(Salem, OR) — Governor Kate Brown today issued the following statement regarding planned defiance of her Executive Orders, which have reduced the spread of COVID-19 across Oregon:
“Oregon’s health and safety measures are in place to protect Oregonians, save lives, and keep our hospitals and health care workers from becoming overwhelmed by COVID-19. Oregonians have made incredible sacrifices throughout this pandemic and, now, many communities across Oregon are reducing the spread of COVID-19 and moving into risk levels that allow restaurants and businesses to reopen to at least some indoor service.
“If businesses reopen too early and instead create new spikes in COVID-19 cases, the actions of a few business owners could set entire communities back and keep them in the Extreme Risk category for even longer.
“It’s unfortunate and irresponsible that some local politicians are choosing to willfully mislead business owners into jeopardizing public health and risking fines, instead of working with their communities to help stop the spread of COVID-19 so that we can reopen businesses, schools, and more quickly return to normal life.
“Let me be clear: Local elected officials do not have the authority under Oregon law to disregard my emergency orders or to authorize anyone else to do so. Any businesses that reopen in violation of state risk level requirements for their county will be subject to fines and enforcement. Undoubtedly, those same local elected officials who are encouraging businesses to fully reopen and flagrantly disregard public health are unlikely to have the backs of businesses when faced with fines and penalties, nor are they likely to be willing to be held responsible for the public health impacts their actions create.
“I am urging all Oregon businesses to put the health of their communities first by following the guidance we have in place for their counties. A large majority of businesses continue to do the right thing to protect their communities. However, when Oregonians don’t take COVID-19 seriously, and don’t take steps to reduce the spread of the disease, they put all of us at risk.
“I have directed Oregon OSHA and the OLCC to deploy all available resources to ensure businesses are in compliance. I expect enforcement agencies to continue to use an education first approach, but Oregonians need to understand that these rules are enforceable under law. For businesses that refuse to comply, OSHA and OLCC staff are empowered to take administrative action including issuing citations, fines, and Red Warning Notices if necessary.
“Oregon has led in our response to COVID-19, and help is on the way for struggling businesses. I proposed new resources for rent relief for businesses in the third special session, and I expect a new round of federal aid to be delivered soon. We can’t waiver in our response to the virus now, when the end is finally in sight and resources are on the way. We are better than this. As we head into the new year, I am asking all Oregonians, yet again, to commit to making smart choices and to take seriously their individual responsibilities during a public health emergency.”
Oregonian businesses are done with the tyranny of Covid Kate. She illegally seized emergency authority and has unconstitutionally locked down specific businesses. If she followed the science she would know lockdowns don’t work.
This is the same governor that backed the Portland Mayor when he joined the BLM and Antifa protests demanding police defunding and encouraging riots and looters. Now they want law enforcement to help enforce an illegal and unconstitutional order by the governor.
If lock downs work, than why are the states with the least lock downs have lower rates.
I concur. Covid isn’t killing people the government is.
You are nothing more than a communist Kate. You care nothing about Oregonians or how they are struggling to keep their businesses afloat. You are a power hungry politician and you make my stomach turn
Too many people living paycheck to paycheck for lockdowns to work. Lockdowns don’t work anyways. People are dying from other, non related, reasons and are labeled covid. Has anyone heard of someone dying of flu this year? The flu suddenly doesn’t exist. Now it’s all covid. No wonder the numbers have grown. To create fear, panic, and a need for a socialist/communist style of government to step in.
Stop the fear, stop the panic. We are American and strong we can survive.
If you are vulnerable. Lock your self up. The rest of us need to fight back. We don’t need lockdowns. We need to get back to Making America Great Again.
STOP THE STEAL!
Kate you are a treasonous tyrant and should be removed from your position. You have taken freedoms away from everyone.
Thank you Governor Brown for your incredible efforts to spare Oregon what WA and CA have been through. The numbers say it all! You are a leader in this fight!
Idiocy https://www.wlwt.com/amp/article/ohsaa-coronavirus-rules-students-can-wrestle-but-cant-shake-hands/34874133?fbclid=IwAR1Qk6E6ZwYq4-U5w7bS6JT_hyqH9bcOuOpcyp7FmQLEeDy4qqlcBkAzKeM.
What is the science closing gyms? The one I use is closing their business for good today. I used the gym from June – the end of November when you closes them. We wore masks, distanced and sanitized equipment and we were getting cardio and use of weights that were elongating the length of our lives. Instead we are now isolated, growing fat and not benefiting our hearts and minds. That does help us if we get COVID which has shortened a number of lives. Our bodies and mental well being both suffer in the lockdown so we can’t fight the COVID off. Suggest you pick the right scientific hypothesis — let us keep working out to prepare our bodies if we happen to get it. Unfortunately I’ll have to find a new gym. Unfortunately there are some people in the second best gym now out of work.
Thank you Governor Brown for your leadership in a very difficult time. Thank you for following the science and the experts and the true data.
Kate is inventing her Authority to shut us down. She needs to go.
Governors cannot create LAWS without Federal legislation..it’s UNCONSTITUTIONAL.They can only Govern..Not use TYRANNICAL ABUSE OF POWER
These tactics have been used by Every Tyrant in History, Historicaly, INNOCENT CITIZENS are DEMONIZED and EXTERMINATED wherever and whenever SOCIALISTIC POLICIES Are ENFORCED.
CITIZENS MUST UNITE! FIGHT OR FALL. . BLM and ANTIFA and DOMESTIC TERRORISTS ARE RULING YOUR CITIES AND STREETS..WITH THE BLESSINGS OF THE ENTIRE MARXIST, COMMUNIST SOCIALIST OREGON GOVERNMENT. Oregon has been surrendered to SOCIALISM, BELIEVE IT!
God Bless America and may she Forever stay FREE!
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All I know is Oregon was and is very low compared to others when it comes to this virus.
She is taking it out on the counties with low virus and death rates … because they voted for President Trump … I’m in Klamath County and we have had 18 deaths since this crap began … This B*THC governor has a vendetta against everyone who voted for Trump!!!! Did you know that Oregon is 3rd or 4th from the bottom in virus deaths of all the states …
We all enjoy shopping at Costco WinCo Walmart but honestly we’ve all seen there’s more people going there where the cart are not being wiped off did the governor take a payoff from the big corporate company restaurants and bars are wiping off everything in between every customer there’s no precautions being taken like that at other places allowed to stay open you don’t need science just common sense you know it ain’t right
If we keep going like we are now, Covid will be a problem for 10 more years. Open everything and let it die naturally.
Screw you kate, you have the right idea however your policy are unfair to some to lenient to others. Get real you dunno wtf your doing and just following California. You didn’t go far enough in helping people and you actually took time to worry about other shit besides covid like the environment. Look you wanna do something great for the environment? Clean up all the drug infested homless camps your stupid new law has worsened. You think a $100 fine or treatment is gonna help the drug problem? Your fucking dumber than a box of rocks. How about treatment or 3 months in jail. Period get real enough is enough you need to go. Resign now!!+