Governor Kate Brown Announces Updates to County Risk Levels Updated

(Salem, OR) — Governor Kate Brown today announced updates to county risk levels under the state’s new public health framework 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.

Tillamook County will be staying at Extreme; Clatsop County moved back to Extreme; Lincoln County stayed at High.

From Tillamook County Community Health Centers: OHA determined Tillamook County to be in the “Extreme Risk“ category until at least 1/28/2021. Based on current disease metrics (OHA reports 63 new cases for Tillamook County from 12/27/20 – 01/09/21), Tillamook County will remain in the “Extreme Risk” category for an additional two weeks. If cases decrease below 60 over the next two weeks, we would be eligible to move to a lower risk category starting 1/29/21.

For additional information and frequently asked questions, see our page: https://tillamookchc.org/newframework/

The actions we take impact our futures – take care to practice the COVID-19 safety precautions: wash your hands frequently, wear a face covering/mask, keep 6ft away from those not in your immediate household.

Effective January 15 through January 28, there will be 26 counties in the Extreme Risk level, two at High Risk, two at Moderate Risk, and six at Lower Risk. A complete list of counties and their associated risk levels is below:

County Risk Categories, Effective January 15-28 (Data as of January 11, 2020)
Changes from Previous Two-Week Period are Marked in Red
Lower Risk (6)
Gilliam
Grant
Harney
Sherman
Wallowa
Wheeler
Moderate Risk (2)
Curry (Moved from Extreme)
Lake (Moved from Lower)
High Risk (2)
Douglas
Lincoln
Extreme Risk (26)
Baker (Moved from High)
Benton
Clackamas
Clatsop (Moved from High)
Columbia
Coos (Moved from High)
Crook
Deschutes
Hood River
Jackson
Jefferson
Josephine
Klamath
Lane
Linn
Malheur
Marion
Morrow (Moved from High)
Multnomah
Polk
Tillamook
Umatilla
Union
Wasco
Washington
Yamhill

“With four counties moving back to Extreme Risk, this week we are reminded that health and safety measures continue to be of utmost importance, even when we slow the spread of COVID-19,” said Governor Brown. “I want to remind all Oregonians to continue to do their part by abiding by the health and safety guidelines in place. Until vaccines are widely available with high participation rates, the surest way to open our communities is to continue practicing the measures we know are effective in reducing the spread of COVID-19 — wear your mask, keep physical distance from others, avoid gatherings, wash your hands often, and stay home when you are sick.”

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 January 26 and take effect January 29.

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