*Times are provided to give an idea of when the public was first made known of the information, so there is a rough timeline of the progression of Portland’s actions surrounding COVID-19. We will update this feed as more information becomes available.*

Wednesday, April 9, 1:00 p.m.

Gov. Kate Brown announced during a press conference that all Oregon schools will remain shuttered through the end of the 2019-20 school year. All seniors on track to graduate before the closure will receive a passing grade for their courses. 

Brown stated, “We have your kids and all Oregon students at the forefront of every one decision we make about school. Their health, happiness and safety is a top priority. 

Along with this information, Brown also announced that the statewide stay at home order would be in place until 10 days had passed with no deaths.

On Monday, Washington Gov. Jay Inslee made a similar decision, announcing the closure of brick-and-mortar schools for the duration of the school year. 

Earlier this week, Portland Public Schools announced PPS-HD (Home based Distance-learning). Students around the district will use this remote learning platform for the duration of the school year. 

Monday, April 6, 2:41 p.m.

Oregon has now reached 1,132 COVID-19 cases state wide, passing 1,100 on Sunday, April 5. With two more deaths today, both victims with underlying health conditions, the death toll is now 29.

Many public lands and parks across the state are closed, though due to visitors this weekend, Multnomah County also issued warnings of fines up to $1,250 for trespassing in state parks.

Saturday, April 4, 11:44 a.m.

Oregon health officials concluded that social distancing measures are helping to slow the spread of the virus, reducing the spread by 50%-70%. As of this morning, Oregon’s number of COVID-19 cases had reached 899, with a death count of 22. Only 38 patients in the state are currently on ventilators and over 700 are available for the future.

Hoping to help others, Governor Kate Brown sent New York State, the area struggling the most in the United States, 140 ventilators. New York Governor Cuomo responded, writing, “we are so grateful to @OregonGovBrown and the people of Oregon. On behalf of the people of NY, I thank you and rest assured that NY will repay the favor when Oregon needs it.” Along with Oregon’s donation, China gifted 1,100 additional ventilators to New York. With over 113,704 cases, New York is facing massive shortages of medical supplies, so the donations of ventilators may help to save lives.

Tuesday, March 31, 9:27 a.m.

As cases across the country continue to rise, the people on the frontlines—hospital workers, transportation workers and other essential workers—are suffering. In Oregon, over 1,100 complaints of poor safety conditions were filed last week, prompting state health officials to begin surprise inspections of employers which could result in fines. 

Our most important workers in this pandemic—healthcare workers—are especially at risk, with continued contact with infected patients. At OHSU, 12 staffers have tested positive, with 8 more at Legacy Emanuel and 10 at Providence. 

Tuesday, March 31, 6:00 a.m. 

In an email to principals and district administrators Monday night, Colt Gill, Director of the Oregon Department of Education, stated that “there is a very real potential that our students, like in many other states, may not return to school this academic year.” The message also called on school districts to create a distance learning plan for all students by April 13. 

Gill states, “Of course, education without face-to-face interaction between students and teachers will look and feel different and cannot be fully replicated across a distance. It will not and cannot happen overnight. We need the grace and patience of our state’s leaders, our communities, our families, and our educators as we learn together to move powerfully to ensure care, connection, and continuity of learning happen in entirely new ways for our students.”

This week, as teachers have returned to the workplace virtually, Portland Public Schools began professional development workshops about online learning. Distance learning is scheduled to begin on Monday, April 6. 

Monday, March 30, 6:52 p.m.

TriMet shared Monday afternoon that a driver at its Beaverton bus facility tested positive for COVID-19. The driver was asyoptamptic through his last work day on March 20. This is the first apparent case of COVID-19 out of the 1,800 bus and rail operators that work for TriMet. 

Last Friday, TriMet announced that it will cut back frequency on 58 bus lines and reduce service hours by 21 percent starting April 5. This came in the wake of an almost 50 percent drop in demand due to the COVID-19 pandemic. LIFT, TriMet’s program for seniors and those with disabilities, and most rail services will continue to operate as normal. 

Monday, March 30, 12:13 p.m.

The Oregon Health Authority reported 58 new COVID-19 cases, increasing the statewide total to 606. Nine of these cases were in Multnomah County. Additionally, the agency also reported three new deaths, raising the statewide death toll to 16. 

