SALEM, Ore. — Multnomah County officials submitted reopening framework to Gov. Kate Brown’s office Friday in the hope of beginning Phase 1 of the state’s plan to ease COVID-19 restrictions.
If approved, restaurants in Multnomah County on June 12 could once again offer dine-in service, gyms could open, personal services would be available by appointment and the gathering size would increase from 10 people to 25. Multnomah, which is state’s most populous county, is the only county in Oregon that has not yet entered Phase 1.
“We have moved thoughtfully and deliberately to this day so that the sacrifices our communities have made since March will not be lost,” said Multnomah County Commission Chair Deborah Kafoury.
The county has taken a slower and more deliberative approach to reopening during the pandemic due to size, density, diversity and health care capacity.
As of Friday, at least 161 people across Oregon have died from the coronavirus and more than 4,570 in the state have tested positive for the disease.
