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Friends and Neighbors,
Governor Kate Brown Urges Oregonians to Get Vaccinated, 15 Counties Qualify for Extreme Risk Amid Rapid Surge in COVID-19 Cases and Hospitalizations
Due to the rapid spread of COVID-19 in Oregon, Governor Kate Brown yesterday announced updates to county risk levels under the state’s public health framework. With hospitalizations rising above 300 people statewide, threatening to overwhelm doctors and nurses, 15 counties will move to the Extreme Risk level effective Friday, April 30 through Thursday, May 6. In addition, nine counties will be in the High Risk level, four at Moderate Risk, and eight at Lower Risk. A complete list of counties and their risk levels is available here.
“If we don’t act now, doctors, nurses, hospitals, and other health care providers in Oregon will be stretched to their limits treating severe cases of COVID-19,” said Governor Brown. “Today’s announcement will save lives and help stop COVID-19 hospitalizations from spiking even higher. With new COVID-19 variants widespread in so many of our communities, it will take all of us working together to bring this back under control.”
Governor Brown is partnering with lawmakers to approve a $20 million small business emergency relief package to immediately support impacted businesses in Extreme Risk counties through the commercial rent relief program.
In an effort to speed up the return to normal business operations, county COVID-19 data will be evaluated weekly for at least the next three weeks. Any updates to county risk levels next week will be announced on Tuesday, May 4 and take effect on Friday, May 7. Counties that improve their COVID-19 metrics will have the opportunity to move to a lower risk level. Counties will remain in Extreme Risk for a maximum of three weeks.
Continued Governor Brown: “The fastest way to lift health and safety restrictions is for Oregonians to get vaccinated as quickly as possible and follow the safety measures we know stop this virus from spreading. I recognize the burden these restrictions place on Oregon businesses and working families. My goal is to lift these restrictions as soon as it is safely possible, and keep Oregon on the path for lifting most health and safety requirements by the end of June so we can fully reopen our economy. But we will only get there if enough Oregonians get vaccinated. There are appointments available right now all across the state.”
Governor partnering with Legislature for $20 million for immediate aid to businesses in Extreme Risk counties, announces updates to outdoor capacity limits
Governor Brown is also partnering with legislators on a $20 million emergency relief package to provide immediate aid to impacted businesses in Extreme Risk counties through the state’s commercial rent relief program.
Governor Brown continued: “After conversations with legislative leaders, I am confident we can move quickly to bring relief to businesses and their employees in Extreme Risk counties. The vast majority of Oregon businesses have followed our health and safety guidance to protect Oregonians from COVID-19, even though doing so has come with an economic cost. This emergency aid will help businesses in Extreme Risk counties.”
In addition, the Governor announced that outdoor capacity limits for bars, restaurants, and other sectors will be raised from 50 to 100 people in Extreme Risk counties, with health and safety measures, including physical distancing, in place.
Added Governor Brown: “We know that the risk of COVID-19 transmission is lower outdoors. I am urging all Oregonians, if you choose to gather with others, keep it outdoors. Indoor transmission is a key driver in the COVID-19 surge that is making renewed health and safety restrictions necessary.”
The Oregon Health Authority will also be working to align Oregon's outdoor mask guidance with the CDC guidance announced today.
Three-week limit placed on Extreme Risk level, Portland-area hospitals to closely monitor capacity
Under the Risk Level framework, counties move to (or remain in) Extreme Risk when they meet the county metrics for case rates and percent positivity, and Oregon meets statewide hospitalization metrics: COVID-19 positive patients occupying 300 hospital beds or more, and a 15% increase in the seven-day hospitalization average over the past week.
Counties will stay in Extreme Risk for a maximum of three weeks, and will be able to move to a lower risk level sooner if their COVID-19 case rates are brought down in the intervening weeks, or if Oregon moves below 300 statewide hospitalizations or the seven-day hospitalization average percent increase goes below 15 percent.
The Governor has also worked in partnership with Portland metro-area hospitals to ensure systems are in place to closely monitor and manage hospital capacity. Health systems in the Portland area are using the coordinated system developed at the beginning of the pandemic to manage hospital surge capacity, bed space, essential services, and non-urgent procedures as needed over the next three weeks in order to preserve hospital beds and critical care capacity.
Continued Governor Brown: “I want to thank hospital and health care leaders for the work they are doing to manage hospital bed space, so that no Oregonian is turned away from receiving the health care they need. Now, I am asking Oregonians to do their part to help stop the spread of COVID-19 in our communities so we can help support our nurses, doctors, and frontline health care workers.”
The Governor has asked hospital leaders to alert the Governor’s Office and OHA immediately if additional measures are needed to preserve hospital capacity.
