GRANTS PASS, Ore. — Josephine County has been approved to enter Phase One of reopening on Friday, according to a statement from county officials on Thursday morning.

Jackson, Curry, Klamath and Lake counties also received approval overnight.

The Board of Josephine County Commissioners was notified on Wednesday evening that they had received approval from the Governor's office.

“The citizens of Josephine County are ready to go back to work and to support local businesses,” said Commissioner Lily Morgan. “I appreciate the hard work of our Public Health staff and medical providers throughout our region. Through their dedication, we will be able to reopen the county safely and responsibly.”

Phase One includes the resumption of dine-in service at restaurants and bars, as well as the reopening of gyms, salons, barbers, and any shuttered retail stores — all with specific guidelines from the Oregon Health Authority for maintaining physical distancing and sanitation.

“Thank you for the effort you, your hospitals and your public health experts put into your plan for meeting the prerequisites demonstrating your county’s preparedness for beginning to lift restrictions during the COVID-19 pandemic,” Gov. Kate Brown said in a letter to Commissioner Darin Fowler, chairman of the Board of Josephine County Commissioners. “Thank you for all of your hard work and vigilance on behalf of Oregonians.”