The Oregon Health Authority, Public Health Division is proposing to adopt a new administrative rule pertaining to the wearing of masks, face coverings or face shields in indoor spaces to control the spread of COVID-19, the Salem Chamber of Commerce is reporting.
The current indoor masking requirement (initially instituted last August) is set to expire next month.
The proposed administrative rule would create a masking requirement in perpetuity and would not require a new temporary mandate (which can only be instituted for 180 days at a time) to be set after the current mandate expires.
This new administrative rule could in theory could stay in place forever, though it is likely it would be repealed when COVID-19 cases go down. There are no current metrics tied to this rule which would prompt an end to its enforcement.
You may also file written comments before 5 p.m. on Jan. 24 by sending them to the Public Health Division Rules Coordinator at: OHA, Public Health Division Administrative Rules Coordinator, 800 NE Oregon St., Suite 930, Portland, Oregon, 97232, or fax to 971-673-1299 or email comments to OHA: [email protected]
