The affected counties include Multnomah and Clackamas in the Portland metro area, as well as the more rural counties of Deschutes (home to Bend), Klamath, Linn and Tillamook, expanding Oregon’s list of “high risk” counties to 14.

Two states with high enough case numbers to be considered “extreme risk” — Josephine and Tillamook — have among the lowest vaccination rates in the state.

Overall, Oregon’s vaccination rates aren’t yet high enough to stop the spread of COVID-19: only about one-third of Oregonians have received at least one dose of the vaccine, and 19% are fully vaccinated.

Statewide, 76% of seniors 65 and over have received at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine and 57% are fully vaccinated, but rates vary widely across the state.

Allen warned that seniors in rural parts of Oregon where vaccination rates lag behind are particularly vulnerable as case counts, test positivity rates and hospitalizations all continue to rise.

Allen fears rates for seniors are leveling off at 50% or less in some rural areas.