Sunday, March 29, 11:12 a.m. 

The Federal Emergency Management Agency announced Sunday that President Trump approved a disaster declaration for Oregon, freeing up resources and funding to aid in the state’s fight against the pandemic. With this declaration, Oregon became the eighteenth state nationwide to receive such a designation. The emergency order will remain in effect until Jan. 20 at the latest. 

Saturday, March 28, 11:56 a.m.

The Oregon Department of Energy shared Saturday that it would be temporarily relaxing the prohibition on self-service gas pumps until April 11. The change came as Oregon attempts to slow the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic, primarily through measures like social distancing. Additionally, gas stations have also experienced workforce shortages in recent weeks, with many stations having to reduce their hours or shut down temporarily

On Sunday, the Department clarified that self-service pumps will not be mandatory and that workers will continue to be able to pump gas and sanitize pumps.

Friday, March 27, 7:52 p.m. 

Multnomah County announced Friday that it would be delaying business income tax deadlines until July 15. Earlier this week, Oregon Gov. Kate Brown also shared that the personal income tax deadline would be pushed back to July 15 as well. 

Friday, March 27, 1:52 p.m.

As of Friday morning, the number of COVID-19 cases in Oregon has risen to 414. Authorities have confirmed 98 more cases in the last 24 hours, and one more death, bringing the statewide death toll to 12. While these numbers are drastic, they are partially due to the increase in available tests.

Some hopeful new data has arisen however: using statistical modeling developed by The Institute for Disease Modeling, Oregon Health Authority estimates that continuing the current social distancing measures, Oregon could limit the number of COVID-19 cases to 1,000. If the state were to remove such measures however, the number of cases could reach over 15,000 by May 8. For a full report, click here.

Thursday, March 26, 2:44 p.m.

As of Thursday morning, Oregon Health Authority confirmed 50 new COVID-19 cases, bringing the total number to 316. Of the 50 new cases, 12 were in Multnomah County. Along with the increase in number of cases, the state death toll has risen to 11.

Thursday, March 26, 1:21 p.m.

Gov. Kate Brown announced Wednesday that Oregon has received a shipment of 4,000 testing swabs, aiming to increase the testing capacity of the state. With a shortage of testing swabs and other testing materials the state is struggling to increase testing capacity. As of today, the state reported that 7,269 people had been tested in Oregon. The Governor says she hopes to see a large increase in testing over the next few days, to help establish more accurate data about the number of cases of COVID-19.

Wednesday, March 25, 2:28 p.m.

The Oregon Health Authority announced 57 new cases of COVID-19 on Wednesday, raising the total to 266 cases statewide. This marks the largest single day increase of cases since the outbreak began. This post will be updated as soon as more information is released. 

Wednesday, March 25, 12:11 p.m.

The state of Oregon announced Tuesday that it is delaying the state tax filing deadline until July 15. Businesses are still expected to file tax estimates by April 15. The federal government also announced earlier this month that it would be moving back the federal tax filing deadline to July 15. 

Tuesday, March 24, 6:00 p.m.

Portland Parks and Recreation posted an update on its website Tuesday night, announcing the closure of several parks to vehicle traffic starting March 26. The move affects popular recreation sites such as Pittock Mansion, Mt. Tabor and Washington Park. During the closure, parks will remain open to foot traffic. A full list of parks affected can be found here. 

Tuesday, March 24, 2:09 p.m.

Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler announced Tuesday that the City of Portland will be extending its ‘state of emergency’ declaration for another two weeks. Originally put into place on March 12, the order is scheduled to end on Thursday. However, as the gravity of the crisis became evident, Wheeler decided it was necessary to extend the declaration through April.

During a press conference earlier today Wheeler stated, “As mayor, my first priority is the health-safety and well-being of everyone is our community, and I’ll do whatever it takes to contain this pandemic.”

Tuesday, March 24, 12:03 p.m.

TrackTown USA shared Tuesday that it would be postponing the U.S Olympic Trials for track and field, scheduled to take place at the University of Oregon from June 19 to June 28. This decision came after an announcement earlier today from the International Olympic Committee that the Tokyo 2020 Olympics will be postponed until 2021. 

Tuesday, March 24, 11:10 a.m.

