Governor Kate Brown and public health experts have a new system of COVID-19 risk levels by county that begins December 3 as the current “freeze” expires. The new health and safety framework uses four different risk levels for counties based on their level of COVID-19 spread—Extreme Risk, High Risk, Moderate Risk, and Lower Risk.
The Oregon Health Authority will reexamine county data to determine which counties qualify for each risk level on December 3, following the end of the Two Week Freeze. In each subsequent two-week period, the Oregon Health Authority will examine and publish county data weekly, but county risk levels will not change until the end of the second week. In the first week, counties will be given Warning Week data to prepare for potential risk level changes. In the second week, county risk levels will be updated based on that week’s data.
As of November 30, Jackson County is in the Extreme Risk category, necessitating the highest levels of precautions for Ashland. A statewide mask mandate is still in effect. Face shields alone are not recommended by the Oregon Health Authority as COVID-19 protection.
City and Ashland Parks Commission services will not change under the new safety precautions. Offices are still closed to the public with services offered via phone and limited appointments to maintain the City’s ability to provide services by keeping our staff healthy.
