Summer is on the way and some of you may be planning to marry, or celebrate an anniversary, graduation, quinceañera, bat mitzvah or other significant event. Celebrating life events in person is something many of us have missed during the COVID-19 pandemic.
With vaccination as a tool for protection, you may be able to start thinking about resuming these celebrations. Once Oregon meets the statewide vaccination target of 70%, many restrictions will be lifted, but hosting the safest event will still require precautions.
Here’s what to keep in mind when planning a summer celebration:
- Outdoor events are generally much safer than indoor events.
- Wearing face coverings slows the spread of COVID-19.
- Limiting capacity to allow for spacing between guests.
- Vaccination reduces the spread of COVID-19 and prevents severe illness and hospitalization in most people.
- Follow local guidance while risk levels remain in place. https://sharedsystems.dhsoha.state.or.us/DHSForms/Served/le3461.pdf
You’ll also need to follow Oregon Health Authority guidance for your event:
- Outdoors in public venues like a garden, follow “Outdoor Entertainment Establishments”.
- Indoor in public spaces, follow “Indoor Entertainment Establishments”.
- In a religious institution such as a temple, mosque, synagogue or church, follow the guidance for Faith institutions.
New dashboard to track Governor’s vaccination goals
When 70% of adults in Oregon receive at least one dose of an authorized COVID-19 vaccine, most pandemic-related restrictions will be lifted statewide.
To visualize the vaccination trend, the Oregon Health Authority (OHA) launched a new dashboard to track statewide and county progress towards Gov. Kate Brown’s vaccination goals.
The new dashboard will display the following:
- The statewide percentage of those 16 and older who have received at least one COVID-19 vaccine.
- The percentage of those 16 and older who have received at least one COVID-19 vaccine in each county.
- The number of people remaining in each county who need to receive a COVID-19 vaccine for the county to reach 65% vaccination in residents 16 years of age and older.
Gov. Brown also announced that beginning May 21, counties will be eligible to move to Lower Risk when 65% of county residents 16 years of age and older receive their first dose of any COVID-19 vaccine and the county submits a plan to close vaccine equity gaps. For more information click here.
Below is a screenshot of the dashboard with data as of 12:01 a.m. on 5/17/2021.
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COVID-19 virus cannot be shed after vaccination
Some of you may be wondering if taking the COVID-19 vaccine can cause you to shed the virus that causes COVID-19.
Health experts agree that people who have received a COVID-19 vaccine cannot shed or release any of the vaccine components. In addition, none of the COVID-19 vaccines authorized for use in the United States contain a live virus so shedding the virus is impossible.
Visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) website to read more about COVID-19 facts.
For help understanding how to find a vaccine in Oregon visit the OHA webpage.
