On May 18, the Oregon Health Authority (OHA) released updated guidance for masking and physical distancing throughout the state.
Significant changes to the guidance include the following:
- Fully vaccinated individuals will no longer need to wear a mask indoors in public places where vaccination statuses of individuals are checked (masks will be required in areas where people are not asked about their vaccination status).
- Businesses, employers and faith institutions have the right to determine their own masking policies for fully vaccinated individuals.
- Masks are no longer required for people who are outdoors, though masking is still encouraged, especially in crowded places and for people who are unvaccinated.
The changes come in light of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) announcement on May 13, which indicated that fully vaccinated individuals would no longer need to wear a mask or physically distance in any setting, “except where required by federal, state, local, tribal, or territorial laws, rules, and regulations, including local business and workplace guidance.”
You can find a collection of resources related to the initial announcement here.
It is important to note that, despite the changes, fully vaccinated individuals will still be required to wear a mask and physically distance while accessing public transportation, schools, hospitals, clinics, homeless shelters, youth and adult correctional facilities and long-term care facilities.
State Health Officer and Epidemiologist Dr. Dean Sidelinger will answer questions from the media related to this guidance in a May 18 media briefing. A recording of that briefing can be seen below.
Additional Resources