PORTLAND, Ore. — Days before Thanksgiving, Oregon Gov. Kate Brown said she believes residents who know their neighbors are violating the most recent round of COVID-19 protocols, which includes capping the number of people allowed in your home at six, should call the police.
“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.”
The restrictions were implemented this week via an executive order by the governor. For the next two weeks in Oregon, and four weeks in Multnomah County, residents are banned from eating out at restaurants and going to the gym, among other restrictions. Social gatherings in our homes are also limited to no more than six people. Violators could face up to 30 days in jail, $1,250 in fines or both, KGW8 reported.
Critics of the “freeze” have called them unconstitutional. Clackamas County Chair-elect Tootie Smith said the protocols have made Oregonians “second-rate slaves” in their own homes.
On Friday, the Marion County Sheriff’s office said in a statement, “We recognize that we cannot arrest or enforce our way out of the pandemic, and we believe both are counterproductive to public health goals.”
Brown dismissed the criticism as “irresponsible.” She says her top priority as governor is to keep Oregonians healthy and safe. However, one could easily argue that was not her priority during ongoing protests and riots that were targeting the institution of law enforcement.
