Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler says he will extend the city’s state of emergency declaration on Wednesday for at least another two weeks.

During a news conference Tuesday with police, fire and other bureau leaders, Wheeler said he anticipates Portland being under the declaration through April, when he said state medical officials suspect the outbreak could peak. In the meantime, he and other city leaders urged residents to continue following Gov. Kate Brown’s order to stay at home as much as possible.

The city’s state of emergency, first announced March 12, is scheduled to end Thursday morning. Wheeler said the city plans to release more information that same day about how the city is addressing housing and economic aid.

“To be clear, right now the order is stay at home, do not travel,” Wheeler said. “We collectively control how deep and how long this crisis lasts through our own behavior.”

Wheeler said the city has repurposed $1 million to support emergency aid for coronavirus-impacted households, the city’s development service bureau has prioritized accepting permits for affordable housing developments and that commercial tenants in city-owned properties, including food cart rental spaces, will have rent deferred for three months.

Police Chief Jami Resch and Fire Chief Sara Boone said their first responders will continue to take all calls for service, but they encouraged people to fill reports online or via phone if possible and not to call 911 for non-emergencies. Resch said police officers would issue citations for violating the stay-home order as a “last resort” if people repeatedly fail to heed the warnings. Police bureau officials also said officers also can report businesses that fail to comply with the state’s emergency order to state licensing agencies.

Resch said suicide-related calls in Portland have increased by 41% from last year and are up 23% from around the last week and a half. She urged people to check in on loved ones and neighbors.

“If they are struggling, make sure they know how to access help,” she said.

Oregon has confirmed 209 cases of coronavirus as of Tuesday afternoon, and eight people have died.

CORONAVIRUS IN OREGON: THE LATEST NEWS

Gov. Kate Brown issued the statewide order Monday that requires people to stay home as much as possible except to work at essential jobs or complete necessary tasks, such as buying groceries or medications. She also ordered the closure of certain retail businesses where close contact is “difficult or impossible to avoid,” like movie theaters, barber shops, nail, hair and tanning salons, tattoo parlors, shopping malls and gyms.

The closures took effect Tuesday. All playgrounds and campgrounds have also been ordered closed.

Portland Chief Administrative Officer Tom Rinehart said Tuesday that the city has temporarily stopped pursuing collections on past-due taxes and offered rent relief on city-owned properties. He also mentioned that though city parks indoor facilities have been closed, park bathrooms will remain open throughout the city for the homeless population.

Wheeler mentioned the city and county using the Oregon Convention Center and Charles Jordan Community Center in North Portland as temporary homeless shelters. The East Portland Community Center would also be used as shelter space by Thursday, he said.

Wheeler also said the city has largely stopped clearing homeless camps for the time being and that people will only be moved if the inhabitants are in apparent danger.

The city has canceled public meetings at City Hall and is only allowing staff to work in city buildings if their physical presence is essential to day-to-day operations. The rest are working remotely, city officials said.

Two downtown city buildings were closed late last week and several floors sanitized after four city employees showed apparent symptoms of coronavirus. Officials said last week that none of them have been tested.

The city through its economic development agency Prosper Portland provided the majority of $190,000 being made available in grants to aid businesses affected by COVID-19 in Southeast Portland’s Jade District and Northwest Portland’s Old Town Chinatown. Both areas are home to many Asian business owners who have seen their revenue drop by as much as 60% in recent months due to xenophobia, according to city officials.

Wheeler said Tuesday that the city plans to expand aid to other businesses throughout Portland.

The city is also offering three-month deferrals of loan payments to existing borrowers upon request and businesses whose revenue has declined by at least 10%. Small businesses with annual revenue under $1 million are being prioritized. The city said it’s also offering rent relief to commercial tenants in Prosper Portland-owned properties who’ve also seen revenue lower by at least 10%. Businesses could receive three month rent payment deferrals for April, May and June.

Small businesses throughout the state are also eligible for low-interest economic injury disaster loans through the U.S. Small Business Administration.

Help available in Portland:

Portland police non-emergency line: 503-823-3333

Portland Police Sunshine Division (for information for help with food & clothing): 503-823-2102

Multnomah County Mental Health Call Center: 503-988-4888 / 800-716-9769

Portland Street Maintenance Hotline: 503-823-1700

-- Everton Bailey Jr; ebailey@oregonian.com | 503-221-8343 | @EvertonBailey

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