The Oregon Health Authority announced on Monday that the mask requirements for indoor public places would remain until no later than March 31.
By late March, health scientists expect that about 400 or fewer Oregonians would be hospitalized with COVID-19, the level of hospitalizations the state experienced before the Omicron variant began to spread, according to OHA.
“The evidence from Oregon and around the country is clear: masks save lives by slowing the spread of COVID-19,” said Dean Sidelinger, M.D., health officer and state epidemiologist.
State health officials said they would consider lifting the indoor mask requirement earlier than March 31, if hospitalizations decline to the levels projected by March 31.
“We should see COVID-19 hospitalizations drop by the end of March because so many Oregonians are wearing masks and taking other steps to protect themselves and each other, such as getting a booster shot or vaccinating their children. At that point, it will be safer to lift mask requirements,” said Sedelinger.
Mask requirements for schools will also be lifted on March 31.
By Jennifer Williams
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