PENDLETION — Umatilla County is back to square one .

In an effort to stem the rising tide of COVID-19 cases in the county, Gov. Kate Brown is sending the county back to the Stay Home, Save Lives baseline phase.

In a nutshell, only essential businesses such as banks, grocery stores and pharmacies will remain open and restaurants move to a takeout only model, while salons, barbers and other personal care services will need to close.

The move goes into effect at noon Friday.

Brown announced the decision Thursday in a letter to Umatilla County Commissioner John Shafer that the county will revert back in the reopening process effective Friday, July 31 at noon.

Brown also announced Thursday that Morrow County, also in Eastern Oregon, would move back to Phase 1 of reopening.

“Unfortunately, we are seeing significant growth in the prevalence of COVID-19 in your county,” Brown’s letter said. “After careful review of data today with the Oregon Health Authority, I have made the decision to move Umatilla County back to the ‘Stay Home, Save Lives’ baseline phase.”

Umatilla County is expected to stay in the baseline phase for 21 days before reapplying for Phase 1, but, according to the letter, Brown said they will reevaluate the situation weekly and communicate with county officials if anything changes.

“We are being sent back to Baseline,” Shafer wrote in an email. “This is below Phase I. We will not be able to walk this one back like the last time. This is more strict than Phase I.”

As of July 30, the public health department reported 50 new positive cases in Umatilla County, bringing the total to 1,929 cases. According to the Oregon Health Authority, Umatilla County’s 234.4 cases per 10,000 people is the most in the entire state.

“I realize this is a dramatic step, but the situation warrants it,” Brown stated.

This marks the first time since the state began lifting COVID-19 restrictions that a county has been sent back in phases, and comes on the same day that Union and Lincoln counties were removed from the state’s watch list.