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Friends and Neighbors,
Governor Updates
Governor Kate Brown Places Four Additional Counties on Two-Week Pause
Governor Kate Brown yesterday announced the addition of four counties—Baker, Clackamas, Union, and Washington—to the Two-Week Pause on social activities to help stop rapid spread of COVID-19 where community transmission is on the rise. These four counties join Jackson, Malheur, Marion, Multnomah, and Umatilla Counties on the pause, announced Friday. The pause measures will be in effect for two weeks, from Nov. 11 through Nov. 25.
“As we continue to see alarmingly high case rates reflective of sporadic community spread, now is the time to implement measures to further reduce gatherings and curb human contact," said Governor Brown. "The Two-Week Pause measures are designed to reduce the amount of people we interact with and the frequency of those encounters. We all must continue to do our part to stop this virus from spreading, particularly limiting our social gatherings and interactions, or we risk further closures and restrictions."
The Two-Week Pause measures include:
- Urging all businesses to mandate work from home to the greatest extent possible.
- Pausing long-term care facility visits that take place indoors to protect staff and residents.
- Reducing maximum restaurant capacity to 50 people (including customers and staff) for indoor dining, with a maximum party size of six. Continuing to encourage outdoor dining and take out.
- Reducing the maximum capacity of other indoor activities to 50 people (includes gyms, fitness organizations/studios, bowling alleys, ice rinks, indoor sports, pools, and museums).
- Limiting social gatherings to your household, or no more than six people if the gathering includes those from outside your household, reducing the frequency of those social gatherings (significantly in a two-week period), and keeping the same six people in your social gathering circle.
The Two-Week Pause is being instituted in counties with a case rate above 200 per 100,000 people over a two-week period, or more than 60 cases over a two-week period for counties with less than 30,000 people. Clackamas and Washington Counties are being added to the Two-Week Pause due to their case rates being just under the threshold and both counties registering significant daily case counts in the last several days. These measures replace the County Watch List process that Governor Brown instituted in July.
The complete Two-Week Pause list—effective Nov. 11 through Nov. 25—now includes the following nine counties: Baker, Clackamas, Jackson, Malheur, Marion, Multnomah, Umatilla, Union, and Washington.
 Emergency Board Committee Action
Emergency Board Approves More than $128 million for Oregonians Impacted by the COVID-19 Pandemic
Press Release from the Office of the House Speaker
The legislative Emergency Board yesterday approved more than $128 million to
help Oregonians impacted by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. This includes funding for
childcare providers, Oregonians in need of shelter, small businesses, long-term care providers and victims of domestic and sexual violence.
“I want to thank Reps. Marsh and Keny-Guyer, as well as numerous advocates who pushed for this funding,” House Speaker Tina Kotek said. “This funding comes at a critical time as COVID19 cases continue to spike in Oregon. As winter approaches, it’s particularly important we passed additional funding to help people without permanent housing. We’ve been facing a statewide shelter emergency for some time and the pandemic has made the situation even more dire. We have a lot of work ahead of us to solve this emergency but it's an important step."
The Emergency Board approved $35 million from the state’s Emergency Fund to support the
Project Turnkey Statewide Pandemic and Homelessness Response. The Oregon Community
Foundation will use funding to support the acquisition, retrofitting and potential operation of
hotel and motel properties to be used as emergency shelter. This funding is in addition to $30
million the Emergency Board approved on October 23 to begin Project Turnkey in wildfireaffected areas. The Emergency Board also approved the following allocations from the state’s share of federal funds available through the Coronavirus Relief Fund:
Oregon Health Authority Updates
Facebook Live on School Metrics, Thursday at 12:00pm
We know parents have questions about the updated school metrics and what they mean for school in Oregon during COVID-19. Join us Thursday, November 12 at 12:00 p.m. to have your questions answered by Oregon Department of Education Director, Colt Gill, and our Deputy State Health Officer and Epidemiologist, Dr. Thomas Jeanne.
