Gov. Kate Brown encouraged Oregonians to call the police on neighbors who violate coronavirus restrictions ahead of Thanksgiving.
“This is no different than what happens if there’s a party down the street and it’s keeping everyone awake,” Brown said in an interview Friday. “What do neighbors do [in that case]? They call law enforcement because it’s too noisy. This is just like that. It’s like a violation of a noise ordinance.”
“Honestly, they shouldn’t have to. This is about saving lives, and it’s about protecting our fellow Oregonians,” she added.
Oregon announced a “two-week statewide freeze” this month, which includes having no more than six people gathered for social events from two different households. The order extends from Nov. 18 to Dec. 2, and violators could face up to 30 days in jail and up to $1,250 in fines.
The situation harkens back to earlier this year when some Californians were calling 911 when they could hear their neighbors coughing or sneezing.
States across the country have tightened their coronavirus restrictions ahead of Thanksgiving, with states such as New York and New Jersey limiting how many people can congregate for the holiday.
However, Democratic New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham recently said there is no way to enforce the person limits on Thanksgiving gatherings, whether it’s in her state or “anywhere in the country.”
“You can’t enforce that. There is no way, anywhere in the country, we’re going to be able to say, ‘Look, you brought another household together. There [were] 10 of you having Thanksgiving dinner. But we are hopeful that people will really take heed,” Lujan Grisham said.
