Gov Brown Press Conference

Gov Brown Press Conference

Oregon students won't return to the classroom -- until coronavirus cases decline.

That's one of the main takeaway's from governor brown's press conference today.

Kezi 9 news reporter jillian smukler joins us live in the studio to show us how long it would take before kids can get back in the classrtoom -- with the current rate of infection.

Renee -- if things stay the way they've been --- brown says it would take more than 200 days -- which is next april -- before kids can go back to school*safely.

Health officials say oregon is making progress and covid-19 cases and positive test rates have both gone down recently.

We also have one of the lowest mortality rates in the entire country.

But even though we're on the right track -- our infection rate is still too high to have kids back in the classrom this fall.

And its imperative that we step on the gas.

If our numbers don't improve and oregonians don't follow the safety recommendations in place -- brown warned there could be a crackdown.

This includes closing bars and restaurants, travel restrictions and quarantine for some people coming into the state.

She says this time around we have clear modeling data to go off of -- and we know the tools we have in place are working.

But even still -- she says we need to do more.

"we are making progress towards being able to get as much in person education as we can that's why the theme of today really has been this notion of we really need to step up our efforts oregonians community leaders everyone needs to do what we are doing harder and cause that decrease that's occuring right now to steepen to get to that point."

So -- health officials say there are two ways to do this.

One is making sure local leaders are implementing and enforcing the guidelines over -- face coverings -- physical distancing -- and compliance with quarantine.

The other is to implement business closures and travel restrictions.

Health officials believe both ways will work to*control the virus.

But they realize the effects closing businesses will have on our economy will be devastating -- so they're giving oregonians until the end of the month -- which is in just ten days -- for things to turn around.

As far as labor day weekend is concerned -- she hasn't put any restrictions or stay at home orders in place.

Of course if she does -- we will let you know.

Reporting live in the studio jillian smukler kezi 9 news.