Some exceptions apply, but Kate Brown says step is need to stem rising COVID-19 caseloads in Oregon.
Masks will be required starting Friday, Aug. 27, in most Oregon public outdoor settings, regardless of vaccination status, as the number of COVID-19 coronavirus cases continues to increase sharply.
Gov. Kate Brown’s latest order applies to all outdoor events where physical distancing cannot be maintained. Masks are recommended by the Oregon Health Authority for events at private residences where people from different households mingle and physical distancing cannot be maintained.
Brown said in a statement Tuesday, Aug. 24, that her order was prompted by the spread of the delta variant, particularly among people who have not been vaccinated against the coronavirus.
Her statement:
“Masks are a quick and simple tool we can immediately deploy to protect ourselves and our families, and quickly help stop further spread of COVID-19.
“The delta variant is much more contagious than previous variants we’ve seen, and it has dramatically increased the amount of virus in our communities. Masks have proven to be effective at bringing case counts down and are a necessary measure right now, even in some outdoor settings, to help fight COVID and protect one another.”
The rule does not apply when two people pass each other.
Since mask mandates and other restrictions were lifted June 30, the resurgence of the coronavirus has prompted Brown to reinstate a mask requirement for indoor spaces starting on Aug. 13, and orders for mandatory vaccinations of health care workers, state workers and K-12 public school workers.
Some universities and health care organizations – Oregon Health & Science University, Kaiser Permanente, PeaceHealth and Legacy Health – had already mandated vaccinations for employees and students.
The Food and Drug Administration gave full federal approval on Monday for Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine, which had been under an emergency use authorization. The action may prompt some private employers to follow up with their own mandates.
Dr. Dean Sidelinger, the state health officer, said the delta variant is more easily spread by people even though they may not show symptoms.
“This is because they have one thousand times more virus in their nose – which means that those around them are much more likely to get sick because this variant behaves so differently,” he said.
“We are starting to see instances where cases are clustering around events, like outdoor music festivals, that happen outdoors. Wearing masks in crowded settings – even outdoors – will help slow the spread of COVID-19.”
The rule aligns with the exceptions outlined in the recent statewide indoor mask requirements, and does not apply to:
Children under 5 years old;
Individuals who are actively eating, drinking, or sleeping – as well as individuals living outdoors, such as persons experiencing houselessness;
Persons playing or practicing competitive sports, or engaged in an activity in which it is not feasible to wear a mask, such as swimming;
Individuals delivering a speech or performing, such as with outdoor music or theater;
Mask requirements for day-to-day operations at K-12 schools are not governed by this rule, and will instead continue to fall under the school mask rule. Outside public events, spectator events and gatherings of the general public on K-12 school grounds will be subject to the rule. Child care and youth programs will continue to follow existing OHA mask guidance; and
In addition, entities subject to the ADA must continue to comply with that law.
© Copyright © 2021 Portland Tribune, All rights reserved.
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The Oregon communist voters are getting exactly what they deserve. Of course these communist voters are nothing but sheep and the “useful idiots” of Vladimir Lenin. Mask up, useful idiots and sheep of Oregon. I am sure you will have a poster on the wall of your home of Dr. Fauci, so you can worship him as your “sheep god”.
PITY we can’t COMPLETELY and utterly wall that entire state off, from the rest of the nation, SO ITS ROT cannot spread out from it.
I read where the eastern part of Oregon is considering leaving that hell hole state and joining Idaho. With stupid 2 bit marxist wannabe Stalins running that state Oregon may just end up shrinking in size while Idaho grows.
I’ve seen that too. BUT THEY WOULD need a HELL OF a lot of support, from congress to make it happen..
Too bad the masks will not prevent the Socialist/ Marxist Democrat’s propaganda from reaching your brains. Normal folks keep up the fight.
WHAT brains!?!? These folks, repeatedly prove, they have none!
You will wear the mask or be shot, peasant!!
Only We, The People, can do something about this.
