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Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19)

***On Wednesday, June 30, 2021, all remaining COVID-19 health and safety restrictions will be lifted by the Governor. As of July 12, some City offices are open to the public and City Council meetings will be held in person. This website will be kept live as an archive of actions taken during the COVID-19 pandemic.***

While the City of Ashland does not oversee public health, we are working with our national, state, and regional partners to protect the public when there are public health concerns in our area. This webpage will help relay information from our partners and address the concern over the Coronavirus (COVID-19) for our community.

Click here for local vaccine information.

For more information on the State mandates and current cases in Oregon,
visit the Oregon Health Authority and the Governor's Coronavirus/COVID-19 Information and Resources webpage.

Please click one of the icons below to explore news, City actions, links, and more.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Do I need to get tested?

If you have trouble breathing or feel very ill, consider calling your healthcare provider who will decide whether you need to be tested. This testing can also be for other illnesses, like the flu, based on your possible exposure history and any other symptoms you might have. Many recover at home without seeing a healthcare provider.

If you don�t have a doctor, consider establishing care with a primary care provider through a local clinic or community health center. Call 211 for a list of clinics near you.

Source: Oregon Health Authority Frequently Asked Questions

2. What actions is the City taking to prevent the spread of the Coronavirus?

The City is updating our efforts daily to help prevent the spread and ease concern for the public. For the most updated information go to City Government Actions.

Some items that have been implemented include:

Canceling all non-essential meetings and arranging for electronic meetings for those that are essential. View the City Calendar for updates on each meeting.
Placing 24 portable restrooms and 18 hand washing stations around Ashland to allow for the public to practice safe hygiene 24 hours a day. View the map with the locations of each here: https://gis.ashland.or.us/coronavirus/.
Serving the unhoused population by securing funding for hotel rooms for unhoused residents, increasing areas where car camping is allowed, contributing funds to OHRA's food services offered, and more which can be found at our COVID-19 Support for Unhoused Population page.
Suspending late fees on past due balances and disconnects for late or non-payment for utility accounts through June 30. Bill payment plans will be extended beyond the three-month policy timeframe.
Extending the due date of lodging (TOT) and food and beverage taxes until August 1.
Activating the Emergency Operations Center and declaring a state of emergency in response to the COVID-19 pandemic to allow for the City Administrator more authority and flexibility in managing the City�s resources to protect public health and safety during this time.
Continuing to collaborate with regional, state, and national partners to stay up-to-date on the latest developments.

3. What State and local assistance is available during the pandemic?

Refer to the Local & Business Resources page for information on evictions, rent, utility, food and other assistance available during this time.

4. Should I wear a mask to protect myself?

Face coverings are required for indoor public spaces and outdoor public spaces where physical distancing is not possible statewide July 15 by Governor Kate Brown. Children under 5 years of age, as well as people with a disability or a medical condition that prevent them from wearing a face covering, are not required to wear one.

For more details on what is required, go to the Governor's website.

Click here for more information on masks.

Click here for examples on how wear and make a mask.

5. How can I help my community during this time?

Various organizations are looking for donations of items, money, and time. Below are some of the organizations that could use your help. For more details and ways to connect with these organizations, go to our How You Can Help page.

Give blood and plasma through the American Red Cross
Donate personal protective equipment (PPE) to the Asante Foundation
Donate money to the Ashland Food Project
Volunteer with Food and Friends/Meals on Wheels
Support local businesses many of which allow for curbside pick up and delivery
Volunteer with Neighbors Helping Neighbors
Donate supplies (like tents, sleeping bags, and more) to Options for Helping Residents of Ashland (OHRA)
Become a buddy with the Senior Phone Buddy program.

For more ways to help check out Representative Pam Marsh's webpage on Ways to Give, Help, and Volunteer.

6. I own a business and have been mandated to shut down or have lost business due to the pandemic. What are my options moving forward?

Business information and resources are changing rapidly. The Ashland Chamber has created a resource page at www.ashlandchamber.com/COVID-19 and updates it as information becomes available. Access to resources and support is available to all businesses in the community, not just Chamber members. Visit their website frequently or contact Dana Preston (members@ashlandchamber.com) to get on their email database for daily updates.

As of June 23, the City of Ashland was awarded matching funds from the Oregon Business Development Department (Business Oregon) to facilitate a COVID-19 Emergency Business Grant program with $140,000 available for small businesses and non-profits that ended on July 8. If you are interested in possible regional grants that might be available, please contact Natalie Thomason at natalie.thomason@ashland.or.us.

SBA Disaster Recovery loans will be available upon declaration of disaster by Governor Kate Brown, go here for more information: https://www.sba.gov/page/coronavirus-covid-19-small-business-guidance-loan-resources.

7. What is the current situation in Oregon?

As updates from the Oregon Health Authority are occurring daily, check their website (https://govstatus.egov.com/OR-OHA-COVID-19) for the most up-to-date information. You can also view a map view of the cases by going to https://gis.ashland.or.us/coronavirus/ and selecting the OEM�s Coronavirus dashboard tab.

For cases by zip code, go to this map provided and administered by Jackson County. The map is updated weekly and shows the total number of cases by zip code, not just the active cases.