Oregon Ends Outdoor Mask Mandate, Covid Tests For Schools Secured

PORTLAND, OR — After about three months, Oregon's latest outdoors mask mandate is over. For now, anyway.

The Oregon Health Authority says that the mandate has been lifted because of the progress the state has made to slow new infections and keep hospitalization rates from growing.

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"While it's too soon to lift all mask precautions, we can remove the outdoor mask requirement for crowded public settings," Oregon's health officer, Dr. Dean Sidelinger, said.

"We're not seeing these settings fueling large outbreaks. Oregonians can interact with others outdoors without putting themselves and others at high risk, especially if they are vaccinated."

Officials warn that the mandate, which was out in effect when the latest surge started in August, could come back.

In other good news, state education officials announced that a steady, secure supply of testing kits for every public and private school in the state to start "test to stay" programs.

The program allows to students to go to school and even participate in extracurricular activites as long as they don't test positive.