page_title: COVID-19 pandemic in Portland, Oregon
section_title: Government response
hierarchical_section_title: COVID-19 pandemic in Portland, Oregon / Government response
caption_attribution_description: Notice taped in the window of the main entrance to the Multnomah County Library's Northwest branch, indicating that it is indefinitely closed (along with all of the county's libraries), to prevent the spread of the coronavirus/COVID-19.
context_page_description: The COVID-19 pandemic was confirmed to have reached Portland in the U.S. state of Oregon on February 28, 2020.
context_section_description: On March 13, the Portland Police Bureau announced a reduction of in-person responses to reduce virus transmission. Multnomah County Library closed all branch libraries and Portland Parks and Recreation (PPR) closed arts and community centers, sports facilities, and swimming pools, based on recommendations issued by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Multnomah County Health Department, and the Oregon Health Authority. PPR canceled athletic programs and indoor activities at community centers, but did not close golf courses, natural areas, parks, playgrounds, or trails, or cancel outdoor events for less than 250 people. Portland Police have received 469 reports of social distancing violation between March 25, and April 14, yet have issued zero citations. The police reasoned that it would overburden the criminal justice system and compared the enforcement to enforcing every traffic violation being reported. In comparison, Manhattan Beach, California have issued 129 citations over a weekend in early April. Portland's Benson Bubblers were turned off from March 13 to April 17, based on the recommendations of the Multnomah County Health Department..
  On March 17, Multnomah County Chair Deborah Kafoury announced plans to add as many as 400 beds for county residents affected by the pandemic requiring shelter. 120 beds were made available at the PPR-owned Charles Jordan Community Center in north Portland on March 19. Metro's Oregon Convention Center, unable to host events since March 12, was converted into a temporary shelter with 130–140 beds. The Joint Office of Homeless Services, a collaboration between the City of Portland and Multnomah County, hoped to open additional beds for healthy individuals as overflow from existing shelters. Trucks normally used by Multnomah Country Library and for animal control were repurposed to assist with the convention center conversion.
  On March 22, Mayor Ted Wheeler said he was prepared to issue a stay-at-home order for Portland residents if Governor Brown would not issue a similar order for Oregon. The governor was also pressured by 25 Portland-area mayors, Metro's council, multiple county chairs, and other elected and health officials. She issued an executive order on March 23 requiring home isolation for Oregonians, with some exceptions, and to practice social distancing. Violators may be punished with 30 days in jail and fines as high as $1,250 as a class C misdemeanor. The Portland Police Bureau confirmed criminal citations were a "last resort measure". The police have issued a statement to the public to not call 911 to report violations of stay-at-home order, but to call the non-emergency line. In March, city official extended the Portland Arts Tax deadline from April 15 to July 15, 2020.
  In early April, city officials cut approximately 950 jobs because of a potential revenue loss of as much as $100 million. Most of the jobs were seasonal and part of the parks department, including art and fitness instructors as well as lifeguards. Portland officials also asked state authorities to forgive missed mortgage and rent payments. In late April, Chloe Eudaly and the Portland Bureau of Transportation announced plans to shut down 100 miles of streets to automobile traffic to encourage social distancing for bicyclists and pedestrians. The project is officially called the "Slow Streets|Safe Streets initiative". Additionally, the Oregon Driver and Motor Vehicle (DMV) Services confirmed plans to close most offices. Six field offices, including one in southeast Portland, continued to operate "by appointment only for limited commercial driver licensing services".
  In mid May, Portland Parks & Recreation confirmed all camps, public swimming pools, and recreation centers would remain closed through the summer. Clackamas County became the first of the three most populous counties in the Portland metropolitan area to reopen on May 23, 2020. Bars, gyms, restaurants, and other businesses could operate if specific safety criteria were met.
  Multnomah County's application to reopen on June 12 was rejec
caption: Closure notice posted at the Northwest Library on March 16, 2020
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