Gathering safely

Some activities are more risky than others. Here are guidelines and risk levels to help you and your loved ones plan and stay safe from COVID-19.

1. Get vaccinated or boosted. Vaccination is our best protection to keep people from getting very sick from all variants of COVID-19.
2. Consider wearing a mask and staying 6 feet apart when you are spending time in crowds or gatherings, especially if you are not vaccinated, have an underlying medical condition that puts you at higher risk of serious illness or live with someone in one of these categories (read the health guidance here).
3. Maximize the ventilation in your home or office. The virus that causes COVID-19 can linger in the air. Opening windows (if temperatures permit) improves ventilation and reduces the amount of the virus that causes COVID-19 in the air. You can also turn on a fan or air purifier if you have one. For more tips on improving ventilation in your home or office, visit the CDC.
4. Wash your hands often, for at least 20 seconds, or use hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol.
5. Disinfect surfaces that are touched often -- door knobs, car doors, steering wheels and phones.
6. Know the symptoms of COVID-19 and the phone number of a health care provider or community health worker you can call if someone gets sick. If you don’t have a health care provider, call 211.
7. Make a plan so that if someone at home does get sick, they can be isolated as much as possible until they recover.

Until everyone gets the vaccine, there are still steps we all can take to protect our communities from getting very sick from COVID-19. The following are levels of risk for different kinds of activities to help you stay safe.

Low risk

• Staying home

• Spending time outdoors by yourself

• Spending time with people you live with

• Spending time with people you don’t live with, but who have also been vaccinated

• Spending time outdoors with others and staying 6 feet apart

Medium risk

• Spending time indoors in public spaces while vaccinated, wearing a mask and staying 6 feet apart

High risk

• Not being vaccinated

• Spending time in crowds and gatherings without wearing a mask

• Spending time indoors or within 6 feet outdoors with people who have also not been vaccinated

As of April 3, 2023: Masks, face coverings or face shields are no longer required in Oregon, including in all health care settings, businesses, faith institutions, K-12 schools and childcare settings. Some health care settings may choose to maintain masking at their location after the requirement is lifted.

Masks and face coverings remain an effective way to reduce the spread of respiratory viruses. They are still recommended for anyone who is sick, at higher risk of severe illness from a respiratory viral infection, or lives with someone who is at higher risk. Anyone who chooses to continue wearing a mask should feel comfortable doing so.

Who should continue to wear a mask?

Even though masks are no longer required across Oregon, they are still effective at preventing the spread of COVID-19. Many people in Oregon will choose to continue to wear masks.

It is recommended you continue to wear a mask if you:

• Are currently sick
• Are not vaccinated
• Are over the age of 65
• Have a weakened immune system
• Have an underlying medical condition that puts you at higher risk of serious illness from COVID-19
• Live with someone in one of these categories

We support everyone’s right to choose to wear a mask.

What can I do if someone harasses me for continuing to wear a mask?

Harassment, bias, exclusion or other harmful reactions to people wearing face coverings, whether required or not, may be against Oregon law.

If you believe you’ve experienced a hate or bias crime or incident because of wearing a mask, face covering or face shield, or not wearing a mask, face covering or face shield in public, there are resources to help you.

• To report a bias crime, call your local law enforcement non-emergency line.
• To report a bias incident, call the Oregon Department of Justice at 844-924-BIAS (2427).
• To file a civil rights complaint, visit the Bureau of Labor and Industries (BOLI) or call 971-673-0764.
• For more information, go to StandAgainstHate.Oregon.gov.

If you are hearing impaired, call 711 for Oregon Relay.

Many gatherings are a time of fellowship and celebration. With vaccinations and boosters now readily available, the risk of infection is different for everyone. If you and the people you gather with are up to date with COVID-19 vaccines and boosters, your risks of getting very sick will be lower. Here are some ways to stay safe during gatherings no matter the occasion.

• Get vaccinated and stay up to date with a booster when you are eligible to protect yourself and those around you.

• It’s okay to ask if others are vaccinated before getting together with people you don’t live with. You can choose to stay home or find other ways to connect if you feel nervous.

• Masks are no longer required in most public settings, but they are still effective at reducing the spread of COVID-19. It is recommended you continue to wear a mask and stay 6 feet from others when gathering if you:

  • Are over age 65
    

  • Have a weakened immune system

  • Have an underlying medical condition that puts you at higher risk of serious illness from COVID-19

  • Live with someone in one of these categories

• Avoid poorly ventilated spaces, especially when in a crowd.

• Keep the air flowing by opening windows or running a fan or air purifier if possible.

• Get tested if you have symptoms of COVID-19 or have been in close contact with someone who has COVID-19.

• Stay home if you’re feeling sick or unwell, and don’t host any gatherings.

• Wash your hands often.

• Only travel once you are fully vaccinated, and boosted if you are eligible.

• Because you are likely to be exposed to COVID-19, consider continuing to wear a mask (everyone 2 and older) on public transportation and while in airports and bus or train stations.

• Wash your hands often and stay 6 feet apart from others when possible.

• Get tested 1–3 days before your trip if traveling unvaccinated and avoid gathering in crowds before and during travel.

Take extra care if you have an underlying medical condition that puts you at higher risk of serious illness from COVID-19 or if you take medications that weaken your immune system.

It is recommended that you continue to wear a mask that fits snugly over your nose and mouth whenever you’re around people, even if you’re fully vaccinated and have had a booster.

We hope you’ll stay safe and healthy during gatherings all year long. Find vaccine and boosters by calling 211, visiting your local pharmacy or doctor’s office, or using GetVaccinated.Oregon.gov.