Dear Friends and Neighbors, 

This is an incredibly hard time. Our day-to-day lives have taken a dramatic shift, and our health and well-being are at stake due to COVID-19/coronavirus. During this time, it is important that we take care of ourselves, our neighbors, and vulnerable individuals in our communities by following regulations and precautions from state officials and medical experts.

New Stay at Home Order in Oregon: “Stay Home, Save Lives”

Earlier today, Governor Kate Brown issued Executive Order 20-12, directing everyone in Oregon to stay at home to the maximum extent possible and adding to the list of businesses that will be temporarily closed to stem the spread of COVID-19 in Oregon. The order is effective immediately and remains in effect until ended by the Governor.

The order:

• Immediately prohibits all non-essential social and recreational gatherings of individuals, regardless of size, if a distance of at least six feet between individuals cannot be maintained. Gatherings of members of the same residential household are permitted.
• Closes and prohibits shopping at specific categories of retail businesses in which close personal contact is difficult to avoid, such as arcades, barber shops, hair salons, gyms and fitness studios, skating rinks, theaters, and yoga studios.
• Requires businesses not closed by the order to implement social distancing policies in order to remain open and requires workplaces to implement teleworking and work-at-home options when possible.
• Directs Oregonians to stay home whenever possible, while permitting activities outside the home when social distance is maintained.
• Closes playgrounds, sports courts, and skate parks, among other types of outdoor recreation facilities. Those that remain open are required to strictly adhere to social distancing guidelines.
• Outlines new guidelines for childcare facilities, setting limits and rules on amounts of children allowed in care, and stating that childcare groups may not change participants.
• Failure to comply with the order will be considered an immediate danger to public health and is a Class C misdemeanor.

Closed businesses include:

• Shopping: Outdoor and indoor malls and retail complexes, although individual types of businesses not subject to the measures may stay open.
• Fitness: Gyms, sports and fitness centers, health clubs, and exercise studios.
• Grooming: Barbershops, beauty and nail salons, and non-medical wellness spas.
• Entertainment: Theaters, amusement parks, arcades, bowling alleys, and pool halls.

You can read Governor Kate Brown’s full press release on Executive Order 20-12, directing further social distancing here. All COVID-19 executive orders will be posted on the Oregon Coronavirus Information and Resources Page after they have been issued and signed. Full details on all businesses listed in the executive order here.

Stay at Home

Please, stay home and stay healthy.

• Don’t leave your home unless absolutely necessary.
• Do not shake hands, hug, or share food and beverages.
• If you are sick, stay home.
• When not at home, stay six feet apart from others at all times.
• If you must visit communal spaces such as laundry or mail rooms, be sure to wash your hands before and after the visit, don’t touch your face, and maintain appropriate distance.
• Cancel non-essential appointments or visits.
• If you want to support local businesses, use delivery or pick-up options. Wipe down containers, wash your hands, and opt for porch drop-off.
• If you exercise or go on a walk, maintain appropriate distance from others. Do not visit beaches, trails and parks that do not allow you to practice these necessary health guidelines.
• Do not host any in-person gatherings, play dates, or social events.

One Thing You Can Do at Home: Fill Out Your Census

I've been flooded with people asking how they can help in this crisis. Aside from the above list, there is another thing we can do to help Oregon during our stay-at-home time:

Fill out your census.

In 2016, (the last year data was available) Oregon received $13.4 billion in federal money in dozens of programs from Medicaid to business loans to rural renter assistance. Those appropriations were calculated solely on census results. The more Oregonians who participate, the better our chances of maximizing federal funds.

You can fill out your census online in a matter of minutes: my2020census.gov.

What We’re Doing

The Legislature has convened the Joint Special Committee on Coronavirus Response.

The Committee is looking for ways to provide stability for individuals and families, address our health care system needs, and provide support to employers and their employees. The Committee is considering policies that address both big picture needs and smaller fixes to assist struggling Oregonians in this crisis and plan for the long-term needs. The Committee anticipates passing urgent policies in an upcoming Special Session.

You can watch past and upcoming meetings by clicking the icons to the right side of the Committee Page. When you click on a meeting date, you can view the agenda and navigate to the Meeting Materials tab to view the documents the Committee has been reviewing as well as the testimony which has been submitted.

How to Follow Critical Updates and Find Resources

The Oregon Health Authority is actively updating their website with critical information. You can sign up for e-mail and text updates as well.

Governor Kate Brown has a website with a hub information and links to additional resources such as utility supports.

For information on unemployment insurance and business support, visit the Oregon Department of Employment and Business Oregon pages.

School Districts across Oregon are offering Grab-and-Go meals. You can navigate through this Partners for a Hunger Free Oregon spreadsheet to find yours.

For additional meal support, the Oregon Food Bank has a useful Food Finder page.

If your income has changed, you may qualify for Supplemental Nutrition Assistant Program (SNAP) benefits. Eligibility has also expanded for college students.

Stay Home and Stay Safe, Please

This is a critical time to slow the spread of COVID-19. It’s on us to take care of ourselves and one another. We have a long road ahead, but by staying home and practicing social distancing, we will flatten the curve and save lives.

Be well.

Sincerely,

Senator Mark Hass
Senate District 14

email: Sen.MarkHass@oregonlegislature.gov I phone: 503-986-1714
address: 900 Court St NE, S-207, Salem, OR, 97301
website: http://www.oregonlegislature.gov/hass