Oregon governor considering historic interstate travel ban to slow COVID-19 spread

Lawmakers in Oregon are weighing the possibility of an interstate travel ban that could start as early as next week.

The office of Oregon Governor Kate Brown confirmed on Wednesday that she is weighing the possibility of interstate travel restrictions as a method to slow the spread of COVID-19.

Brown is reportedly in talks with state lawmakers and neighboring state government officials about how an interstate travel ban might impact the supply chain and economy.

Nearby states Washington, Nevada, and California have a higher COVID-19 infection rate than Oregon.

Press Secretary Charles Boyle said “conversations are ongoing about how those restrictions could work.” It is expected that the travel restrictions would take into account travel for work or commercial vehicle travel.

Boyle said that the reason that Brown is considering the ban is because of the link between interstate travel and an uptick in the number of infections. “The issue of travel restrictions was raised by members of the Governor’s Medical Advisory Panel based on COVID-19 cases linked to travel in southern Oregon, which is troubling based on the spikes in case counts California is currently experiencing,” he said.

According to local news outlet The Eugene Weekly, the interstate travel ban would be the first of its kind in the U.S.

Brown’s office is expected to provide lawmakers with more information on the potential travel ban by Tuesday.