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<p class="MsoNormal">Hi everyone,<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Today Governor Brown and the Oregon Health Authority (OHA) announced that the State will lift the indoor mask mandate no later than March 31. This decision is driven by analysis of the current and predicted levels of hospitalizations and
extra demand on the health care system predominantly driven by the COVID-19 Omnicron variant. The mandate could be lifted before March 31 if hospitalizations decrease sooner than expected. More details are provided in this bulletin from OHA:<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/ORDHS/bulletins/3098e7d">https://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/ORDHS/bulletins/3098e7d</a><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Even after the mandate is lifted, OHA still strongly recommends masking for people who are:<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<ul style="margin-top:0in" type="disc">
<li class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin-left:0in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1">Unvaccinated<o:p></o:p></li><li class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin-left:0in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1">Immunocompromised<o:p></o:p></li><li class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin-left:0in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1">At high risk of COVID-19 hospitalizations, including those with underlying health conditions and those 65 and older<o:p></o:p></li><li class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin-left:0in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1">Living with people at high risk<o:p></o:p></li></ul>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Once the statewide mandate expires, local businesses and entities (including local governments) may establish their own masking requirements to protect employees and customers. If your library is interested in doing that, please consult
the appropriate officials in your city/county/university/etc. You can also consult your
<a href="https://www.oregon.gov/oha/ph/providerpartnerresources/localhealthdepartmentresources/pages/lhd.aspx">
county health department</a> or other local health authority to find out more about how COVID-19 is affecting your particular area.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Please let me know if there are any questions I can help answer. This news is developing, so there may be further updates later.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Stay safe, stay healthy,<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:5.0pt"><b><span style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Century Gothic",sans-serif;color:black">Buzzy Nielsen, MPP, MSI (he/him/his)
<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:115%">Program Manager, Library Support & Development Services<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:115%">State Library of Oregon<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:115%">buzzy.nielsen@slo.oregon.gov | 971-375-3486<br>
<a href="https://www.oregon.gov/library/libraries"><span style="color:#0563C1">www.oregon.gov/library/libraries</span></a><u><span style="color:#0563C1"><o:p></o:p></span></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Follow us: <a href="http://fb.me/StateLibraryOR"><span style="color:#0563C1">Facebook</span></a> |
<a href="https://twitter.com/StateLibraryOR"><span style="color:#0563C1">Twitter</span></a><b>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><b><o:p> </o:p></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://www.oregon.gov/library/libraries"><span style="color:windowtext;text-decoration:none"><img border="0" width="323" height="43" style="width:3.3645in;height:.4479in" id="Picture_x0020_1" src="cid:image001.png@01D81C33.42CC1350" alt="Logo for the Library Support & Development Services division at the State Library of Oregon"></span></a><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
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