Oregon pledges to disclose coronavirus outbreaks at workplaces after transparency called into question - OregonLive

The Oregon Health Authority late Thursday announced it would disclose large coronavirus outbreaks at workplaces mere hours after the agency acknowledged it previously did not alert the public to 53 infections tied to a fruit company in Fairview.

The initial outbreak at Townsend Farms appears to be the largest among workplaces in Oregon -- but that’s not entirely clear since state health officials have not been disclosing the information.

State officials will now report all coronavirus outbreaks at workplaces with at least five infections, Patrick Allen, director of the Oregon Health Authority, announced in a news release issued at 8:34 p.m.

“OHA works with local public health officials to notify the public about COVID-19 outbreaks, in each case weighing if there is a broader risk of infection to the community, or if an outbreak has been contained through contact tracing and isolation.”.

The Oregon Health Authority will now take the lead among public health departments statewide to disclose workplace outbreaks.