(SALEM, Ore.) On Tuesday, Gov. Kate Brown said Oregon will see most of its COVID-19 restrictions lifted when 70% of the population ages 16 and older are vaccinated, a target the state is expected to hit in June, KOIN reports.
“I’m confident we can get there in June and return Oregon to a sense of normalcy,” Brown said.
She also said that this week marks 2 million Oregonians, over half of the state’s adult population, having received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine. Of the adult population, 49% have received their first dose, with 36% fully vaccinated.
“This brings us to a pivotal moment we’ve all been waiting for… we can truly begin taking steps into the next chapter of post-pandemic life,” she said.
With the new goal of reaching 70% of Oregonians being fully vaccinated, Brown said once counties reach 65% of people having a first dose, they can move down to a lower risk level starting May 21. In order to do this, the county will have to submit a plan addressing the vaccine equity gap.
Masks and physical distancing will remain in effect, in alignment with CDC guidelines.
“To hit 70% of Oregonians vaccinated with at least one dose by the end of June, Oregon would need to administer 8,700 first doses per day over the next seven weeks. As of yesterday, Oregon is averaging a total of 34,869 first and second doses each day,” Oregon Health Authority Director Pat Allen said.
Allen said Deschutes, Multnomah, Lincoln and Washington counties have already vaccinated more than 60% of their populations and will likely reach 65% soon. These counties could move to "low risk" by May 21.