The Portland-based ice-cream chain Salt and Straw announced on Tuesday that it will be closing all 17 of its shops across the U.S., including 4 locations in Portland. Over the past week, the company has laid off 662 employees, accounting for around 95 percent of its staff. 

Tuesday, March 24, 2020, 8:00 a.m.

Eighteen new cases of COVID-19 were reported by the Oregon Health Authority on Tuesday morning, increasing the total number of cases statewide to 209. Additionally, the agency also announced three new deaths, including a 63-year-old man with underlying health conditions in Multnomah county. Eight people have died from the virus in Oregon so far, and the number of cases—as well as deaths—will likely grow as the situation intensifies. 

Monday, March 23, 2020, 2:02 p.m

Burgerville announced on Monday that it would be furloughing over 1,000 of its employees. With this move, 68 percent of the company’s workforce will be out of work temporarily, marking the largest operational cut in the 59-year history of the company.

Burgerville’s CEO Jill Taylor stated, “This is unprecedented, unpredictable and heart breaking. We’ve been working hard to keep our doors open, but with the temporary dining room closures, it’s not enough to ensure the sustainability of Burgerville long-term with everyone working full-time.”

This came after news last Tuesday that McMenamin’s would be closing all but one of its Oregon and Washington locations, laying off almost 3,000 of its employees. 

Monday, March 23, 2020, 10:59 a.m. 

Early Monday morning, Oregon Gov. Kate Brown issued a ‘stay at home order,’ legally requiring that citizens only leave their home for essential purposes, such as purchasing food and supplies. Violators could face a class C misdemeanor charge on the grounds of endangering public health, and could face up to 30 days in prison or a $1,250 fine. 

Businesses such as malls, barber shops and gyms—in which employees and customers are not able to keep a safe distance apart—will be forced to close. Outdoor recreation areas like campgrounds, playgrounds and skate parks are included in the order as well. Essential services like grocery stores, construction facilities, hospitals and child care facilities (with some restrictions) will be permitted to remain open. Additionally, restaurants may continue take-out and delivery services for the time being.

Monday, March 23, 2020, 8:00 a.m.

The Oregon Health Authority announced 30 new cases of COVID-19 statewide on Monday, raising the total number of cases to 191 in the state. Two of these new cases are in Multnomah County.

As more tests have become available, the number of new cases has grown in recent days. According to the Health Authority’s website, 3,840 have been tested for coronavirus in Oregon since the outbreak started. 

Sunday March 22, 11:40 a.m.

Oregon Gov. Kate Brown issued an executive order on Sunday barring landlords from evicting tenants due to nonpayment. This comes as new unemployment claims in Oregon spiked by 3,200% last Tuesday amidst the escalating COVID-19 pandemic. The new order will remain in effect for 90 days.

Last Monday, Multnomah County made a similar announcement by issuing an eviction moratorium until Sept. 26. 

Thursday, March 19, 2020, 7:30 p.m.

Oregon Gov. Kate Brown called on individuals and companies Thursday to donate protective equipment like masks, gowns and gloves, stating that the is “just a couple days away” from running out of essential medical supplies. 

In a statement Wednesday, Brown stated, “It is critical that we preserve every piece of personal protective equipment we have in Oregon so that our health care workers can keep themselves safe while treating COVID-19.”

More information on how to donate can be found here. 

Thursday, March 19, 2020, 11:41 a.m. 

The Oregon Health Authority announced 13 new cases of COVID-19 on Thursday, raising the total number of cases statewide to 88. Three deaths have been reported from the virus so far, including one person in Multnomah County, with all patients being over 60-years-old. So far, 1,854 people have been tested for the virus in Oregon. 

Thursday, March 19, 2020, 10:45 a.m.

Oregon Gov. Kate Brown announced Thursday morning that the state will not be issuing a statewide ‘shelter in place’ order for now, citing that earlier measures such as closing schools and restaurants should slow the spread of the virus. However, Brown left the door open for such an order if the pandemic worsens.

This followed a report from the Willamette Week on Wednesday night that Mayor Ted Wheeler is drafting a 10-page ‘shelter in place’ order for Portland. 

Thursday, March 19, 2020, 9:51 a.m.

A spokesperson from the Oregon Department of Education (ODE) said in an email that virtual classes for public schools are infeasible due to access and equity concerns. 

