UPDATED 5/25: Added information about outdoor distributions and links to additional FAQs.

This afternoon, the Oregon Health Authority issued revised mask guidance documents that directly pertain to food pantries and meal sites that are open to the public. Please read all of these documents carefully:

• Interim Guidance for Fully Vaccinated Individuals
• FAQ - Fully Vaccinated Individuals
• Statewide Reopening Guidance - Masks, Face Coverings and Face Shields
• FAQ - Mask Guidelines

For…

Governor Kate Brown announced yesterday that she was lifting the mask requirement for fully vaccinated adults in most public spaces. In her statement, Gov. Brown said that the Oregon Health Authority will release new guidelines for various sectors in the coming days. Oregon Food Bank's Compliance Team and social distancing officers are monitoring the situation closely, and we will post the updated OHA guidance here as soon as it becomes available. In the meantime, we recommend that agencies…

We are over a year into the COVID-19 pandemic, and scientists now have a much better understanding of how the virus is transmitted. It is now generally understood that the primary mode of infection is via the inhalation of respiratory droplets and aerosol particles. While it is possible to be infected through contact with surfaces, surface transmission is not the primary mode of transmission, and the risk is considered to be very low. There is also no evidence to suggest that consuming food is…