On April 8, the mask mandate in all of Oregon was lifted after being in effect for nearly two years. The decision to lift the mandate came after careful consideration by local health officials and government leaders, who evaluated the current COVID-19 case numbers, vaccination rates and other public health indicators. While some residents, businesses and hospitals are excited to breathe freely again, many people in the healthcare industry are concerned about the potential comeback in cases, and some businesses have announced that they will continue to require masks for employees and customers. Health officials are urging people to continue to take precautions to prevent the spread of the virus, including getting vaccinated, washing hands frequently and practicing social distancing when possible.