 

“You cannot open a brick-and-mortar school in Oregon unless it is accessible to every student in their school district. The same rules apply to an online school,” says (ODE) spokesperson Marc Siegel. 

 

While districts may offer optional learning opportunities to students, students will not be held accountable to complete this work. This is due to the inability of districts to provide a comparable experience for special education students, those whose first language is other than English and students that lack adequate access to technology. 

 

“We will not and cannot waive any individual student’s rights,” says State Education Chief Colt Gill. “Every student in Oregon deserves equal and equitable access to their education.”

 

On Wednesday, Portland Public Schools (PPS) sent out a survey for families to request to borrow a computer. PPS Superintendent Guadalupe Guerrero says that the district has up to 45,000 devices at its disposal to lend to students, but maintained that online lessons will not be graded and are not intended as a replacement for classroom instruction. 

 

PPS stated in an update Wednesday, “By the end of this week, we hope to have more information for families and educators regarding how we plan to make available online lessons and curriculum during the break. We are beginning to work with our educators to offer students an array of ways to interact with grade-level lessons and one another during this time. Please stay tuned for upcoming guidance about how to support home-based learning for your child.”

 

Thursday, March 19, 2020, 7:05 a.m.

On Thursday, the Oregon Department of Motor Vehicles announced that all driving tests through the agency will be canceled through April 17. However, some driving tests through third-party testing agencies may go on as planned.  

 

The agency also announced that while field offices will remain open, restrictions will be in place to limit the number of customers in the lobby at one time. 

 

Wednesday, March 18, 2020, 4:49 p.m.

Willamette Week reported early Tuesday evening that Mayor Ted Wheeler’s office has drafted a 10-page long shelter-in-place order.

 

A shelter-in-place order would mean that residents would only be able to leave their place of residence for essential trips. These trips would include grocery shopping, hospital or medical visits, work for workers deemed essential (i.e. medical workers and likely certain retail workers) and exercise, but only if the person is maintaining six feet of distance between themselves or others or going alone. 

 

They stated that houseless residents will be exempt from this order, but that they are encouraged to seek government aid to protect their health.

 

While this may be a necessary step for slowing the spread of COVID-19, it does raise certain concerns. Most notably, if the shelter-in place is enforced in the same manner as Italy’s then residents will face increased police presence, which will further alarm communities of color, specifically Black residents. 

 

Wednesday. March 18, 2020, 12:17 p.m.

The Oregon Health Authority (OHA) shared on Wednesday that the total number of COVID-19 cases statewide rose to 75 and that three people have died from the virus, including one person in Multnomah County. So far, all three deaths are people over 60 that had underlying health conditions.

 

Wednesday, March 18, 2020, 12:00 p.m.

Oregon Gov. Kate Brown announced on Wednesday that the state will be setting up a 250-bed hospital in Salem in preparation for an influx of COVID-19 cases. The emergency facility, slated to be operational on Friday, is part of a larger effort to add 1000 hospital beds around the state. 

 

This followed news earlier today that Legacy and Providence hospitals will set up “surge tents” to aid with the triage of patients at its facilities. 

 

Wednesday, March 18, 2020, 8:57 a.m.

The famous Wooden Shoe Tulip Festival has postponed its scheduled opening— March 21, 2020— indefinitely. Visitors flock from all over the state to attend this festival, and the closure, while in the best interest of almost everyone, will leave many sad visitors.

 

Wednesday, March 18, 2020, 8:03 a.m.

Beginning a couple days ago in other parts of the world, grocery stores were setting aside hours for the most vulnerable populations in the COVID-19 epidemic. Taking their lead, Portland grocery chains are implementing similar hours.

 

Target notified the public that they would be setting aside Wednesday from 7 a.m. to 8 a.m. for the most vulnerable guests.

 

Albertsons and Safeway set aside 7 a.m. to 9 a.m. for the most at risk guests.

 

Finally, New Seasons said they would be setting aside 8 a.m. to 9 a.m. for the most vulnerable in the community. They dubbed this hour “Senior Shopping Hour.”

 

No store explained how they planned to enforce the restrictions, nor did they say that they would turn away younger shoppers, but hopefully people can keep in mind the good for our community these hours will do, and stay away unless they fall into the at-risk category. 

