North Central Public Health District announced today (Tuesday) that a sharp decrease in COVID-19 cases will drop Wasco County all the way to the state’s “Lower Risk” category beginning on Friday.  The category change will be formally announced by the state today.  Wasco County recorded just 27 COVID cases for the 14-day period that ended Saturday, which will make the County just the second to drop by three categories at once since Oregon’s four-category risk framework was introduced last November.  When the category change takes effect on Friday, in-person dining at restaurants and bars in Wasco County can resume at 50 percent capacity with a closing time of midnight.  Churches in Wasco County can operate at 75 percent capacity indoors, theaters, museums, and gyms can operate at 50 percent capacity, long-term care facilities can have inside visitation, offices can have limited in-person work, retail stores can operate at 75 percent capacity, and indoor social gatherings can have up to ten people with a recommended limit from up to four households.  NCPHD interim director Shellie Campbell did stress the need to continue to practice social distancing, wearing masks, avoiding gatherings, staying home while sick, and getting vaccinated when you are able to.