PORTLAND, Ore. — There are nearly 2 million people in Portland's tri-county metro area. That's a lot of folks to manage during a pandemic. And that's why the job of getting to Phase 1 will take a little longer. Especially when health officials don't think many people are immune to the coronavirus.
"We have potentially a lot of people at risk to this illness and its consequences, so we really need to carefully balance reopening knowing that COVID-19 is more likely to spread as people mix, and also as we test more people," said Multnomah County health officer Dr. Jennifer Vines.
In a news conference Thursday afternoon, Multnomah County leaders said they have 35 of 122 contact tracers in place. They are trying to hire more, with diversity in mind, to reach all of the county's ethnic communities. But at this point, County Chair Deborah Kafoury can't say when Phase 1 is coming.
"I think it would be irresponsible of me to give you a date at this point and I don’t yet know and I don’t want to set unrealistic expectations for the public that it’s going to happen tomorrow or next week or any time in the near future," she said.
Multnomah County unveiled an online dashboard on Thursday, so you can keep up to date on reopening status and plans.
In Washington County, officials are targeting early to mid-June to go for Phase 1. Health officials working to get contact tracing set, which includes hiring about 90 people.
Clackamas County is working on the Phase 1 application now. Commissioners will review a draft version on Tuesday, May 19. But they're not talking target date today.
In order to be approved for the first phase of limited reopening, counties must meet seven prerequisites, which includes declining prevalence of COVID-19 and a threshold for testing capacity and contact tracers.
So, it will be at least a few weeks or more before certain businesses will be allowed to reopen in a limited capacity under the first phase of Gov. Kate Brown's reopening plan.
Mary Lee Perry owns Portland's Rough Cut Barber Shop. She says trying to find personal protective equipment, sanitizer and other supplies needed to reopen is just one part of the challenge.
"We might need that much time to get ready to start cutting hair," said Perry. "They just want you to do all these things and it’s overwhelming. So, I would love to go to work right now but I don’t want to go back unprepared."