Oregon Senate Republicans issued a statement regarding the Oregon Health Authority and Governor Kate Brown’s rolling out “a vaccine passport scheme for Oregonians.”
On Tuesday, May 18th, the Oregon Health Authority released updated guidance regarding mask and physical distancing requirements for those fully vaccinated. In the statement the Oregon Health Authority now states that “Businesses, employers and faith institutions can choose to no longer require masks and physical distancing for fully vaccinated individuals or continue to require masks and physical distancing in their locations for all individuals, regardless of vaccination status.”
The statement goes on to say that if a business, employer or faith institution chooses to no longer require masks and physical distancing, they then must “require visitors to show proof of vaccination and review the proof of vaccination,” forcing businesses to develop a policy for checking the vaccination status of customers and employees if they are not wearing masks.
“Vaccine passports are completely contrary to Oregonians’ sense of privacy” Oregon Senate Republican Leader Fred Girod said. “In a democracy, having to present proper paperwork to engage in everyday activities is a complete violation of public trust and an invasion of privacy.”
“To date”, the Senate Republican Leader’s statement continued “Oregon is one of the first, if not the first, to mandate that it’s residents present credentials to engage in everyday activities without a mask. Struggling small businesses will now need to hire extra staff to question Oregonian’s medical history at these checkpoints, or reject scientific recommendations by still mandating masks for vaccinated Oregonians.”
“At every turn, Governor Brown has mistrusted Oregonians to protect themselves and each other…The pandemic is receding.., the Legislature needs to step up now and rein in the Governor’s power to stop her erosion of democratic norms.”
