Updated risk levels take effect January 29, modified guidance for indoor activities in Extreme Risk counties to also take effect
Correction: Due to a corrected oversight in the initial risk level calculations for Lake County, the county will improve its level from Moderate Risk to Lower Risk. The original data for calculating Lake County’s risk level included 12 cases from adults in custody at Warner Creek Correctional Facility in Lakeview, which should not have been included in the county’s risk level metrics. Because adults in custody do not interact with members of the broader community, the Oregon Health Authority is subtracting these cases from Lake County’s risk level calculation, as they do with all other counties with correctional facilities. This reduction in number of cases (from 34 to 22) will allow the county to move from Moderate Risk to Lower Risk, effective Jan. 29. The subtraction of cases in adults in custody does not impact the risk level of any other counties for the two-week period of Jan. 29 through Feb. 11.
(Salem, OR) — Governor Kate Brown today announced updates to county risk levels under the state’s public health framework to reduce transmission and protect Oregonians from COVID-19. The framework uses four different risk levels for counties based on COVID-19 spread—Extreme Risk, High Risk, Moderate Risk, and Lower Risk—and assigns health and safety measures for each level.

Effective January 29 through February 11, there will be 25 counties in the Extreme Risk level, two at High Risk, two at Moderate Risk, and seven at Lower Risk. A complete list of counties and their associated risk levels is available here.

“Most of the state remains in the Extreme Risk category,” said Governor Brown. “This is an important reminder for all Oregonians to continue to do their part by abiding by the health and safety guidelines in place. Until vaccines are widely available with high participation rates, the surest way to lower our risk and open our businesses and communities is to continue practicing the measures we know are effective in reducing the spread of COVID-19 — wear your mask, keep physical distance from others, avoid gatherings, wash your hands often, and stay home when you are sick.”

Governor Brown also announced modifications to the guidance for indoor activities in Extreme Risk counties, which will take effect January 29. These modifications allow for a maximum of six people indoors at facilities over 500 square feet (for all indoor activities except dining) with associated guidance for ongoing social distancing, cleaning protocols, and face coverings. For facilities smaller than 500 square feet, the modified guidance allows for 1:1 customer experiences, such as personal training. The updated guidance for indoor recreation will be posted to coronavirus.oregon.gov by January 29.


“The science has shown us that outdoor activities are safer than indoor activities when it comes to the spread of COVID 19, which is why we have clearly delineated guidance between indoor and outdoor activities,” said Governor Brown. “We have seen over the last several weeks that Oregonians have largely complied with risk levels to the point that we have not seen a surge in hospitalizations that would have jeopardized hospital capacity. This means we are able to make these adjustments for Extreme Risk counties, which should assist both businesses and Oregonians as we continue to work to stop the spread of COVID-19.”

The Oregon Health Authority will examine and publish county data weekly. County risk levels will be reassigned every two weeks. The first week’s data will provide a “warning week” to prepare counties for potential risk level changes. The next assignment of risk levels will be announced February 9 and take effect February 11.

Updates to Warning Week data and county risk levels will be posted to coronavirus.oregon.gov.