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Oregon, Washington reopenings mark return to business in mainland US
Gov, Kate Brown s office
Gov. Kate Brown speaks at reopening celebration at Providence Park in Portland
PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) Oregon and Washington have lifted most of their COVID-19 restrictions Wednesday, becoming two of the last states to broadly ease coronavirus orders put in place in the very first days of the pandemic.
New Mexico is scheduled to reopen Thursday, marking a return to business throughout the mainland U.S. following 16 months of disruption.
The last holdout Hawaii has loosened some travel rules but is slated to maintain other restrictions until 70% of its population is fully vaccinated. The moves come as concern grows about a new coronavirus variant that threatens to set the country back in the months ahead.
OPB “Welcome back, Oregon,” says Gov. Kate Brown during the Reopening Oregon Celebration held at Providence Park in Portland, Ore., June 30, 2021. Brown announced the end to mandatory mask use and social distancing.
Brown addressed media questions on whether reopening while vaccine rates among Oregonians of color lag behind those of white residents will only perpetuate disparities exposed by pandemic.
The sound of applause and cheers rang throughout Providence Park Wednesday from the couple hundred attendees who attended a reopening ceremony hosted by Oregon Gov. Kate Brown as she lifted COVID-19-related safety measures statewide.
Brown targeted June 30 after the state failed to reach its initial goal of vaccinating 70% of Oregon’s eligible population by June 21. State data currently shows that 69.5% of eligible Oregonians have received at least one shot. Approximately 16,000 more Oregonians need to receive a shot for the state to reach 70%.
A bill giving a big win to Oregon bars and restaurants might be doing more harm than good, according to alcohol recovery advocates. Oregon lawmakers passed Senate Bill 317 on Tuesday, allowing to-go cocktails to continue even after the coronavirus pandemic. Governor Kate Brown signed legislation in December that allowed restaurants and bars to add to-go cocktails to their menus immediately as a way to help the industry that had been struggling.