Beginning April 1, people and companies no longer need to attest to COVID-19 vaccination requirements to do business with the City of Portland. In alignment with the State of Oregon, the City is removing its vaccination requirement for vendors, consultants, contractors, volunteers and grantees.
This decision ends a policy that the City announced in November 2021, applying to anybody who performs work inside City facilities for longer than 15 minutes. The requirement was designed to protect community and employee health and safety amidst rising cases of the virus.
Over the past few months, Oregon’s community health outlook has improved. New COVID-19 cases fell 94 percent from the peak of the Omicron surge in January through the first week of March, according to the Oregon Health Authority. Hospitalizations are declining, too, and nearly 70 percent of all Oregonians are vaccinated.
Last week, the State of Oregon removed masking requirements for most indoor public spaces and eased other restrictions, such as requirements for state contractors. It made sense for the City to adopt similar policies, said Biko Taylor, Portland’s chief procurement officer.
“Throughout the pandemic, we’ve worked closely with our business community to protect health and safety,” Taylor said. “As we transition beyond vaccine requirements, we remain committed to safe, healthy workplaces – and a safe, healthy Portland.”
The City will continue to adapt to changing circumstances and align policies with public health guidance.