The Benton County Board of Commissioners have issued Order #D2021-063. It was issued on August 17, 2021.

Effective immediately, the order requires all individuals ages 5 and above, regardless of vaccination status, to wear face coverings when in indoor public settings and in outdoor public settings where a physical distance of six feet cannot be maintained.

“The health and safety of Benton County residents remains the number one priority,” said Benton County Board chair, Xan Augerot. “We cannot pretend that we live on an island. Individuals from different parts of Oregon and the United States are coming to Benton County to visit and recreate. We needed to take further action to ensure the health and safety of our communities and protect our hospital systems.”

“We’re averaging between three and four ventilated COVID patients in our ICU. When you look at these individuals, you see that they’re critically ill,” said Laura Hennum, CEO of Good Samaritan Regional Medical Regional Medical Center.

You can view the August 17, 2021 Board of Commissioners meeting here. The discussion regarding COVID-19 begins at 7:25.

The Board of Commissioners’ order can be read here.


--Bruce Armstrong

Post Date: 2021-08-19 10:10:02

Last Update: 2021-08-19 10:41:25