(Portland, OR) — Governor Kate Brown today thanked Oregonians for their dedication and service throughout the COVID-19 pandemic at a reopening celebration at Providence Park in Portland. The event commemorated the lifting of all remaining COVID-19 health and safety restrictions in Oregon, effective at 12:01 a.m. today. Attendees of the celebration included health care workers, frontline employees, personnel from state agencies critical to COVID-19 response, state and county leaders, Tribal leaders, Oregon National Guard members, housing advocates, farmworkers, educators, and nonprofit volunteers.
“Today, we celebrate Oregon’s strength, resilience, and collaboration,” said Governor Brown. “We celebrate brighter days ahead. And, today we celebrate that Oregon is 100% open for business.
“I look forward to seeing Oregon’s restaurants and mainstreet businesses flourish as vibrant community cornerstones. We are all excited to celebrate the July 4th holiday weekend with family and friends. And I smile at the thought of our children going back to the classroom, five days a week this fall.
“This is truly a historic moment for our state. However, while we enter a new chapter today, our work is far from over.
“We will be relentless in our efforts to finish the job, closing our equity gaps, and reaching every Oregonian with information and vaccines. That means we need to continue this education effort, person to person, neighbor to neighbor. We remain fiercely committed in our efforts to build a more just and equitable, and a safer and stronger Oregon.
“Thank you, Oregon, for everything you’ve done to look out for one another and bring us to this day.”
Joining Governor Brown on stage were Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde Tribal Councilman Steve Bobb, Sr.; Director of the Oregon Health Authority Patrick Allen; OHSU Infectious Disease Specialist Doctor Judy Guzman-Cottrill; Small Business Owner of Palomar Bar Ricky Gomez; Chief Investment Officer at Meyer Memorial Trust Ruikayah Adams; Jeff Attinella of the Timbers; Meghan Klingenberg of the Thorns; and State Epidemiologist Dean Sidelinger.
- A copy of the Governor’s prepared remarks from today‘s event is available here.
Video Links
- A recording of today‘s live-streamed event is available on YouTube. Please note the video starts at the mark 25:51.
- A recording of a Spanish language translation is available on OHA’s Facebook page.
- An HD recording of today‘s event for members of the media is available on Vimeo.