Oregon Governor Kate Brown said Thursday the state should prepare for numerous cases of coronavirus as she announced a ban on all organized gatherings of more than 250 people statewide until April 8 to try to stop the spread of COVID-19.  Brown said at a Portland news conference that “we find ourselves in an unprecedented public health crisis” and immediate action must be taken.  Brown clarified the ban applies to organized events, but it does not apply to other places where large numbers of people gather, including stores, shopping centers, and schools.  The order issued late Wednesday defines a gathering as any event in a space in which a minimum of three feet cannot be maintained.  Brown said that includes even weddings, adding if one is planned for fewer than 250 attendees, the elderly and those with health conditions should not go.  Brown said all schools should stay open, but all non-essential school-associated gatherings and group activities should be canceled — such as group parent meetings, field trips, and competitions.  She recommended businesses implement an increased physical space between employees, limit travel, and stagger work schedules where possible, adding she will bring together a group of business representatives to devise a plan for how businesses can ride the crisis out.