Governor Announces 16 Counties Improve in Risk Level; Clatsop & Lincoln Counties Join Tillamook County in “Lower Risk”

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Updated county risk levels take effect February 26

(Salem, OR) — Governor Kate Brown today announced that 16 counties improved in risk level, with 10 of those improving from Extreme Risk. County risk levels under the state’s public health framework aim to reduce transmission and protect Oregonians from COVID-19. The framework uses four different risk levels for counties based on COVID-19 spread—Extreme Risk, High Risk, Moderate Risk, and Lower Risk—and assigns health and safety measures for each level.

Effective February 26 through March 11, there will be five counties in the Extreme Risk level, 11 at High Risk, 10 at Moderate Risk, and 10 at Lower Risk.

Here is the complete list of counties and their associated risk levels:

County Risk Categories, Effective February 26 – March 11
(Data as of February 20, 2021) Changes from Previous Two-Week Period are Marked in Green and Red

Lower Risk (10)
Baker
Clatsop (Moved from High)
Gilliam
Grant
Lincoln (Moved from High)
Sherman
Tillamook
Wallowa
Wasco (Moved from Extreme)
Wheeler

Moderate Risk (10)
Clackamas (Moved from High)
Curry (Moved from Lower)
Harney (Moved from Lower)
Hood River (Moved from High)
Lake
Linn (Moved from High)
Malheur (Moved from Extreme)
Morrow
Union (Moved from Extreme)
Washington (Moved from High)

High Risk (11)
Columbia
Crook (Moved from Extreme)
Deschutes
Jackson (Moved from Extreme)
Klamath
Lane (Moved from Extreme)
Marion (Moved from Extreme)
Multnomah
Polk (Moved from Extreme)
Umatilla (Moved from Extreme)
Yamhill (Moved from Extreme)

Extreme Risk (5)
Benton
Coos
Douglas (Moved from High)
Jefferson
Josephine

“For the second time in a row, we are seeing great progress in stopping the spread of COVID-19 across Oregon and saving lives,” said Governor Brown. “Oregonians continue to step up and make smart choices. While these county movements are welcome news, we must continue to take seriously health and safety measures, especially as more businesses reopen and we start to get out more. As we see infection rates going down and vaccinations ramping up, now is not the time to let down our guard. Continue to wear your masks, keep physical distance, and avoid indoor gatherings.”

The Oregon Health Authority will examine and publish county data weekly. County risk levels will be reassigned every two weeks. The first week’s data will provide a “warning week” to prepare counties for potential risk level changes. The next assignment of risk levels will be announced March 9 and take effect March 12.

Updates to Warning Week data and county risk levels will be posted to coronavirus.oregon.gov.