 

Wednesday, March 18, 2020, 6:17 a.m.

Following Kaiser Permanente’s announcement on Sunday delaying all non-essential procedures, they have now reported that they will temporarily close all clinics and medical offices, beginning Thursday, March 19. 

 

Kaiser said that they will move those employees to hospitals and urgent care clinics, in preparation for the expected onslaught of COVID-19 patients.

Tuesday, March 17, 2020, 4:50 p.m.

Gov. Brown announced late Tuesday afternoon that the state-wide school closures that were intended to be from March 15, 2020 until April 1, 2020, will now extend until April 28, 2020. She stated that “I do not take the decision to extend school closures lightly.” Her aim? She says her aim is to “to flatten the curve and slow the rate of COVID-19 transmission in Oregon.”

 

During this time, districts will be required to provide child care and meals for families, as well as pay employees and educators. Districts will be required to provide learning materials to students, and educators may be called to provide limited support services, implying that students with high-support needs may still receive one-on-one help.

Tuesday, March 17, 2020, approximately 3:00 p.m.

OHA announced Tuesday afternoon that more cases of COVID-19 have been confirmed. While there are varying reports published, saying that the new amount of confirmed cases is between 16 and 18, and the total number of confirmed cases is 65 or 66, OHA writes on their website that “Oregon now has a total of 65 people who have been diagnosed with COVID-19.” The 18 new cases were confirmed at 10:30 a.m. this morning, but the numbers were released to the press only hours ago.

Tuesday, March 17, 2020, 2:03 p.m.

McMenamin’s announced on Tuesday that it would close all of its Oregon and Washington locations “for the next several weeks” and temporarily lay off its nearly 3,000 employees.  

A single location on 23rd Avenue Bottle Shop will remain open for to-go orders. 

 

In a statement, the McMenamin family said, “It’s taken a lifetime to build this company, together with the help of our employees and customers. This is something none of us ever could have anticipated. After exploring all options, we are laying off nearly 3,000 employees – almost everyone at the company – effective today, March 17.”

This followed an announcement from Oregon Gov. Kate Brown on Monday that all restaurants and bars in Oregon would close, with exemptions for take-out restaurants and establishments that can adhere to social distancing protocols. 

 

Tuesday, March 17, 2020, 11:22 a.m.

Oregon Gov. Kate Brown announced on Tuesday that visitors will be prohibited from nursing homes and group-care facilities. The elderly population has been especially vulnerable to the virus; statistics from the Oregon Health Authority show that 29 of the 47 cases (as of March 16 at 10:51 a.m.) are persons over 55. 

 

This followed an announcement on Monday night that four more cases were reported at the Edward C. Allworth Veterans’ Home in Lebanon, Ore., which has been at the epicenter of the coronavirus outbreak in Oregon with 14 cases. 

 

Tuesday, March 17, 2020, 11:12 a.m.

On Tuesday morning, Legacy Health announced that it would be postponing all non-essential procedures in preparation for an influx of COVID-19 cases. This followed similar decisions from OHSU on Monday and Kaiser Permanente on Thursday. 

 

In a statement, spokeswoman Kristen Whitney said, “We are committed to doing everything possible to stop the spread of COVID-19, and protect our patients, employees, providers, and communities.” 

 

Tuesday, March 17, 2020, 10:34 a.m. 

A number of fitness clubs have joined the growing list of businesses that have shut down amidst the spread of COVID-19. In the past 48 hours, 24 Hour Fitness, LA Fitness and the Multnomah Athletic Club have closed their doors. It is unclear how long these closures will be in effect for. 

 

Tuesday, March 17, 2020, 10:12 a.m. 

Multnomah County issued an eviction moratorium Tuesday morning, prohibiting landlords from evicting tenants due to the fall out of COVID-19. The provision applies to people that have lost their jobs, had work hours reduced or had to miss work to care for a family member. Tenants will have until Sept. 26 to repay any owed rent and must provide a letter of proof from an employer, school or doctor. 

 

Tuesday, March 17, 2020, 10:09 a.m. 

Multnomah County shared on Tuesday that it would add hundreds of shelter beds for the homeless in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. This followed an announcement last week that shelters slated to close in March would remain open until further notice. 

