May 5, 2020

ByAnnette Powers

 City and County officials share the frustrations community members are feeling with state-mandated closures and ask for patience as we work through the ever-evolving state regulations. We hope that our public remembers Union and Wallowa Counties did not impose the statewide closures, but we are working diligently to remove all barriers for reopening. The Governor’s benchmarks for reopening are rapidly changing, making it difficult to satisfy requirements. Governor Kate Brown’s statewide Executive Order 20-12 closed specific businesses until further notice. The order may be read in entirety here: https://www.oregon.gov/…/Docu…/executive_orders/eo_20-12.pdf
The Executive Order has provided the following list of allowed and not allowed businesses and activities.
Allowed
• (must keep 6 feet from others)
• Hospitals and health care
• Grocery stores
• Banks and Credit Unions
• Pharmacies
• Take-out/delivery from restaurants and bars
• Pet stores
• Gas stations
• Certain retail stores
• Outdoor activities like walking your dog, jogging, or biking in your neighborhood
• Child care facilities and babysitters (only if abiding by new rules)

Not Allowed
• Social gatherings (parties, celebrations) with people from outside of your household
• Dine-in restaurants and bars
• Nightclubs and concerts
• Shopping at outdoor or indoor malls and retail complexes
• Gyms, sports and fitness centers, health clubs, and exercise studios, dance and yoga studios
• Hair salons, barbershops, nail salons, day spas and massage services, non-medical wellness spas, cosmetic stores, tattoo parlors
• Theaters, amusement parks, arcades, bowling alleys, music concerts, sporting events, museums, skating rinks
• State parks, playgrounds, campgrounds, pools, skate parks, festivals
If you remain uncertain as to whether your business is allowed to be open, the Governor’s office has provided a three-question quiz and additional information available through the following link: https://govstatus.egov.com/or-covid-19

Wallowa County submitted a reopening plan to the Governor’s office for approval on Monday, May 4, 2020.

Union County remains at four confirmed cases of COVID-19, of which three have been classified by Oregon Health Authority as recovered. Wallowa County remains with one confirmed case, who has been classified as recovered. Oregon Health Authority is reporting a total of 2,839 confirmed and presumptive cases.

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