As the state continues to march ahead with its reopening, the number of confirmed cases of COVID-19 is growing at an ever-increasing rate.
As of Monday, July 13, the Oklahoma State Department of Health reported 20,745 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Oklahoma, an increase of 4,113 since Monday, June 6, an increase of 25 percent in the space of just one week.
Despite the dramatic spike in the number of infections across the state, Gov. Kevin Stitt last week again reaffirmed his opposition to imposing a statewide mask mandate. He instead encouraged Oklahomans to accept the personal responsibility for containing the pandemic’s spread.
“As your governor, I’m going to protect our freedoms as Oklahomans,” he said. “Take the personal responsibility to protect yourselves, your families, and our most vulnerable.”
Along with the increased rate of infection in Oklahoma, last week the state experienced a tragic milestone: the death of a school-aged child from complications of coronavirus. Despite the tragedy, the state’s plans to reopen public school facilities have not changed as of press time on Monday, July 13.
Secretary of Education Joy Hofmeister said it is vital for Oklahoma’s schools to reopen as normal in August and encouraged all Oklahomans to wear masks to help mitigate the spread of the virus.
“This heartbreaking tragedy underscores how important it is for us all to wear masks when in public, follow social distancing guidelines and practice good hygiene,” she said. “Students need to learn. We want schools to reopen this fall, but for that to happen, it is critical that Oklahomans take decisive actions now to mitigate spread of the virus. Wearing a mask around other people is a small sacrifice for the sake of literally saving lives. We owe it to our children, teachers and staff for them to be able to go to school knowing that strong safeguards are in place for their safety and well-being.”
She noted that many parents are concerned about the safety of their children in public schools, but stressed the importance of education, balanced with the need to protect students and educators.
“School is vital, especially after the significant learning loss from last spring’s building closures,” she said. “At the same time, we must take every precaution to protect our children and those who serve in schools across this state.”