 

Officials hope that this move will allow for social distancing and a less crowded shelter environment. In addition, homeless people are at a greater risk for infection and many have pre-existing conditions or weaker immune systems. 

 

Tuesday, March 17, 2020, 10:01 a.m. 

On Tuesday morning, Clark County announced two new deaths related to COVID-19. As of Monday, the County had reported four cases of the virus. More details about the circumstances surrounding these cases are yet to be known. 

 

Clark County, which includes Vancouver, Wash., is located just across the Columbia River from Oregon. 

Tuesday, March 17, 2020, 8:03 a.m.

The well-known pizza spot Pizza Schmizza is offering an… unconventional deal. Via Twitter the company announced this morning that they would be offering $15 pizzas of any size. The unusual part? With every pizza comes a roll of toilet paper.

 

Visit the Pizza Schmizza Portland State University Pub for your pizza and toilet paper, and call 503-473-8119 to order.

Monday, March 16, 2020, 6:35 p.m. 

Chief Justice of Oregon Martha Walter annonuned new restrictions Monday night for jury trials and court hearings. As part of these restrictions, which are in place as of now until March 27, all Multnomah County jurors have been sent home and most trials will be postponed through this date. There are limited exceptions, including people in jail with a legal right to a speedy trial. 

 

Some counties have also announced their own measures amidst the spread of COVID-19. For example, Washington County announced on Monday that 60 inmates will be considered for early release due to their medical condition or classification of their sentences. Those incarcerated for serious, violent crimes will not be eligible. 

 

Monday, March 16, 2020, 5:58 p.m.

The Oregon Department of Veterans Affairs (ODVA) announced four new COVID-19 cases at the Edward C. Allworth Veterans’ Home in Lebanon, Ore. on Monday, raising the state total to 51. The facility is at the epicenter of the coronavirus outbreak in the state with 13 cases so far. 

 

ODVA spokesperson Kelly Fitzpatrick states, “Our staff continue to diligently follow established infectious disease prevention protocols and public health guidelines. We know they are doing everything in their power to stop the spread of coronavirus and keep our community safe. All possible resources are being made available to support them in their critical work.”

 

Monday, March 16, 2020, 5:48 p.m.

 

The Oregon Health Authority announced eight new positive cases of COVID-19, bringing the statewide total to 47. This is the largest increase of cases statewide in a single day of the outbreak. So far, two cases have been reported in Multnomah County.

Monday, March 16, 2020, 2:49 p.m.

During a press conference Monday afternoon, Oregon Gov. Kate Brown announced that all restaurants and bars will be closed to slow the spread of COVID-19. Exemptions include take-out and delivery.

 

This followed reports yesterday that Brown was considering curfews and occupancy restrictions for bars and restaurants. It is unclear how long these regulations will last. 

 

Monday, March 16, 2020, 2:48 p.m.

Beginning Tuesday, Oregon Gov. Kate Brown announced that from Tuesday, March 17, 2020 gatherings of more than 25 people will be banned. The guideline is expected to extend for four weeks, or until April 14, 2020. A formal policy has not been passed or put into effect yet. 

 

During the press conference where she announced this, she urged residents to avoid being around more than 10 people. She also advised businesses to shut down completely, if possible.

 

Exemptions are expected to include grocery stores, pharmacies, workplaces and retail stores.

 

Monday, March 16, 2020, 2:14 p.m.

Oregon Gov. Kate Brown issued a statement saying that she plans to declare an “abnormal disruption of the market.” This is consumer protection against price gouging. 

 

Although there have not been many instances of price gouging in Oregon, vendors like Amazon have seen prices skyrocket on objects like toilet paper and hand sanitizer. So, while this is largely a preventive measure, it ensures consumers will not be purchasing single bottles of hand sanitizer for $70. 

 

Monday, March 16, 2020, 12:13 p.m. 

Meals on Wheels said on Sunday afternoon that it is urgently looking for volunteer drivers after many of its drivers have quit due to the spread of COVID-19. The organization delivers up to 5,000 meals per day in the greater Portland area, and the reduced number of volunteers could jeopardize deliveries.

 

A link to volunteer can be found here.

 

Monday, March 16, 2020, 10:28 a.m.

