Executive Order No. 20-03: Declaration of Emergency Due to Coronavirus (COVID-19) Outbreak in Oregon

Summary

Oregon Governor Kate Brown's Executive Order No. 20-03, confirmed in writing on March 8, 2020 after a verbal proclamation at 8:14 p.m. on March 7, declares a statewide emergency over the novel coronavirus under ORS 401.165 et seq. It notes that as of March 8, 2020 there were 14 presumptive or confirmed cases in Oregon, 430 in the United States and 101,927 worldwide. The order directs the Oregon Health Authority and the state Public Health Director to take all necessary actions, including deploying emergency volunteer health care professionals and designating emergency health care centers. It lets agencies waive rules or adopt temporary rules and makes the declaration a public health emergency for sick time under ORS 653.616. The emergency lasts sixty days unless extended or terminated earlier.

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Office of the Governor

State of Oregon

EXECUTIVE ORDER NO. 20-03

DECLARATION OF EMERGENCY DUE TO CORONAVIRUS (COVID-19)
OUTBREAK IN OREGON

ORS 401.165 et seg. empowers the Governor to declare a state of emergency upon
determining that an emergency has occurred or is imminent. Pursuant to that
authority, I find that the novel infectious coronavirus has created a threat to public
health and safety, and constitutes a statewide emergency under ORS 401.025(1).

The novel coronavirus causes an illness known as COVID-19. Coronavirus are a
group of viruses that can cause respiratory disease, with the potential to cause
serious illness or loss of life.

As of March 8, 2020, there are 14 presumptive or confirmed coronavirus cases in
Oregon, 430 cases in the United States, and 101,927 cases worldwide, in a total of
94 countries. In the United States there have been 19 deaths, and worldwide-there
have been 3,486 deaths. On January 30, 2020, the International Health Regulations
Emergency Committee of the World Health Organization declared the outbreak a
“public health emergency of international concern.” On January 31, 2020, the
Secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services declared a public
health emergency for the United States. Two counties in Oregon and several states
also have declared states of emergency in response to the coronavirus outbreak,
including California and Washington.

According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, COVID-19
presents a “high” potential public health threat, both globally and in the United
States. It spreads person-to-person through coughing and sneezing, close personal
contact, such as touching or shaking hands, or touching an object or surface with
the virus on it, and then touching your mouth, nose, or eyes. The symptoms are
fever, cough and difficulty breathing.

On January 21, 2020, the Oregon Health Authority, Public Health Division
activated its incident management team to prepare for and respond to COVID-19.
On February 28, 2020, the Governor announced the convening of a Coronavirus
Response Team tasked with coordinating state and local agencies and health
authorities in preparation for response to COVID-19. On March 2, 2020, the
Governor activated the State Emergency Coordination Center.

Materials
Office of the Governor

State of Oregon

EXECUTIVE ORDER NO. 20-03
PAGE TWO

In order to ensure the state is fully prepared for COVID-19 and that state and local
authorities have the resources needed to respond to COVID-19, a declaration of
emergency is necessary.

NOW THEREFORE, IT IS HEREBY DIRECTED AND ORDERED THAT:

IE The Oregon Health Authority and the state Public Health Director shall take
all actions necessary and authorized under ORS 401.651 to 401 .670, ORS
433.443, and ORS 431A.015 to respond to, control, mitigate, and recover
from the emergency, including but not limited to:

(a) Deploying emergency volunteer health ¢are professionals under
ORS 401.661;

(b) Designating emergency health care centers under ORS
401.657;

(c) After consultation with appropriate medical experts, creating and
requiring the use of diagnostic and treatment guidelines and
providing notice of those guidelines to health care providers,
institutions and facilities;

(d) Issuing guidelines for private businesses regarding appropriate work
restrictions, if necessary.

2: If needed, I will request assistance through the Emergency Management
Assistance Compact under ORS 402.105 and the Pacific Northwest
Management Assistance Arrangement under ORS 402.250.

3. The Office of Emergency Management shall, in consultation with the
Director of the Oregon Health Authority and state Public Health Director, if
necessary, take any action authorized under ORS 433.441. All agencies
identified as part of the Governor’s Coronavirus Response Team are
directed to provide liaisons for the State Emergency Coordination Center.
All state government agencies shall utilize and employ state personnel,
equipment, and facilities for any and all activities as requested and
coordinated by the Oregon Office of Emergency Management. All citizens
are to heed the advice of emergency officials with regard to this outbreak in
order to protect their health and safety.
Office of the Governor

State of Oregon

EXECUTIVE ORDER NO. 20-03
PAGE THREE

4, As necessary to respond to the emergency, I authorize all executive
agencies of state government to take, upon further direction from me or my
office, any actions authorized under the provisions set forth in ORS 401 168
through 401.192.

S. State agencies shall develop and implement procedures, including waiving
rules or adopting temporary rules within the agency’s authority, consistent
with recommendations from the state Public Health Director, designed to
prevent or alleviate the public health threat.

6. This declaration serves as a public health emergency for purposes of ORS
653.616, which permits employees to use sick time as specified in ORS
653.616(6).

7. Persons who believe that they have been subjected to excessive prices for

essential consumer goods associated with the coronavirus outbreak are
encouraged to report that conduct to the Oregon Department of Justice
Consumer Protection hotline, at 1-877-877-9392.

This state of emergency shall exist for sixty days from the date of this Executive

' Order, unless extended or terminated earlier by the Governor. These findings and
this order were initially made by verbal proclamation at 8:14 p.m. on the 7 day of
March, 2020, and confirmed in writing by this Executive Order on this 8" day of
March, 2020.

Done at Portland, Oregon this 8" day of March, 2020.

Kate Brown
GOVERNOR

Bev Clarno
SECRETARY OF STATE

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