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Twelve Oregon counties move to looser Covid restrictions, but Marion, Polk aren’t among them

Marco Ristorante Italiano is offering takeout orders at its downtown restaurant. (Saphara Harrell/Salem Reporter)

Salem restaurants will have to continue offering takeout only even as a dozen other Oregon counties will be able to loosen Covid restrictions this week.

Though local Covid diagnoses are falling, both Marion and Polk counties remain in the “extreme risk” category based on the past two weeks of recorded Covid cases, according to data released by Gov. Kate Brown’s office Tuesday. It’s the highest risk level of four possible categories.

To loosen restrictions, each county would have to record fewer than 200 new Covid cases per 100,000 residents over a two-week period and have fewer than 10% of Covid tests come back positive. Both Marion and Polk counties are meeting the testing target, but still recording too many cases. Each saw 288 cases per 100,000 residents in the two weeks ending Feb. 6, a decrease from rates in early January.

All three Portland Metro counties cleared the threshold this week to move from extreme risk to high risk. At that level, restaurants can reopen limited indoor dining at 25% capacity or a maximum of 50 people, and gyms can allow up to 25% capacity inside.

-Rachel Alexander