Following the lead of Kaiser Permanente, Oregon Health and Science University announced that they would be postponing certain surgeries to make way for the expected influx in COVID-19 patients. These surgeries will likely include elective and non-emergent surgeries.

 

Monday, March 16, 2020, 5:51 a.m. 

On a phone call with reporters on Sunday night, Oregon Gov. Kate Brown announced that she is considering a curfew or occupancy restriction for restaurants and bars. Brown is also examining the possibility of shutting down these establishments temporarily. Exceptions could be made for take-out diners and restaurants that can adhere to social distancing protocols. 

 

On Monday, a letter was also sent to Gov. Brown from more than 100 restaurant owners, winemakers, bakers, and others involved in the food industry, requesting that all restaurants and bars are closed immediately. 

 

The letter states, “As an industry, we have always taken great care to provide a safe and clean environment for our staff and guests. However the very act of serving food to a diner requires that we violate social distancing protocols. We find ourselves faced with the impossible choice of putting our staff at risk physically or financially.”   

 

A final decision is expected later today.

 

Sunday, March 15, 2020, 4:45 p.m.

Early Sunday evening, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued a statement advising people to “cancel or postpone in-person events that consist of 50 people or more throughout the United States.” 

 

This advisory is to be considered for the next eight weeks, or until May 10, 2020. While this is not a legally binding order, it is something that residents of the United States should heavily consider when planning for the next couple months.

Sunday, March 15, 2020, 4:11 p.m. 

ChefStable, a Portland-based restaurant group, announced on Sunday that it would temporarily close its doors amid the spread of COVID-19. The over 20 restaurants run by the group will remain closed for at least four weeks. 

 

“I realized that people were not taking this seriously, and that all restaurants were somehow contributing to that,” says ChefStable owner Kurt Huffman. “And we can’t wait so long that what happened in Seattle happens to us. We need to shut down now because it’s the right thing to do, not shut down because there’s nobody in our restaurants.”

 

A list of restaurants that have closed its dining rooms or stopped operations altogether can be found here. 

 

Sunday, March 15, 2020, 4:00 p.m. 

Three new cases of COVID-19 in Oregon were announced by the Oregon Health Authority (OHA) on Saturday afternoon, raising the total number of cases in the state to 39. Two of these cases are thought to be a result of community spread, while the other is a staff member at the Edward C. Allworth Veterans’ Home in Linn County, where nine residents have tested positive for the virus.

 

Sunday, March 15, 2020, 1:22 p.m. 

Kaiser Permanente announced on Sunday that it would be delaying all non-essential procedures through the end of the month in preparation for an influx of COVID-19 cases. During this time, Kaiser will only provide urgent emergency care and online services. 

 

Kaiser and Wendy Watson, the chief operating officer of Kaiser Permanente Northwest, believe that reducing dental operations by 25 percent could save up to 100,000 masks and 250,000 gloves monthly. 

 

In an update on Friday, the hospital stated, “Kaiser Permanente is committed to the health and safety of our members, patients, employees, and physicians. We have been working on confronting highly infectious diseases for years, and we are confident we can safely treat patients who have been infected with this virus, with very little risk to our other patients, members, and employees. 

 

Sunday, March, 15, 2020, 12:57 p.m. 

In a statement on its website Sunday. Nike announced that it would close all of its stores in the United States from Monday, March 16 through Friday, March 27 due to the spread of COVID-19. Nike’s campus in Beaverton will remain open throughout this time. 

This followed Adidas’s decision to shutter its North Portland campus on Thursday after an employee was exposed to a person that tested positive for COVID-19. Columbia Sportswear also announced on Friday that its Portland employees would begin working remotely instead of from its Northwest Portland campus. 

On Sunday, Powell’s Books shared that it would be closing all of its five Portland-area stores through the end of March. In an update on Sunday, CEO and Owner Emily Powell stated, “because at this time we feel that we cannot honor the social distancing guidelines presented by the CDC, we have decided that it is important for us to close our five Portland-area stores, effective immediately.”

 

Saturday, March 14, 2020, 7:29 p.m. 

The first known person to die from COVID-19 in Oregon has been announced. A 70-year-old man with underlying health conditions, diagnosed just four days ago, died in Portland’s Veterans’ Affairs Medical Center, according to the Oregon Health Authority (OHA).

