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<p class="MsoNormal">Per an <a href="https://www.oregon.gov/newsroom/Pages/NewsDetail.aspx?newsid=64902">
announcement</a> today, On April 1, Governor Brown is lifting the emergency declarations related to the COVID-19 pandemic. This announcement was paired with a news release from the Oregon Health Authority (OHA) that the mask requirement for most indoor places,
including libraries, will be lifted on March 19:<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/30c223b">https://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/ORDHS/bulletins/30c223b</a><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">OHA recommends that people in high-risk groups continue wearing masks even after the restrictions have lifted. Those groups include people who are at higher risk because they are unvaccinated; immunocompromised; have underlying health conditions
that put them at increased risk of complications; are 65 or older; or who live with someone in one of these groups.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Masks will still be required in health care settings including hospitals, doctor offices, dentist offices, urgent care, and dialysis centers. For the full list, see
<a href="https://secure.sos.state.or.us/oard/viewSingleRule.action?ruleVrsnRsn=286317">
OAR 333-019-1011</a>.<o:p></o:p></p>
<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">If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to ask.<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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</span></u><a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC0-kU8Gu0jS_YcnXg-b_TRA/featured"><span style="color:#0563C1">YouTube</span></a><u><span style="color:#0563C1"><o:p></o:p></span></u></p>
<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@01D8296C.8E52D6B0" 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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