If, after three weeks, Oregon still exceeds statewide hospitalization metrics and one or more counties still meet the case rates and percent positivity for Extreme Risk, the Oregon Health Authority will evaluate why and make recommendations to the Governor’s Office.
COVID-19 Vaccine Updates
The COVID-19 Vaccine remains one of the strongest and safest tools we can use to overcome the pandemic. All Oregonians, age 16 and over are now eligible to receive a vaccine.
Sign Up for a COVID-19 Vaccine
Oregon Convention Center: Sign up here and you will be sent an invitation when a vaccine is available to you. Names are selected at random from eligible pool.
OHSU drive-thru clinics at Hillsboro Stadium and PDX Airport Red Economy Lot:Schedule online via OHSU's tool. New appointments are released at 9 a.m. most weekdays. They are typically gone in 30-60 minutes. Watch a short video about the Hillsboro Stadium vaccination site and procedures.
Local pharmacies:
Safety of COVID-19 Vaccines
From the CDC
Millions of people have safely received a COVID-19 vaccine. Over 230 million doses of COVID-19 vaccine were administered in the United States from December 14, 2020, through April 26, 2021.
COVID-19 vaccines are safe and effective. COVID-19 vaccines were evaluated in tens of thousands of participants in clinical trials. The vaccines met FDA’s rigorous scientific standards for safety, effectiveness, and manufacturing quality needed to support emergency use authorization (EUA). Learn more about EUAs in this videoexternal icon.
Millions of people in the United States have received COVID-19 vaccines, and these vaccines will undergo the most intensive safety monitoring in U.S. history. This monitoring includes using both established and new safety monitoring systems to make sure that COVID-19 vaccines are safe.
    Important Links
 Me after Dose #2 DONE and HD 30 Constituents, Aaron and Kimberly Harrison, after receiving their COVID-19 vaccine
Sector Risk Level Guidance
I hope you are all staying healthy and safe as Washington County remains in the High Risk category and the COVID-19 virus continues to spread. Below is the Sector Risk Level Guidance Chart for Activities, which can also be viewed at this link here:
https://sharedsystems.dhsoha.state.or.us/DHSForms/Served/le3461.pdf
 Legislative Updates
Although the House was out last week due to positive COVID-19 cases, we were able to get back to work this week and have passed many important bills, including nine bills related to police reform and accountability, all of which I was a proud co-sponsor. These bills passed with bipartisan support.
The police reform package passed on Monday included the following bills:
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House Bill 3164 A: Limits the circumstances under which a person could be charged with interfering with an officer. The bill aims to prevent unjustifiable arrests for all Oregonians, but especially BIPOC communities and people experiencing homelessness who are disproportionately impacted. The bill, brought to the floor at the request of the ACLU, will also protect reporters who are simply trying to do their job. (More details available here)
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House Bill 2513 A: Requires police officers to not only be certified in cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), but also receive training on airway and circulatory anatomy and physiology as well, and to immediately contact emergency medical services if a restrained person is suffering a respiratory or cardiac compromise. (More details available here)
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House Bill 2929 A: Strengthens police misconduct reporting requirements for police by requiring officers who witness misconduct or minimum standard violations to report the violation within 72 hours to a direct supervisor, a superior officer in the reporting officer’s chain of command, or the Department of Public Safety Standards and Training (DPSST). (More details available here)
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House Bill 2936 A: Affirms anti-racist values for law enforcement, adding social media policies and standardizing background checks. Requires DPSST to create a statewide uniform background check for law enforcement units to implement during hiring processes. (More details available here)
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House Bill 2986: Supports training police to investigate, identify and report crimes motivated by prejudice based on gender. Specifically, the bill requires the Board on Public Safety Standards and Training to ensure that police officers and certified reserve officers are trained to investigate, identify and report crimes motivated by the perceived gender of victim. (More details available here)
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House Bill 3047 A: Anti-doxing legislation that creates cause to sue for damages if a person’s information is released without their consent, and results or could result in stalking, harassment, or injury. (More details available here)
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House Bill 3273 A: Protects Oregonians’ privacy. Upon request, publish-for-pay sites would have 30-days to remove or destroy a booking photo, and could charge no more than $50 for the service. Additionally, HB 3273 A limits the circumstances under which law enforcement agencies can release booking photos. The photo can still be released to other law enforcement entities and can be distributed for the purposes of locating a fugitive or suspect. (More details available here)
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House Bill 3355 A: Creates transparency by specifying what identification must be on a law enforcement officer’s uniform and gear during crowd management situations, such as protests. The bill, which applies to cities with populations over 150,000, also prohibits officers from intentionally obscuring their name or identification number to a member of the public upon request. (More details available here)
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House Bill 3059: Keeps police from abusing powers by providing more clarity in how to manage “unlawful assemblies.” Gives bureaus more flexibility to not arrest non-violent protestors when an “unlawful assembly” is declared. (More details available here)
Other Bills of Note:
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HB 2526 A, which will make the second Monday of October Indigenous Peoples’ Day in the state. The legislation looks to honor and recognize the native people of the state, including the Oregon Tribes, by memorializing the many histories, cultures, contributions, and lives. The bill also aims to address the U.S.’s revisionist colonial history by officially replacing Columbus Day with Indigenous Peoples’ Day.
