Last week Governor Brown issued a statewide pause on all county applications to move into Phase 1 or Phase 2. This meant holding off on reviewing the reopening applications from Hood River, Marion, Multnomah, and Polk Counties.

“I instituted the statewide pause because of the rising number of cases in both rural and urban communities. I did this to give public health experts time to assess what factors are driving the spread of the virus and make adjustments to our reopening strategy” said Governor Brown. As it turns out, a one-day spike was not an indicator of increases.

Cases have leveled and declining, but still the Governor is requiring wearing face coverings while in indoor public spaces, such as grocery stores and other businesses, for Multnomah, Washington, Clackamas, Hood River, Marion, Polk, and Lincoln counties. This mandate will be effective beginning Wednesday, June 24.

“Second, I am moving Marion, Polk, and Hood River Counties to Phase 2 beginning Friday, June 19. Marion and Polk Counties are seeing a decline in hospitalizations, and Hood River has had only one new hospital admission in the past two weeks,” Brown says.

What is significant in this action is that the special session is schedule for June 24 in Marion County. She is being criticized for limiting groups to 25 over faulty information while calling legislators to the capitol. She was caught in her own trap so was forced to move Marion County to Phase 2. She still faces criticism for lack of transparency in pushing complex cultural issues when the public is blocked from the capitol.

Multnomah County will move to Phase 1 on June 19 and will be grouped with Washington and Clackamas Counties for future reopening decisions. This means Washington and Clackamas will be held in Phase 1 until Multnomah catches up, which suppresses the economy longer than necessary. The tri-county group will be eligible for Phase 2 after 21 days. The Governor says, “I know this impacts communities and businesses in Clackamas and Washington counties but, as we reopen our state, we must recognize how interconnected the metro area is.”

Considering the state deficit is in billions, what is the real purpose of pushing back on re-opening the economy?


--Staff Reports

Post Date: 2020-06-17 19:17:19

Last Update: 2020-06-17 19:17:32