Umatilla and Morrow Counties are moving backward in the state’s reopening plans. 

In an effort to stem the rising tide of COVID-19 cases in the counties, Gov. Kate Brown is sending Umatilla County back a baseline stay home status, and Morrow County back to Phase 1. 

“COVID-19 has spread dramatically in both Umatilla and Morrow counties for the past month,” Brown stated in a press release sent out about 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, July 30. “My heart goes out to the families in Morrow County, Umatilla County, and the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation who have been impacted by this disease.”

In Umatilla County, only essential businesses such as banks, grocery stores and pharmacies will remain open. Restaurants must move to a takeout only model, while salons, barbers and other personal care services will need to close.

While in Phase 1, recreational and youth sports, movie theaters, bowling alleys, pools and arcades must close in Morrow County. Nonessential local travel will be allowed, personal service businesses are allowed to operate with health and safety measures in place, and restaurants and bars are open for dine-in service until 10 p.m.

Both moves go into effect at noon Friday, July 31.

Brown announced the decision on Thursday, July 30, in a letter to Umatilla County Commissioner John Shafer.

“Unfortunately, we are seeing significant growth in the prevalence of COVID-19 in your county,” Brown’s letter said. “After careful review of data today with the Oregon Health Authority, I have made the decision to move Umatilla County back to the ‘Stay Home, Save Lives’ baseline phase.”

The counties are expected to stay in their new phases for 21 days before reapplying to move up, but, according to the letter, Brown said they will reevaluate the situation weekly and communicate with county officials if anything changes.

“We are being sent back to baseline,” Umatilla County Commissioner John Shafer said in an email. “This is below Phase 1. We will not be able to walk this one back like the last time. This is more strict than Phase 1.”

Umatilla County reported 50 new positive cases on July 30, bringing the total to 1,929 cases. According to the Oregon Health Authority, Umatilla County’s 234.4 cases per 10,000 people is the most in the entire state and the county has reported an average of 51 new cases per day over the last two weeks. The county has a weekly test positivity rate of 23%, far above the state average of 5.1 percent, which is the lowest of any state in the nation.

According to a press release, Morrow County is also among the state’s highest totals per capita with 213 cases per 10,000 people, has a positive test rate of 30% and has reported seven new cases per day over the last week. 

The state also highlighted that each county’s “sporadic cases,” those which can’t be traced to a known source, are at 45% and 52%, respectively.

“After weeks of trying other measures to get the disease under control, our only option is to temporarily close certain businesses and other community amenities,” Brown stated in the release. “I am hopeful that these measures will help the community control the spread of COVID-19 quickly.”

This marks the first time since the state began lifting COVID-19 restrictions that counties have been sent back in phases, and comes on the same day that Union and Lincoln counties were removed from the state’s watch list.

In Baseline Stay Home status, the following measures apply:

• All individuals should minimize all non-essential travel and stay at their home or place of residence as much as possible.
• All businesses and non-profits must implement work-from-home or telework policies for employees to the maximum extent possible.
• Civic, cultural, and faith-based gatherings are limited to 25 people.
• All indoor and outdoor social gatherings are limited to 10 people
• Grocery stores and retail, museums, pharmacies, banks and credit unions, and gas stations remain open.
• Restaurants must move to take-out or delivery only.
• Gyms, malls, venues, indoor and outdoor entertainment facilities, and personal services businesses must close.
• Recreational and youth sports are no longer permitted.
• Pools, spas, sports courts, and playgrounds must close.