During a news conference, Gov. Kate Brown provided further details on the reinstatement of the statewide mask mandate that she previously announced.
The new mask requirement for all indoor public settings, including businesses, will take effect this Friday, Aug. 13. Enforcement of this new measure will be with Oregon OSHA, and OBI remains in constant communication with the agency to ensure the responsibility of enforcement does not fall on businesses. When asked about enforcement, Gov. Brown said, “Oregonians need to take personal responsibility.” We’ll keep our members updated as we know more.
The mask requirement, according to the governor, is an effort to keep schools and businesses open. Gov. Brown did not rule out further restrictions like capacity limits or business closures if the virus continues to spread.
The governor also announced yesterday she is requiring executive branch employees to receive a vaccine or face termination. In her news conference today, she strongly encouraged all public and private employers to require vaccination for their employees too.
Gov. Brown also referenced Oregon Health & Science University modeling that suggests the state’s hospital system is nearing a dangerous tipping point, and could be completely overwhelmed by September. The Delta variant is about three times as infectious as original versions of COVID-19.
Information provided by Oregon Business & Industry