Both Utah and Oregon have paused their reopenings due to increases in coronavirus cases.
On Thursday, Utah Gov. Gary Herbert, a Republican, put an indefinite hold on the phased reopening of his state. Oregon Gov. Kate Brown, a Democrat, did the same Thursday evening, although she announced that the pause would last only seven days.
Coronavirus cases in Oregon hit an all-time high of 178 cases reported on Thursday. Utah reported 388 new cases. On Saturday, Utah hit its record for cases reported, 546. Since Memorial Day weekend, cases have risen 33% in Utah and 21% in Oregon.
Utah uses a color-coded system for reopening, with counties seeking the governor’s approval to enter each phase. The phases are red, orange, yellow, and green, with each one being less restrictive than the last. Only Salt Lake City is still in the orange phase. All the other counties except one are in the yellow phase. Kane County entered the green phase Friday morning, having gotten approval to do so before the pause.
Counties in Oregon also have to seek the governor’s approval to enter each phase of the state’s three-phase reopening plan. Except for Multnomah County, every county had entered phase one of Oregon’s reopening, and about two-thirds were set to enter phase two before the pause.
