Indoor dining resumes in 15 Oregon counties moving back into 'high risk'

PORTLAND, Ore. — Starting Friday, 15 Oregon Counties are now out of “extreme risk” for coronavirus, and are back into the “high risk” category.

That includes Multnomah and Clackamas Counties.

PAST COVERAGE | Gov. Brown moves 15 Oregon counties from 'extreme' back to 'high risk' of COVID-19

Governor Kate Brown made the announcement Tuesday, nearly a week after saying those 15 Oregon counties would be bumped to the 'extreme risk' level within the state’s public health framework to slow the spread of coronavirus.

“Let me be clear: across the state, COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations are still high, and Oregon is not out of the woods yet,” Brown said. “However, we have met the hospitalization metric established by our health experts for counties to return to High Risk.”

The move back to “high risk” means that restaurants and bars will be able to resume limited indoor dining.

Other businesses like retail stores and gyms, will be able to increase capacity.

Two other counties, Douglas and Malheur, were also shifted to 'high risk' from the 'moderate' category starting Friday.

On Friday morning, Governor Brown posted a video message to Oregonians on her Facebook page, about counties moving back down to high risk.

It is because so many Oregonians continue to get vaccinated, wear masks, and follow health and safety measures that we are able to lift Extreme Risk restrictions today, and that so many Oregonians will be able to hug mom again this Sunday. Thank you." Gov. Brown wrote.