Vaccinated section opening for Portland Trail Blazers’ games

In addition, Brown announced that businesses, venues and faith institutions in “lower risk” counties may follow suit with the Moda Center and create vaccinated sections.

Brown said vaccinated sections in businesses would not need to adhere to physical distancing, capacity limits or masking requirements.

Earlier this month, Brown set statewide and county COVID-19 vaccination targets, with the hope of reopening the state’s economy.

Brown said most statewide coronavirus related restrictions will be lifted when 70% of Oregon’s residents who are 16 years and older receive the first COVID-19 vaccine dose, Brown said.

Currently, more than half of Oregon’s eligible population who are 16 or older have received at least their first vaccine dose.

In addition, counties will be eligible to move into the “lower risk” category when 65% of the area’s eligible population is vaccinated.

Under the lower risk category, residents in the county can have indoor gatherings of 10 people or outdoor gatherings of 12 people. Restaurants, gyms and indoor and outdoor entertainment can open up to 50% capacity.

Currently five Oregon counties — Benton, Deschutes, Hood River, Lincoln and Washington — are in the state’s “lower risk” level category. Multnomah County, the state’s most populous county and home to Portland, submitted plans to reopen last week.