Mayor G.T. Bynum wants everyone in the Tulsa metro area to wear a mask while in public.

Area hospitals are enacting their surge plan for taking care of intensive care units with a regional strategy.

“Just as our health care system is a regional one, our response to fighting COVID-19 must be a regional one, too,” Bynum said. “Tulsans cannot fight this on our own. I again implore the state and our neighboring communities to listen to those medical professionals asking for steps to be taken that will slow the spread of this virus. Politically convenient speeches about freedom and personal responsibility are not preventing our ICUs from being maxed out.”

Broken Arrow will not mandate masks but the Jenks City Council did pass a mask ordinance. According to a city ordinance, masks are required for any person ages 10 and over in Tulsa city limits in areas where social distancing cannot be followed, such as the grocery store.

No intensive care unit beds were available in Tulsa hospitals on November 9, a spokesman for the Oklahoma Regional Medical Response System said. 

House Minority Leader Emily Virgin, D-Norman, is demanding that Gov. Kevin Stitt issue a statewide mask mandate. Nationally, Democrats are insisting that the federal government force everyone in America to wear a mask in public. Virgin wants a special session of the Legislature to extend an exception that lets public bodies meet virtually. The Legislature session will begin in February.

Stitt issued an executive order that mandates:

• All restaurants must space tables at least six feet apart unless they are separated by sanitized dividers.
• All restaurants and bars must close by 11 p.m. and no in-person food or service or alcohol allowed after 11 p.m. except for drive-through windows or curbside pickup.
• All 33,000 state employees under the executive branch must wear masks around people.

“Throughout the entire battle against COVID-19, my first priority has been to protect the health and lives of Oklahomans,” said Stitt. “Two other things are also very important to me. We’re going to keep businesses open safely and we’re going to work to get all kids back in school safely by the end of Christmas Break. However, it’s going to take everyone working together to meet these goals.”   As of November 16, there were 156,857 cases of coronavirus in Oklahoma. There were 7,807 active cases and 1,528 total deaths plus 124,793 patients have recovered.

The Oklahoma Restaurant Association expressed the industry’s support of the new rules.  

“The Oklahoma Restaurant Association and its members want to do our part and at the same time allow our industry to operate safely to protect the health of our employees and customers. We are all in this together and our industry is ready to do its part,” said President and CEO Jim Hopper and Chairman Kurt Fleischfresser in a joint statement. 

In total, there have been 1,653,599 negative tests for the virus out of a total of 1,816,690 tests in the state. Also on November 16, there were 1,247 Oklahomans in the hospital with the coronavirus.

In the nation, the total number of cases was 11,036,935 on November 16 with 226,214 deaths.

On November 16, the Tulsa Health Department (THD) confirmed 27,046 positive COVID-19 cases in Tulsa County. They report that 22,707 residents have recovered and 260 have died.

The City of Tulsa reported 17,440 total coronavirus cases on November 16 with 165 deaths and 14,969 patients who have recovered.

Broken Arrow has had 5,441 cases with 52 deaths. Jenks had 1,162 cases with nine deaths.

The Tulsa Health Department offers COVID-19 testing in north and south Tulsa to provide convenient access. There is no cost for testing. Results are usually  in 3 business days. Appointments can be made by calling 918-582-9355.

From November 1-10, there were 2,489 new infections among Tulsa County residents. The 7-day rolling average is 267.3 cases per day, which is an all-time high for the metro area. Tulsa County represents 17.85 percent of all cases within Oklahoma.  In terms of Thanksgiving gatherings, health officials say celebrating virtually or with members of your own household poses the lowest risk for spread. Residents who choose to gather should limit attendees to 10 people.

Thanks to the State’s allocation of CARES Act funding, the City of Tulsa has been able to provide safe shelter, warm meals, medical care and case management seven days a week at the emergency overflow shelter located at the former Tulsa County Juvenile detention facility.

By the numbers since the launch in September:

• More than 4,500 visits logged at overflow shelter
• More than 8,000 meals distributed
• All 55 overnight dorm rooms are full (29 women, 26 men)

Two sanitation ambassadors have been employed through A Better Way, which provides employment opportunities to people who panhandle, to sanitize and disinfect public areas in Downtown Tulsa during the pandemic. The quarantine hotel continues to assist the homeless by providing shelter  if they test positive for the virus or are symptomatic.

This homelessness response effort is made possible through a collaboration among the City of Tulsa, Downtown Coordinating Council (DCC), Mental Health Association of Oklahoma, Tulsa Day Center, City Lights Foundation and Iron Gate.

Through Tulsa County CARES funds, at least $295,000 has been awarded to 37 businesses in grant money to expand their operations outdoors via parklets and sidewalk cafes.

The Student Support Camps at City Parks community centers will continue until December 18. The camps averaged 70 children per week since September.  Camps are open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. to provide working parents an outlet for children  in distance learning.

For help, visit: www.cityoftulsa.org/camps.