baker (Moved from High)

Curry

Gilliam

Grant (Moved from Moderate)

Harney

Sherman

Tillamook

Wallowa

Wheeler

Moderate Risk (2)

Lake (Moved from Lower)

Morrow (Moved from Extreme)

High Risk (11)

Douglas

Clackamas (Moved from Extreme)

Clatsop (Moved from Extreme)

Columbia (Moved from Extreme)

Deschutes (Moved from Extreme)

Hood River (Moved from Extreme)

Klamath (Moved from Extreme)

Linn (Moved from Extreme)

Lincoln

Multnomah (Moved from Extreme)

Washington (Moved from Extreme)

Extreme Risk (14)

Benton

Coos

Crook

Jackson

Jefferson

Josephine

Lane

Malheur

Marion

Polk

Umatilla

Union

Wasco

Yamhill

“Thanks to Oregonians who have stepped up and made smart choices, we have made incredible progress in stopping the spread of COVID-19 and saving lives in Oregon,” said Governor Brown. “This week we will see 10 counties move out of Extreme Risk, including the Portland tri-county area, for the first time since November. This is welcome news, as we’ll start to see more businesses open up and Oregonians being able to get out a bit more.

“It’s also incredibly important that we continue to remain vigilant and protect our neighbors and loved ones as we face virulent new strains of COVID-19. This means continuing to wear masks, keep our physical distance, and avoid indoor gatherings. If we want to keep businesses open, reopen schools for in-person instruction, and stay safe, we must keep up our guard. Until vaccines are more widely available, case counts could go back up if we don’t keep following safety measures.”

The Oregon Health Authority will examine and publish county data weekly. County risk levels will be reassigned every two weeks. The first week’s data will provide a “warning week” to prepare counties for potential risk level changes. The next assignment of risk levels will be announced February 23 and take effect February 26.

Updates to Warning Week data and county risk levels will be posted to coronavirus.oregon.gov.