 

OHA has also since updated the community, stating that 36 people in the state of Oregon have confirmed cases of COVID-19, with dozens waiting for diagnoses.

 

Saturday, March 14, 2020, 1:46 p.m.

After the Moda Center notified the public that they would be cancelling all basketball games, concerts, and other events due to the COVID-19 outbreak, they announced that they would be donating the unused event food.

 

The Moda Center succeeded in donating 2,800 to Urban Gleaners. Urban Gleaners is a volunteer-run group that helps distribute food to Oregonians struggling with food insecurity.

 

Saturday, March 14, 2020, 11:57 a.m.

As of 11:57 a.m. on March 14, Oregon has 32 reported cases of COVID-19, also known as novel coronavirus, according to a report made by Oregon Public Radio (OPB). The actual number of those infected is unknown, as COVID-19 is known to lay dormant for up to 14 days, and some cases are asymptotic. Additionally, there is an extremely limited number of tests available, so the number of those infected is thought to be considerably higher than the low 32. 

 

Saturday, March, 14, 2020, 10:17 a.m.

In an announcement on Saturday, the Portland Mercury shared that it will be ceasing its biweekly print newspaper and transition to online reporting. In addition, the company stated that it would be temporarily laying off 10 of its staff members. 

 

This announcement came in the wake of reduced demand due to the spread of COVID-19. Editor-in-Chief Wm. Steven Humphrey stated, “We take our job—keeping you both informed and entertained—very seriously, and our devotion to you runs deep. But in order to make sure we survive when this virus is ultimately contained (which we’re positive it will be), we’re resorting to drastic measures.”

 

Friday, March 13, 2020, 3:00 p.m.

The Portland Police Bureau (PPB) announced that they will no longer be responding to non-life-threatening 911 calls. This decision was made in an attempt to ensure the officer’s exposure to COVID-19 is limited as much as possible. The announcement initially caused confusion and concern throughout the public. The PPB encouraged the public to make reports online.

 

About an hour following the initial statement, Sargent Kevin Allen worked to clear up some of the public’s concern. He clarified that the police will still respond to calls including sexual assaults, other violent crimes, home and business burglaries, and some car crashes. Allen said that “We’re just going to be looking for any opportunity we can use the phone to do our job.”

 

Friday, March 13, 2020, 1:00 p.m.

In a message on Friday, March 13, 2020, Multnomah County Library announced that all libraries would remain closed indefinitely due to the spread of COVID-19. 

 

Vailey Oehlke, director of libraries states, “The unprecedented nature of the COVID-19 pandemic and the real threat to the health and safety of our families, friends and neighbors requires swift and dramatic action. Sadly, the action we must take to help stop the spread means that people will lose access to library spaces until public health officials advise that it’s safe for the public and library staff to resume our work.” 

 

Friday, March 17, 2020, 11:37 a.m.

In a press release on Friday, OSAA (Oregon School Activities Association) announced that all practices and contests would be suspended through March 31. This followed an earlier announcement from Oregon Gov. Kate Brown that all K-12 schools would be shuttered until the end of the month. 

 

More information can be found at http://www.osaa.org/. 

 

Friday, March 13, 2020, 11:00 a.m.

In another announcement made Friday, March 13, Laughing Planet Cafe said in an Instagram post, “School closures might sound like a dream for kids, but it throws a wrench in the system for kids who participate in (Meal Assistance Programs).” They added that “From now until further notice Laughing Planet will be providing a free kids meal to kids who qualify for Meal Assistance Programs. PLEASE help us spread the word!”

 

Friday, March 13, 2020, 9:00 a.m.

Oregon Food Bank shared late Friday that they would be providing food for children ages 1-18 in the community. They stated that food would be available for those in need from Tuesday, March 17 to Friday, March 20, and then Monday, March 30 and Tuesday, March 31. The meals would be accessible from 11:00 a.m. through 1:00 p.m. at 14 locations throughout Portland schools. 

 

Thursday, March 12, 2020

On the evening of Thursday, March 12, Portland Public Schools (PPS) stated that “In response to concerns about the growing COVID-19 crisis, we will close schools starting Monday, March 16, with a plan for students to return to class Wednesday, April 1.” Teachers are scheduled to return March 30 to plan for student return on the Wednesday of that week.