Announcements by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and Governor. Kate Brown last week signaled a move toward fewer COVID-19 restrictions as the pandemic begins to wane in the United States.

On Thursday, May 13, the CDC updated its guidance for vaccinated individuals, stating continuing research indicates vaccinated individuals can safely go without masks in most settings, not just outdoor areas and small gatherings where everyone is vaccinated.

Governor Kate Brown responded in a video address, stating that Oregon would be following the same guidance, allowing fully vaccinated individuals two weeks past the date of their final shot to go unmasked in most settings, while continuing the mask mandate for those who are unvaccinated and therefore at risk for serious or fatal cases of COVID-19.

“Oregonians now have a choice of how to protect themselves and others from COVID-19: either get vaccinated, or continue wearing a mask and following physical distancing requirements,” she said.

On Tuesday, May 18, OHA released new guidelines for businesses, stating that those that wish to allow vaccinated customers to not wear masks must verify customers’ vaccination status at the door. Indoor businesses that do not wish to do that must require everyone to mask.

OHA also stated that the mask mandate is lifted for everyone outdoors, although it strongly recommends those who are unvaccinated continue to wear a mask and social distance while in crowds outdoors.

All students and staff at schools are required to continue wearing masks in the classroom for now.

Some Oregonians responded to the updated guidelines on social media by stating that a business asking to see their vaccine card is a violation of HIPAA, or the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act. But according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, which administers HIPAA, the act only restricts certain health care entities — mainly hospitals, medical clinics, care facilities and health insurance providers — from sharing a patient’s medical records. It does not restrict people from asking questions or talking about others’ health outside of those limited restrictions.

“Many organizations that have health information about you do not have to follow these laws,” the department states on its website. “Examples of organizations that do not have to follow the Privacy and Security Rules include life insurers, employers, workers compensation carriers, most schools and school districts, many state agencies like child protective service agencies, most law enforcement agencies and many municipal offices.”

As for other COVID-19 restrictions, Brown announced that Oregon could expect the lifting of most restrictions — including bans on indoor dining and rules reducing capacity for businesses — once 70% of Oregonians age 18 and up have had at least once dose of a COVID-19 vaccine. According to Oregon Health Authority, that number currently stands at 62%.

“Thanks to you, Oregon, it looks like we’ve crossed the tipping point of the fourth surge,” Brown said in a news release. “Our hospitalization rates have stabilized. Our infection rates are on a downward trajectory. And in the race between vaccines and variants, our efforts to vaccinate Oregonians are taking the lead. We still have some work to do to reach our 70% goal, but I am confident we can get there in June and return Oregon to a sense of normalcy.”

Brown also said individual counties could apply to have their restrictions lifted sooner if they reached a 65% vaccination rate of residents age 16 and up before the state as a whole hits 70% of residents age 18 and up. According to OHA, Morrow County is currently at 38.4%, while Umatilla County remains the second lowest in the state at 32.7%.

Both counties have turned down new shipments of the vaccine in recent weeks after seeing a significant reduction in demand. Umatilla County has indicated a renewed interested in the Pfizer vaccine, however, after the FDA and CDC approved the vaccine for use in children ages 12 to 15 last week.