County, CTUIR will remove mask rules
By Terry Murry on Thursday, March 3rd, 2022 in Columbia Basin News Featured Stories
The state of Oregon’s COVID-19 mask mandate expires on Saturday, March 12. Wednesday morning, the Umatilla County Board of Commissioners met to discuss several rules that would have to be enacted to carry out the orders from Gov. Kate Brown and the Oregon Health Authority.
“We had all these lists and we were trying to figure out how best to address it,” Chairman John Shafer said. “Commissioner Murdock actually said it best: ‘Can I make a motion to return it to pre-COVID days?’ That was what the motion was and that’s what we agreed to.”
That motion passed unanimously and pre-COVID days will return to county facilities on Monday, March. 14.
“You will be able to come in without an appointment and without a mask,” Shafer said.
As for the Sixth Circuit Court, Shafer said the presiding judge said there will be no mask requirement starting March 14 as well.
The Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation Board of Trustees, meanwhile, has declared Friday, March 11 at 4 p.m. as the time when all mask mandates will end indoors and outdoors at Tribal facilities. That move came on the recommendation of the Yellowhawk Tribal Health Center. The BOT will also leave open the possibility of an earlier date as set forth by Yellowhawk.
“I trust the removal of the mask mandate because it is based on good data and Yellowhawk’s consistency with the state,” said BOT Chair Kat Brigham. “Masks will be removed but please continue to follow the guidelines that continue to remain in place. If you would like to continue to wear your masks, we support you and your safety measures.”
The Board of Trustees will continue to fund COVID-19 screeners to monitor for signs and symptoms of COVID-19 in the Nixyaawii Governance Center until April 29. That date also could be subject to change pending new information from Yellowhawk.
