Benton County lifts face coverings in public indoor settings, masks now optional
The Benton County Board of Commissioners, acting in their capacity as the Board of Health, issued Order #D2022-037, which went into effect on March 12, 2022. The order states that masks or face coverings are no longer required to be worn in most public indoor settings. The order also brings the County into alignment with the recent statewide update from Governor Brown’s office.
Continuing to layer prevention measures such as keeping up to date on your COVID-19 vaccination, hand washing, and staying home when ill are all important measures to reduce the risk of infection. COVID-19 vaccines are safe and provide the best protection against the most severe outcomes of COVID-19 including hospitalization and death.
|
|
Next Phase of the COVID-19 Pandemic - Letter to the Community
Masking Changes
As we find ourselves at the two-year mark of the pandemic, we remain grateful for the compassion, stamina, and resilience demonstrated across Benton County. The majority of our community has the protection afforded by COVID-19 vaccination, with 72.5% of the County population fully vaccinated. Of those currently eligible in Benton County, 66% have received a booster dose. Strong community support for vaccination, masking, and other precautions has had a significant impact throughout Benton County. Together we have reduced the number who have fallen ill, kept people out of the hospital, and worked diligently to support the most at risk among us. It is because of everyone’s hard work and willingness to compromise that we are in a position to safely lift the universal masking order, and instead make masking optional and based on individual risk.
Though masks will no longer be required, many people will continue to protect themselves and others by wearing masks and engaging in other public health measures. Benton County encourages everyone to continue to make decisions based on our individual risks and the risks of those with whom we engage. As we approach this change in mask requirements, we want to share ways that you can choose the best level of protection for yourselves, your loved ones, and our community.
How to Assess Risk
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recently announced a new metric-based system to weigh COVID-19 risks. COVID-19 Community Levels are a tool including data and recommendations to help individuals and communities decide what precautions to take based on the latest local data and their unique individual, household, and professional circumstances.
Though we are moving out of the Omicron surge and currently have high levels of immunity from vaccination and recent infection, the virus remains a threat, particularly to our community members at higher risk. It is important to know that we are not powerless against COVID-19 in an environment without required universal masking, and our collective risk decreases with lower community transmission. We have protective vaccines, COVID-19 treatments, testing, and a supply of high-quality masks that offer protection to those who need or want them. We should also continue to improve ventilation, practice good hand hygiene, and stay home when sick. View the community reference guide.
What’s Next?
Benton County will continue to support protection measures for community members that are most at risk by making available high-quality masks that are effective in situations without universal masking. We will continue to provide outreach, while ensuring availability and access to vaccination, testing, and COVID-19 treatments. Universal masking will continue in healthcare settings, and it is still recommended that those who are unvaccinated, immunocompromised, have underlying health conditions, or are age 65 and older continue wearing masks in indoor public places. Benton County and the Oregon Health Authority will also continue monitoring the situation around COVID-19, reviewing the impact new developments have on our communities, and assessing if any future public health measures need to be considered.
As we move forward, we ask that you extend good will and patience supporting choices made by others. Thank you to our general community and community partners for continuing to do your part to help us control the spread of COVID-19. Visit https://www.co.benton.or.us/covid19 for more information on COVID-19 testing, masking, and vaccines.
Sincerely,
April Holland, MPH
Benton County Public Health Director/Administrator
Carolina Amador, MD
Benton County Public Health Officer
|
|
Senator Merkley’s staff tour Emergency Operations Center
Senator Jeff Merkley’s senior staff members met with the Benton County Board of Commissioners, Sheriff, and emergency management staff to tour the current location of Benton County’s Emergency Operations Center (EOC) on March 29. Currently housed in the Sheriff’s Office, the County’s primary EOC will be relocated to support both training and emergency operations activities.
Over the past year, elected officials and County staff worked with state and federal legislators to raise funds for a new emergency operations center. Senator Merkley worked to allocate $1.0 million in the Fiscal Year 22 Appropriations Bill in the U.S. Congress. The $1.0 million allocated directly from the U.S. Congress is authorized through the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act. Under this Act, the federal contribution must represent no more than 75% ($1,000,000) of the total activity cost, which will require the County to contribute $333,333 to receive the total federal funding award. Total funding currently committed for a new EOC is $1,333,333.
|
|
Republic Services withdraws appeal from Planning Commission’s denial of conditional use permit
On March 15, 2022, the Benton County Board of Commissioners were informed that Valley Landfills, Inc./Republic Services, Inc., withdrew its appeal of the Planning Commission’s denial of the conditional use permit application for the Coffin Butte Landfill. The withdrawal was effective on Friday, March 11, 2022. A letter addressed to the Community Development Department announced Republic Services’ intention to file a new application in the near future and to continue to engage with the community and incorporate their feedback.
|
|
Community Wildfire Protection Plan feedback period extended
Community members we need your help!
|
|
Benton County Sheriff's Office results from February 2022 extra traffic patrols during Distracted Driver Awareness Month
The Benton County Sheriff’s Office (BCSO) worked extra patrols throughout the month of February 2022. During regular patrols and extra patrols, BCSO had the following activity levels:
- 8 DUII arrests (alcohol, drug, and/or inhalant)
- 34 driving while suspended (arrests and citations)
- 29 driving uninsured citations
- 119 speeding citations
- 11 safety belt and/or child seat citations
- 84 citations for other various violations
- Deputies responded to 17 traffic crashes with 2 involving injuries, and 4 fatalities
- Deputies responded to 1493 calls for service
|
|
Get ready to celebrate Historic Preservation Month
The Benton County and Corvallis Historic Preservation Commissions are organizing a delightful and educational set of events to celebrate the history of Benton County. These include guided walks of historic districts and resources in Corvallis, open houses for the Willamette Grange, Independent School House, Adair Barracks Building, and H bar H Dude Ranch currently known as the Lumos Winery, and other enjoyable events.
One event that you can get involved with beginning this month is the Spectres of Benton County Past game. The game was created through the fantastical imagination and technological wizardry of Adrienne Fritze and Mark van der Pol of Conundrum House, a local Corvallis business dedicated to the art of fun through games. Spectres is historically factual with a twist of fiction. Enjoy the first season of Spectres that was created last year at spectres.conundrumhouse.com, then continue with us for the second season beginning May 7. Additional episodes will release on May 14 and 21, with a culminating grand finale at the Corvallis Museum on May 28.
|
|
Questions?
Benton County Public Information Office
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
