May 13, 2020

Governor Kate Brown has indicated that Oregon counties will be notified tomorrow morning if approved for reopening of Phase 1. She has also stated that all retail businesses are permitted to reopen statewide on Friday, May 15, 2020 even if county approval is not received. Guidance outlining the specifics are available at https://govstatus.egov.com/or-covid-19. All stores that have not been closed throughout the pandemic will be required to follow the new retail business guidance.

A few of the guidance specifics include:

• Limit the number of customers in the retail store and focus on maintaining at least six (6) feet of distance between customers and employees.
• Post clear signs encouraging physical distancing (available at https://govstatus.egov.com/OR-OHA-COVID-19) and listing COVID-19 symptoms, asking employees and customers with symptoms to stay home, and listing who to contact if they need assistance.
• Frequently clean and sanitize work areas, high-traffic areas, and commonly touched surfaces in both customer/public and employee areas of the store. Wipe down doorknobs, walls and seating between each customer use.
• Require all employees to wear face coverings. Businesses must provide face coverings for employees.

State guidance continues to say that to the extent possible, retail stores should, but are not required to:

• Consider placing clear plastic or glass barriers in front of cashiers or customer service counters or in other places where maintaining six (6) feet of physical distance between employees and customers is more difficult.
• Encourage one-way flow with marked entrances and exits. Do not block egress for fire exits. Use signs to direct one-way traffic flow.
• Use signs and tape on the floor to maintain physical distancing while waiting for cashiers.
• Prohibit customers from trying on items that are worn on the face (cloth masks, scarves, headbands, eyewear).
• Re-opening fitting rooms will be an individual business decision. If fitting rooms are re-opened, customers should wash hands or use hand sanitizer before and after trying on clothes. Retailers should provide hand sanitizer or hand washing stations near fitting rooms.

Union County remains at four confirmed cases of COVID-19, of which three have been classified by Oregon Health Authority (OHA) as recovered. Wallowa County remains at one confirmed case, who has been classified as recovered. OHA is reporting a total of 3,416 confirmed and presumptive cases, and 134 deaths statewide. As of Sunday, May 10, there is a total of 1,406 classified by OHA as recovered statewide.