Oregon Governor issues strictest lockdown measures in the U.S. with two-week 'freeze' shutting down gyms, restricting restaurants to take-out and limiting gatherings to just SIX people - despite no steady increase in COVID fatalities
Oregon's Governor has issued the strictest lockdown measures in America as the state experiences a surge in COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations.
During a press conference on Friday, Gov. Kate Brown ordered a two-week statewide 'freeze' on businesses and gatherings - the harshest restrictions since the stay-at-home order imposed on Oregonians at the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic back in March.
The freeze will start next Wednesday, November 18 and run through December 2. In Portland, which is experiencing the largest increase in cases, the freeze will be extended to four weeks.
As part of the order, all gyms will be closed, while bars and restaurants will be prohibited from providing dine-in service.
Additionally, there will be restrictions on the number of people allowed inside grocery stores and pharmacies at any one time, while all indoor and outdoor social gatherings will be limited to six people.
There will be no exemptions on social gatherings for Thanksgiving.
Oregon's Governor Katie Brown has issued the strictest lockdown measures in America as the state experiences a surge in COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations
Cases have spiked dramatically across Oregon in the past two weeks, with 1,109 new infections recorded on Thursday - the highest single day increase in the state's history
Cases have spiked dramatically across Oregon in the past two weeks, with 1,109 new infections recorded on Thursday - the highest single day increase in the state's history.
On the same day last month, just 205 new infections were logged, despite the fact that a similar number of tests were performed.
The total number of cases in Oregon now stands at 53,879.
Meanwhile, 342 Oregonians are currently hospitalized with COVID-19, including 71 patients in the Intensive Care Unit.
Despite an increase in both cases and hospitalizations, there has been no consistent surge in the fatality rate, which fluctuates between four and 14 deaths daily, as it has done for the past three months.
Across the state, 746 people have died from the virus.
Cases have spiked dramatically across Oregon in the past two weeks, with 1,109 new infections recorded on Thursday - the highest single day increase in the state's history
As of Thursday, 342 Oregonians are in the hospital with COVID-19, including 71 patients in the Intensive Care Unit. However, despite an increase in both cases and hospitalizations, there has been no consistent surge in the fatality rate
Gov. Brown, along with the Gov. Jay Inslee of Washington and Gov. Gavin Newsom of California, have also formed a West Coast travel advisory requiring residents returning from out-of-state or visitors from the rest of the country to quarantine for 14 days.
The West Coast, like almost all other parts of the country, is struggling to come to grips with the number of new COVID-19 cases, which has exploded in the past week.
New infections across the country hit a record high for the third consecutive day with 153,496 cases on Thursday. Daily cases have repeatedly surged to all-time highs of more than 120,000 per day over the past seven days.
Hospitalizations have also reached a single-day high with 67,096 patients currently being treated across the country.
New infections across the country hit a record high for the third consecutive day with 153,496 cases on Thursday. Daily cases have repeatedly surged to all-time highs of more than 120,000 per day over the past week