Today, the Oregon Health Authority announced that Oregon will lift mask requirements for indoor public places and Oregon’s schools March 12th. This date aligns with Washington and California’s mask lifts. It is important to note that this date has changed frequently, with the date of the mask lift first announced as March 31st and then March 19th. Oregon did mention today that they do not anticipate any changes to the March 12th date.
Oregon is strongly recommending that people in high-risk groups continue to wear masks in indoor public settings after the mask mandate is lifted. High risk individuals include those who are unvaccinated; immunocompromised; have underlying health conditions that put them at higher risk of complications; are 65 or older; or who live with someone in one of those categories.
As a reminder, once the mandate is lifted, employers may choose to continue to require masks in their workplace, or when performing certain types of work. For example, an employer may choose to require masks when employees will be working for long periods of time in close proximity to each other, or in positions with high public contact.
Whether an employer chooses to end its mask requirements or continue with a mandate in some capacity, all employers should update their policies to align with their practice.