A COVID-19 particle is pictured in this image provided by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention [CDC/CONTRIBUTED PHOTO]

An increase in COVID-19 cases in Baker County over the past two weeks has the county on pace to move out of the lowest of the state’s four risk levels.

The county reported seven new cases on Thursday, March 4. That’s the highest one-day total since 11 cases on Jan. 15.

As for the county’s risk level under Oregon Health Authority (OHA) guidelines, and the associated restrictions on businesses and other activities, Baker County has been at the lowest level since Feb. 12.

To qualify for that level, the county needs to meet two criteria:

• fewer than 30 new cases over the two-week measuring period

• a positive test rate below 5% for the two-week measuring period

State officials set risk levels for each of Oregon’s 36 counties every two weeks. The next period starts March 12, and the risk levels will be based on COVID-19 case totals and positivity rates from Feb. 21 through March 6.

For that period, Baker County had 42 new cases through March 4. That would move the county from the lowest to the moderate risk level starting March 12.

County Commissioner Mark Bennett said he has lobbied state officials — without success — to not count the 15 cases at Settler’s Park memory care community in Baker City, as residents there generally don’t move around the community.

Bennett pointed out that the state doesn’t count cases among inmates at Powder River Correctional Facility in Baker City, in determining the county’s risk level, because inmates are confined.

According to the OHA’s most recent weekly report, which has data through Feb. 28, Baker County has two active COVID-19 outbreaks, the one at Settler’s Park, which includes one death, and an outbreak at Behlen Mfg. Co. that includes 13 cases.

Three other outbreaks at care facilities have been resolved. Those were at Meadowbrook Place (27 cases, two deaths), Ashley Manor-Lund Lane (four cases), and Memory Lane Homes (three cases).

If the county’s two-week total is between 45 and 59, it would move into the high-risk category.

Differences in restrictions between the lowest and moderate categories include:

Restaurants and bars

• Lowest risk: Indoor dining up to 50% of capacity; up to eight diners per table; midnight closing time

• Moderate risk: Indoor dining up to 50% of capacity or 100 total people, including staff, whichever is fewer; up to six diners per table; 11 p.m. closing time

Gyms, fitness centers, indoor pools, indoor school sports

• Lowest risk: Maximum of 50% of capacity

• Moderate risk: Maximum of 50% of capacity or 100 people, whichever is fewer

Theaters, museums, other indoor entertainment

• Lowest risk: Maximum of 50% of capacity; midnight closing time

• Moderate risk: Maximum of 50% of capacity or 100 people, whichever is fewer; 11 p.m. closing time

Churches, funeral homes and mortuaries

• Lowest risk: Indoors, up to 75% of capacity; outdoors up to 300 people

• Moderate risk: Indoors, up to 50% of capacity or 150 people, whichever is fewer; outdoors up to 250 people