The governors of Oregon and Washington both worked closely with business interests as they developed their COVID-19 reopening, according to emails obtained by The Associated Press that found similar behavior in many states.

Thousands of pages of emails obtained under open-records laws show that governors across the U.S. were inundated with reopening advice from a wide range of industries. Some governors put economic interests ahead of public health guidance, and certain businesses were allowed to write the rules that would govern their own operations.

Just as she was putting the finishing touches on a reopening plan in May, Oregon Gov. Kate Brown received a letter from a coalition of business groups pressing for more say in the process. Two hours later, the head of the state hospital association wrote urging the Democrat to mandate masks as “foundational to any business opening where people will be gathered, indoors or out.”

At first, Brown required masks only for employees of certain businesses, but she had to reverse course as COVID-19 cases rose over the summer. She became one of 34 governors to impose statewide mask mandates.

In Washington, landscapers, dog walkers and car wash operators all had a role in the rules affecting their businesses, according to the emails provided by Democratic Gov. Jay Inslee’s administration.

Lance Odermat, vice president of Brown Bear Car Wash in Seattle, said he was frustrated that car washes were not exempt from Inslee's order shutting down many businesses in March. But Odermat continued to plead his case. He was included in a car-wash reopening group and sent the administration the company's internal plan for reopening with coronavirus precautions.

When the governor released his reopening strategy, “it seemed like a lot of those guidelines were taken directly from our operating plan,” Odermat said.

Related: Emails show businesses held sway over state reopening plans

A day with no coronavirus deaths for Oregon

The Oregon Health Authority reported no new COVID-19 deaths on Sunday, leaving the death toll from the virus unchanged at 417 people. The agency also reported 231 new diagnoses of the virus, bringing confirmed and presumptive cases to 24,937 since the state of the pandemic.

Multnomah County had the most new cases, with 64; the county has seen higher case counts for several consecutive days.

Marion County had 41 new COVID-19 diagnoses Sunday, and Malheur County had 28.

Clark County, Washington, reports 7 new diagnoses

Health officials in Clark County, Washington, reported Friday that another seven people tested positive for COVID-19, and none died. Since the start of the pandemic, 2,385 people have been diagnosed with the virus in the county, and 45 have died.

Statewide, Washington has confirmed 70,595 COVID-19 diagnoses, 1,857 deaths and 6,500 hospitalizations linked to the virus, according to the latest figures available.