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House Bill 3272, which strengthens insurance coverage benefits and flexibility, providing consumers with additional protections. The bill looks to support homeowners who are rebuilding after natural disasters, and in this case, the 2020 wildfires.
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HB 2523 (I was a Chief Sponsor) Directs Department of Transportation to waive driving privilege reinstatement fee if driving privileges were suspended for certain traffic offenses.
Income Tax Updates
Eligibility for Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC)
The EITC can be a boost for you, your family and community. If you worked last year and had income of less than $56,884 you may be eligible for the EITC.
Who can get the EITC?
EITC is for workers whose income does not exceed the following limits in 2020:
- $50,594 ($56,884 married filing jointly) with three or more qualifying children
- $47,440 ($53,330 married filing jointly) with two qualifying children
- $41,756 ($47,646 married filing jointly) with one qualifying child
- $15,820 ($21,710 married filing jointly) with no qualifying children
Investment income must be $3,650 or less.
In order to claim the EITC, you must file a federal tax return, even if you owe no tax or aren’t required to file a return. You can also file for the EITC for the past three years.
EITC can mean up to a $6,600 refund when you file a return if you have qualifying children. Workers without a qualifying child could be eligible for a smaller credit up to $538. According to the Internal Revenue Service, the average amount credited for 2020 was $2,461.
Children must meet certain relationship, age, residency and joint return requirements to qualify. To see if your child qualifies you for EITC, refer to "Qualifying Child Rules" on irs.gov or Publication 596.
In addition to the federal EITC, you can claim a state Earned Income Credit on your Oregon return.
More information on the EITC: Oregon Department of Revenue and Internal Revenue Service
 Community Outreach
From the World Forestry Center: A Community & Expert Summit on Catastrophic Wildfire in Oregon and Beyond
Episodes Air on Wednesday April 14, 21, 28, May 5, & 12 at 10 am PST
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This free public series is for anyone who cares about the health of our society, our environment, or our economy. Catastrophic wildfire impacts us all. But together we can end the era of megafires.
Reserve your free ticket to this series here.
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Aging Veteran Services: Education Series
April 30: Caregiver Act Seminar. Time: 10:00 - 11:30 AM PST.
Join ODVA's Aging Veteran Services team for an education session on the federal VA's recently-expanded Family Caregiver Program and how ODVA works to connect veterans and their families to earned federal benefits and programs such as these.
Ana Potter, Director of Aging Veteran Services and Kelly Breshears, Assistant Director of Aging Veteran Services will help walk you through the Family Caregiver Program and what the recent changes mean for you and your family.
Immediately following the presentation, specialists will be available to chat with you directly and answer your questions until 11:30 AM. The chat will be moderated by ODVA and will remain publicly accessible after the seminar. Please do not share any personally identifiable information (last names, ID numbers, Social Security numbers, addresses, medical conditions) in the chat.
For specific questions that aren't addressable in a public format, please reach out to us at the contact information below.
ODVA AGING VETERAN SERVICES
1-833-604-0885
avs@odva.state.or.us
One Book One Beaverton
From the Beaverton City Library
Hello! We wanted to let you know that the recordings of our One Book, One Beaverton 2021 virtual events are now available for viewing on our website.
Visit www.BeavertonLibrary.org/1book to view recordings of Mercy Me! True Stories of Justice, Mercy & Redemption, The Death Penalty in Oregon, Working for Change: A Panel of Local Advocates for Justice & Equality, and the Closing Keynote with Bobbin Singh, Executive Director of Oregon Justice Resource Center (hosted on our YouTube channel).
What's going on at Beaverton City Library? Currently, we are offering on-site services at both locations - BCL Grab & Go holds pickup and browsing inside the building, BCL To Go outdoor holds pickup, Computer Lab and wireless printing, Book Bundles, Activities To Go, and more. Learn about all of our current services at www.BeavertonLibrary.org/BCLNow
Beaverton City Library
12375 SW 5th St | Beaverton, OR 97005
503-644-2197 | @beavertonlib
www.BeavertonLibrary.org
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Additional Resources
House District 30 Links
Federal Delegation Links
Education Links
Food and Housing Assistance
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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