May 29, 2020

ByAnnette Powers

Union and Wallowa Counties remain on track for completion of Phase 1 Reopening. This will continue at least until Friday, June 5 when the minimum requirement of 21 days in Phase 1 is completed. Letters to Governor Kate Brown were submitted today formally requesting advancement to Phase 2. All required benchmarks for Phase 1 have been completed and maintained by both counties.

Some Phase 1 requirements will remain into Phase 2 including maintaining hospital capacity, completing contact tracing within Oregon Health Authority guidelines and maintaining adequate testing. New requirements added for Phase 2 include timelines associated with contact tracing, successful tracing of COVID-19 positive cases to an existing positive case, and less than a 5% increase in positive cases outside a known outbreak.

Specifics of Phase 2 guidance as to what will be allowed has not yet been provided by the state, but is expected to be received by Wednesday, June 3. The State has indicated that Phase 2 will include new guidance addressing small/medium size venues, youth sports, overnight camps, indoor and outdoor activities, and certain outdoor recreation. Additional changes are anticipated regarding restaurants and bars, an increase in allowed travel, and a limited return to work for those that have not yet been able to do so.

Oregon State Parks has announced that limited overnight camping at select parks across the state will begin on Tuesday, June 9. Included in the select list is the Wallowa Lake State Park. RV and tent campers with existing reservations for a campground that opens will be honored beginning June 9. Not all sites or loops may be available at open campgrounds. The online reservation system has been suspended since April 28. It will reopen for new reservations sometime next week through the website of www.stateparks.oregon.gov. New reservations will be accepted one day to two weeks in advance. Additionally, a few eastern Oregon campgrounds opened today for overnight stays. These include Minam Park, Hilgard Junction, and Catherine Creek State Parks.

Union County remains at six confirmed cases of COVID-19, of which five meet the Oregon Health Authority definition of recovered. Wallowa County has two confirmed cases, of which one has been classified as recovered. Oregon Health Authority is reporting a total of 4,131 confirmed and presumptive cases, and 151 deaths statewide.

The next update will be provided on Monday, June 1, 2020.

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