Oregon Governor Kate Brown on Friday announced a statewide Two-Week Freeze, implementing new measures to limit gatherings and stop the rapid spread of COVID-19 across Oregon. The lockdown measures will be in effect from Nov. 18 through Dec. 2, statewide and arrive as the Thanksgiving holiday approaches.

“Since I announced a Two-Week Pause one week ago, we are seeing an alarming spike in both cases and hospitalizations,” said Governor Brown. “The virus is spreading in the community and, every day, it is infecting more and more Oregonians. This situation is dangerous and our hospitals have been sounding the alarms. If we want to give Oregon a fighting chance, we must take further measures to flatten the curve and save lives.”

The Governor noted data and modeling the state is seeing brought public health officials to the conclusion that some counties will need longer to flatten the curve. She indicated some COVID-19 hotspot counties will likely need to stay in the Freeze for much longer than two weeks. That includes Multnomah County, for example, which will be shut down for at least four weeks.

The latest measures include:
• Requiring all businesses to mandate work-from-home to the greatest extent possible and closing offices to the public.
• Limiting eating and drinking establishments to take-out and delivery only.
• Limiting grocery stores and pharmacies to a maximum of 75% capacity and encouraging curbside pickup.
• Limiting retail stores and retail malls, indoor and outdoor, to a maximum of 75% capacity and encouraging curbside pickup.
• Closing gyms and fitness organizations.
• Limiting social get-togethers, indoors and outdoors to no more than six people, total, from no more than two households.
• Limiting faith-based organizations to a maximum of 25 people indoors or 50 people outdoors.
• Closing indoor recreational facilities, museums, indoor entertainment activities, and indoor pools and sports courts.
• Closing zoos, gardens, aquariums, outdoor entertainment activities, and outdoor pools.
• Closing venues that host or facilitate indoor or outdoor events.
• Prohibiting indoor visiting in long-term care facilities, outdoor visitation permitted for supporting quality of life.

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