Multnomah County is expected to enter the state’s lower risk category for COVID-19 on Thursday, just in time to allow fans to return to the Moda Center en masse for the Portland Trail Blazers’ first home playoff game in its first-round series against the Denver Nuggets.
The state’s most populous county has surpassed the 65% threshold of those 16 and older who have received at least one dose of vaccine, qualifying it for relaxed business restrictions on capacity sizes.
Multnomah County could have eased those limitations last week but opted to wait so public health officials could be methodical authoring a state-mandated equity plan to address ongoing disparities in vaccination rates between higher-income, largely white areas versus lower-income neighborhoods of color.
Thursday’s date to ease restrictions is unusual, however, as Gov. Kate Brown and the Oregon Health Authority typically make revised capacity limits effective on Fridays.
Julie Sullivan-Springhetti, a spokeswoman for the county, said the governor’s office notified the county chair that the county can ease restrictions Thursday, provided the plan is approved. That appears to be a foregone conclusion.
Charles Boyle, a spokesman for the governor’s office, said an equity plan authored by the county is still under review, but “we expect Multnomah County to be approved to enter Lower Risk by Thursday.”
The Blazers expect to begin selling tickets to Thursday’s game Tuesday. Those attending the game will be required to wear masks, and the Moda Center will be offering vaccinated and physically distanced seating sections to fans.
The Blazers originally planned to sell tickets to the upcoming game last week but canceled pre-sales as they worked to increase capacity. The team said it now expects to allow 8,000 fans into the building, far more than the roughly 2,000 currently allowed under existing high-risk restrictions.
It’s unclear if even more seating could become available, as the state’s rules allow for 50% capacity under low-risk restrictions, which would be nearly 10,000 people in Moda Center.
The move will also ease restrictions on other businesses, allowing more people to eat in restaurants, attend church, go to gyms, movies, concerts and other entertainment venues. The eased limits generally will allow for 50% to 75% capacity, depending on the type of venue.
-- Ted Sickinger; tsickinger@oregonian.com; 503-221-8505; @tedsickinger
May 25, 2021 at 05:25AM
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Multnomah County expected to move to lower risk category Thursday and continue reopening - OregonLive
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