Oregon Governor Kate Brown defended her decision to implement further restrictions in one-third of Oregon’s counties at a news conference Friday, saying for the second week in a row the state leads the nation with the fastest growing infection rate and that she is “gravely concerned” about hospital capacity.  Restaurants in 15 counties, including Wasco, were required to close their indoor dining Friday and capacity was significantly reduced in gyms and indoor entertainment spaces.   Brown says the data that led to the decision to go to extreme risk shows some optimism that over the course of the next two to three weeks, based on current vaccination rates, the state can get ahead of COVID variants.  She adds on that trajectory restrictions can be lifted and a “sense of normalacy” by the end of June.  This week, the Oregon Health Authority reported that the state recorded its fifth straight week where cases have increases by 20% more.  The OHA data shows about 80% of the state’s staffed adult ICU beds and 90% of the state’s staffed adult non-ICU beds are occupied.   A data scientist from Oregon Health Sciences University says modeling shows the Governor’s decision to move 15 counties into the COVID-19 extreme risk category should halt increases in COVID cases and prevent 176 deaths and over 700 hospitalizations.  Dr. Peter Gracen said during Brown’s press conference that pausing indoor activities without masks and in close proximity to people outside of their household, along with people getting vaccinated, can change the current trend.   He adds that in three to four weeks, with vaccinations and basic measures, that will prevent the virus from effectively growing.  Oregon Health Authority chief medical officer Dr. Dana Hargunani said the state continues to move closer to a broader distribution of COVID-19 vaccine.