Visit here to watch the livestream event.
COVID-19 and the Changing Weather
Pulling out sweaters and rain jackets is a good marker of the change in seasons. This year, as the weather starts to change, you might need to switch up your routines a little more.
Here are some reminders for leaving the house in colder weather:
- Grab an umbrella or rain jacket with a protective hood on the way out the door.
- Bring an extra mask in case you get caught in the rain. Letting your face covering get wet may decrease its effectiveness and make it difficult to breathe.
- Wear enough warm clothing. You may not be able to find an open café or library to duck in to warm up or dry off.
- Remember that the cold doesn’t kill COVID-19 so you need still need to take the usual precautions to stay safe.
For more facts about COVID-19, see the World Health Organization’s COVID-19 Mythbusters.
 Education Updates
Hillsboro School District Plans for Updated Metrics
The Hillsboro School District School Board met last night in a Special Board Session to discuss the new school metrics recently released by the Oregon Department of Education and how that may impact Comprehensive Distance Learning and In Person Learning going forward. Key highlights from the meeting were:
- Grades 3-12 remain in Comprehensive Distance Learning through the end of Semester 1 (January 29, 2021)
- Continue preparing for the possibility of students in grades PreK-2 returning to in-person learning in mid-January
- If Washington County metrics and the calendar (holidays and natural breaks) allow
- If this is a possibility, it will be communicated to staff and families no later than mid-December 2020
- Increase the number of students participating in Limited In-Person Instruction (LIPI) according to established criteria until we return K-12
Business Updates
Oregon OSHA Adopts Temporary Rule Addressing COVID-19 in All Workplaces
Oregon OSHA has adopted a temporary rule that combats the spread of coronavirus in all workplaces by requiring employers to carry out a comprehensive set of risk-reducing measures.
The rule will take effect Nov. 16, with certain parts phased in, and is expected to remain in effect until May 4, 2021. It is a continuation of the guidance produced by the Oregon Health Authority and enforced in the workplace by Oregon OSHA, including physical distancing, use of face coverings, and sanitation.
In the weeks ahead, Oregon OSHA will provide educational resources to help employers and workers understand and apply the requirements. Already, the division offers consultation services that provide no-cost assistance with safety and health programs and technical staff who help employers understand requirements. The COVID-19 Hazards Poster – provided by the division and required by the temporary rule to be posted – is now available in both English and Spanish. And the division is providing a user-friendly overview table of the temporary rule, summarizing the requirements and how they apply, and showing the effective dates of the phased-in provisions.
Oregon OSHA encourages a careful reading of the temporary rule which includes an appendix that contains provisions for specific industries and workplace activities. The temporary rule’s requirements include:
Physical distancing
- Employers must ensure six-foot distancing between all people in the workplace through design of work activities and workflow, unless it can be shown it is not feasible for some activities.
Masks, face covering, or face shields
- Employers must ensure that all individuals – including employees, part-time workers and customers – at the workplace, or other establishment under the employer’s control, wear a mask, face covering, or face shield in line with the Oregon Health Authority’s statewide guidance.
- Employers must provide masks, face coverings, or face shields for employees free of cost.
- If an employee chooses to wear a mask, face shield, or face covering – even when it is not required – the employer must allow them to do so.
- When employees are transported in a vehicle for work-related purposes, regardless of the travel distance or duration, all people inside the vehicle must wear a mask, face covering, or face shield. This requirement does not apply when all people in the vehicle are members of the same household.
Ventilation
- Employers must maximize the effectiveness of existing ventilation systems, maintain and replace air filters, and clean intake ports providing fresh or outdoor air. The temporary rule does not require employers to purchase or install new ventilation systems.
Exposure risk assessment
- Employers must conduct a risk assessment – a process that must involve participation and feedback from employees – to gauge potential employee exposure to COVID-19, including addressing specific questions about how to minimize such exposure.
Infection control plan
- Employers must develop an infection control plan addressing several elements, including when workers must use personal protective equipment and a description of specific hazard controls.