Enough is enouigh. Time to leave the mask in a drawer at home. Have we needed a mask for the Flu? What about natural immunity for those who have been infected with Covid-19. Probably, according to the CDC and other inept specialists, we’ll be using masks from now on.Those in power want to make sure the common peons obey or get fined and imprissoned.
THEN where ARE THE people??
This guv (thank you Karma) is a flaming idiot on so many levels.
1. So Wednesday and Thursday are sacrosanct – no possibility of acquiring and transmitting the virus?
2. The vaccinated (she probably believes in the “science” as professed by Fauci and the CDC – a totally worthless drain of humanity) should be safe from the virus. Why should they have to mask?
3. Most masks are worthless. Rad the literature guv (small g to match her brain size).
This is about BIG, BIGGER, and BIGGEST gubment. Turn the citizenry into a herd of Yes people, whatever you say people.
FOR YOUR FREEDOM: R E S I S T
oregon has been renamed LENINGRAD WEST.
I thought it was Moscow west.
Portlanidgrad…
CDC – Centers to Deceive & Control
Hey IDIOT kate, I WILL NOT COMPLY with your TYRANNY, PERIOD! You can stick your directive WAY UP where the sun don’t shine! Vermin like you need to be FUMIGATED, PERIOD!
Just waiting for the big earthquake that will slide the entire west coast into the pacific.
As long as it takes, the ENTIRE coast, from Seattle, on down to San diego, and out to 50 miles inland.
“Masks are a quick and simple tool we can immediately deploy to protect ourselves and our families, and quickly help stop further spread of COVID-19…
One problem. They dont work! It even says it on the box! But then again reading is probably not one of her stronger skills.
Masks have proven to be effective at bringing case counts down…
Proven? Where, How? Where are the studies proving this?
“We are starting to see instances where cases are clustering around events, like outdoor music festivals, that happen outdoors. Wearing masks in crowded settings – even outdoors – will help slow the spread of COVID-19.”…
Hmmm, I seem to recall Sturgis. Just a week or so ago where 250,000 bikers got together and I don’t recall seeing too many, no actually any masks at all in what the left hoped would be a super spreader event and what have we heard from that? Crickets. And let’s not forget Pelosi’s maskless fund raiser this past weekend in Nappa.
Under exceptions…individuals living outdoors, such as persons experiencing houselessness;…
But wait. are you telling me that the democrats don’t care about the homeless?
kate Brown is a complete and total POS and this mandate is actually laughable!
The only mask that will work against covid is the military’s gas mask. I doubt of the marxist barf bags will ever be able to force everyone to wear that. I didn’t like it when I had to wear it in the Army but it was better than breathing CS gas.
I’ve often commented elsewhere, i am shocked they have not gone to the point, to demand everyone WEAR a full on Scuba suit “For your protection” of course.
When women were fighting over the Abortion Bill, all you heard was “My Body, My Choice” I guess that only applies to baby killers.
Cruel pointless suffocating govt tyranny is same whether it is being imposed by the Marxist Dem Party or the Islamist Taliban.
Don’t see much difference between the Islamist Taliban Sharia law enforcers & the enforcers of the Dem Party Marxist law.
They both use govt authoritarian force & the fear of loss of life, limb, livelihood & property to exact unquestioned submission & obedience from the population.
At least the nutty Muslims are fully aware from birth that devotion to Islam requires them to be ignorant, impoverished, dominated & enslaved by whatever violent groups pop up claiming to be appointed by Allah to be their rulers.
US citizens have only recently been confronted with govt tyranny by Dem Party who have empowered their enforcers in the form of BLM, antifa, criminals & now covid hysterical people into the streets to assault, kill & cause mass destruction.
When citizens physically fight back against the above violent political aggression the Dem Party then relies on the corrupt media & Corp America to quell any resistance via public browbeating & punitive actions.
I’d love to see a side by side comparison done, of HOW MANY PEOPLE< islam has murdered, vs how many Communism/marxism has!