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Oklahoma Governor Issues Statewide Health Emergency In Response To Coronavirus Pandemic

https://coronavirus.health.ok.gov/

Oklahoma continues to see an uptick in COVID-19 cases, which prompted Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt on Thursday to issue a statewide health emergency, which grants him broader powers during the pandemic and gives him the ability to coordinate city and county health departments' responses to the pandemic.

According to a press release from the Oklahoma State Department of Health (OSDH) issued on Friday, there are 988 confirmed COVID-19 cases in the state and a total of 38 coronavirus-related deaths.

The only confirmed case so far in the Oklahoma panhandle is in Texas County.

Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt issued a statewide catastrophic health emergency on Thursday, which grants him broader powers during the COVID-19 pandemic to waive statutory or regulatory requirements and gives him the ability to coordinate a cohesive statewide response among city and county health departments.

Stitt designated the Oklahoma State Commissioner of Health as the primary public health authority responding to the emergency.

“Now is the time to align all public health entities in the state as we work together to prepare for a surge in demand on our hospitals,” said Stitt. “This will allow us to coordinate resources and ensure all Oklahomans have the best access to the medical care they need.”

This declaration also gives the governor the authority to allow health care professionals who have left the workforce to quickly rejoin the front lines against COVID-19 and protect first responders by helping them manage their personal protective equipment (PPE). By loosening some restrictions, first responders will be able to know if the home they are dispatched to has a resident who has tested positive for COVID-19. Patient names and other identifying information will still be restricted.

“It is so important that our first responders can protect themselves if they are entering a home with a COVID-19 patient,” said Stitt. “Notifying them ahead of their arrival allows them to use their PPE more efficiently.”

The legislature must confirm the health emergency declaration on the second business day following the date of issue. Gov. Stitt has called a special session to convene at 8 a.m. Monday at the Oklahoma State Capitol.

The state has also added drive-thru testing sites, which can be found here.

On Wednesday, Stitt signed anexecutive orderensuring support staff at Oklahoma public schools can be pair for the remainder of their contracts, despite the closure of school buildings because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Governor Stitt and State Superintendent of Public Instruction Joy Hofmeister had been seeking a legislative remedy for the nearly 41,000 support staffers, but those efforts stalled when the state Legislature was forced to halt meeting due to the spread of the virus.

“This remedy was urgently needed. I thank Gov. Stitt for taking this action to ensure certainty for the cafeteria workers, custodians, bus drivers, teachers’ assistants and so many others whose work is critical to our schools,” Hofmeister said. “This executive order helps bring a measure of comfort and stability to these valued workers and their families and ensures our focus remains on public health and instruction through distance learning during this unprecedented crisis.”

Under state statute, district teachers and administrators were able to continue receiving compensation after the State Board of Education voted March 16 to close schools until April 6. 

Also on Wednesday, as reported by HPPR, Stitt announced new measures aimed at increasing testing for and stopping the spread of COVID-19.

The OSDH is asking corporate entities on available, new, bulk personal protective equipment (PPE). At this time, the OSDH is asking only corporate entities to submit information at https://ppedonation.ok.gov/.