x
Breaking News
More () »

Malheur County among 11 Oregon counties to stay at high COVID risk level

Any county in Oregon can move to the lower risk level once 65% of its residents have received at least one dose and the county has submitted an equity plan.

PORTLAND, Ore. — Editor's note: During a press conference on June 11, Gov. Kate Brown announced Clackamas County is likely to pass 65% of its residents with the first dose of the vaccine. Gov. Brown said Clackamas County will move into the lower risk category soon.

RELATED: Watch live: Oregon Gov. Brown says Clackamas County will move to lower risk soon

Clackamas County is among 11 Oregon counties that will remain in high risk when new county COVID-19 risk levels go into effect this week. Oregon Gov. Kate Brown announced the updated risk levels on Tuesday.

Any county in Oregon can move to the lower risk level once 65% of its residents have received at least one dose of the vaccine and the county has submitted an equity plan outlining how the county plans to close equity gaps in its vaccination efforts.

Moving to lower risk allows counties to significantly reduce their COVID-19 restrictions. The lower risk level allows a maximum of 50% capacity indoors at restaurants, theaters, gyms and other indoor entertainment spaces. It also expands retail store capacity to 75%.

RELATED: Oregon to loosen workplace COVID rules in line with 70% vaccination target

As of Monday, June 7, Clackamas County is at 62.9%. To move to lower risk, 7,320 more Clackamas County residents will need to get the first shot, according to the Oregon Health Authority (OHA).

On Wednesday, Coos, Lane and Wasco counties will move down from moderate to lower risk and Josephine and Yamhill counties will move down from high to moderate risk. On Friday, Harney will move up from lower to moderate risk because of rising case counts.

The governor's office said Lane County moved down this week after it achieved a 65% vaccination rate and submitted an equity plan. All other counties moved based on case counts and positivity rates.

The new risk levels will place 21 counties in lower risk, four in moderate risk and 11 at the high risk level, including Clackamas County. The risk levels are in effect through Thursday, June 17.

RELATED: Gov. Brown provides details on how Oregon will reopen once state reaches 70% vaccination mark

Once 70% of Oregon residents 16 and older have received a first dose of the vaccine, Brown said she'll lift most COVID-19 restrictions for the entire state. Oregon is at 66.8%.

"Oregon is so close to more fully reopening our economy," Brown said. "We will soon need to reach fewer than 100,000 Oregonians to achieve our statewide vaccination goal of 70% and lift the county risk level framework."

Credit: KGW
The updated COVID-19 risk levels for Oregon counties, announced Tuesday, June 8, 2021 by Oregon Gov. Kate Brown.

County risk levels

Here's the state's full list of county risk levels. All risk levels go into effect on Wednesday, June 9, except for Harney County, which goes into effect on Friday, June 11:

Lower risk (21 counties)

  • Baker 
  • Benton 
  • Clatsop 
  • Coos (Moved from Moderate) 
  • Curry  
  • Deschutes 
  • Gilliam 
  • Grant 
  • Hood River 
  • Lake  
  • Lane (Moved from Moderate) 
  • Lincoln 
  • Morrow  
  • Multnomah 
  • Sherman 
  • Tillamook 
  • Union 
  • Wallowa 
  • Wasco (Moved from Moderate) 
  • Washington 
  • Wheeler 

Moderate risk (4 counties)

  • Harney (Moved from Lower) 
  • Josephine (Moved from High) 
  • Polk 
  • Yamhill (Moved from High) 

High risk (11 counties)

  • Clackamas 
  • Columbia 
  • Crook 
  • Douglas 
  • Jackson 
  • Jefferson 
  • Klamath 
  • Linn 
  • Malheur 
  • Marion 
  • Umatilla

County vaccination rates

Here's a list of the vaccination rates for counties in moderate and high risk, as of Monday, June 7:

Moderate risk

  • Harney: 39.7%
  • Josephine: 44.4%
  • Polk: 62.6%
  • Yamhill: 57.0%

High risk

  • Clackamas: 62.9%
  • Columbia: 47.9%
  • Crook: 46.3%
  • Douglas: 41.7%
  • Jackson: 50.9%
  • Jefferson: 50.1%
  • Klamath: 44.0%
  • Linn: 52.3%
  • Malheur: 34.8%
  • Marion: 57.9%
  • Umatilla: 38.0%

WATCH: COVID vaccine updates

Before You Leave, Check This Out