Information and training
- Employers must provide information and training to workers about the relevant topics related to COVID-19. They must do so in a manner and language understood by workers.
Notification, testing, medical removal
- Employers must notify affected workers within 24 hours of a work-related COVID-19 infection.
- Employers must cooperate with public health officials if testing within the workplace is necessary.
- If an employee must quarantine or isolate, the employer must follow proper work reassignment and return-to-work steps.
The rule requires more measures for exceptionally high-risk jobs. Such jobs include direct patient care or decontamination work; aerosol-generating or postmortem procedures; and first-responder activities. The additional measures include:
- Detailed infection control training and planning
- Sanitation procedures for routine cleaning and disinfection
- Robust use of personal protective equipment
- Operation of existing ventilation systems according to national standards
- Use of barriers, partitions, and airborne infection isolation rooms
- Screening and triaging for symptoms of COVID-19
Meanwhile, an executive order issued Oct. 23 by Gov. Kate Brown extended COVID-19 protections for agricultural workers in employer-provided housing through the off season.
Following adoption of its temporary COVID-19 rule for all workplaces, Oregon OSHA continues to pursue permanent rulemaking that would provide a structure for responding to potential future disease outbreaks. More information is available on the division’s infectious disease rulemaking page and on its COVID-19 resources page.
Read the full press release here.
Community Outreach
Join a City of Hillsboro Commission, Committee or Board
From The Hillsboro Herald
Hillsboro is seeking volunteers to serve on City committees, boards, and commissions, who are committed to bettering our community and advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion.
Apply now for vacancies that will begin in January 2021:
– Arts & Culture Council
– Audit Committee
– Budget Committee
– Finance Committee
– Parks & Recreation Commission
– Planning Commission
– Planning & Zoning Hearings Board
– Transportation Committee
Applications are due by November 16: https://www.hillsboro-oregon.gov/…/commissions…
Read the full article here.
 Washington County to Honor Veterans via Livestream Program This Year
From Washington County
Due to the coronavirus pandemic, Washington County is unable to hold their annual Veterans Day ceremony this year. Instead, they will televise and livestream a tribute on Wednesday, November 11, starting at 11:11 a.m. The program will last about an hour.
“When we realized an in-person ceremony wasn’t going to be possible this year, we quickly got to work on an alternative,” said Veteran Service Officer Jason Muehe with Washington County Disability, Aging and Veteran Services. “Our county is home to 35,000 veterans. Each one of them deserves to feel honored and recognized on Veterans Day.”
Muehe is teaming up with Andy Cartmill of Washington County Health and Human Services to co-host a virtual program that will feature interviews with several veterans in the community. The show will be interspersed with information about vital services available to Washington County veterans. Those who view the livestream on YouTube and Facebook should be able to comment and ask questions of the hosts.
The program begins at 11:11 a.m., but most of the channels will be available starting around 11 a.m. There are many ways to watch:
For more information, call Vicki Horn at 503-846-3051.
Additional Resources
House District 30 Links
Federal Delegation Links
Education Links
Utilities Assistance
Food and Housing Assistance
 What an absolute highlight to my week, when I had the opportunity to be interviewed by two fabulous 3rd graders last Friday. Cole (Quatama Elementary) and Henry (Jackson Elementary) didn’t throw softball questions either. They wanted to know about taxes, how a bill becomes a law, the craziest bill I have ever seen, where do I get my bill ideas from and how do I meet up with the people I represent. It is like I have said for years, since my days on the Hillsboro School Board, the kids are watching and listening. It was wonderful to meet Cole and Henry and help them with their "Power of People" unit school project.
Be good to yourself and each other. ❤
Onward & Upward,
 Capitol Phone: 503-986-1430
Capitol Address: 900 Court St. NE, H-487, Salem, Oregon 97301
Email: Rep.JaneenSollman@oregonlegislature.gov
Website: http://www.oregonlegislature.gov/sollman
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