The Related Press (The Metropolis Sentinel)
OKLAHOMA CITY — The president of the Oklahoma Medical Affiliation mentioned Tuesday that talks with Gov. Kevin Stitt present no signal {that a} particular legislative session is within the offing to overturn a legislation banning faculties from requiring masks.
“We’ve got been speaking and chatting with the governor and likewise discussing with among the legislators,” however with no indication of a need to overturn the legislation, mentioned Dr. Mary Clarke.
“Who is aware of what is going to occur subsequent week? However proper now, we don’t assume there’ll be any change to that legislation,” which Stitt signed in March, Clarke mentioned.
Legislative Democrats have additionally known as for a particular election or an emergency declaration to permit faculties to require masks. The calls come as coronavirus circumstances in Oklahoma improve amid the unfold of the extremely contagious delta variant.
Stitt has not commented particularly on requires a particular session however mentioned in an announcement Tuesday that there isn’t a must declare a state of emergency based mostly on Oklahoma’s present COVID-19 information.
“We’ve got an efficient vaccine that’s free and extensively out there to all eligible Oklahomans and we’re well-prepared to handle COVID with no state of emergency,” Stitt mentioned.
Oklahoma State Division of Well being officers have indicated they’re snug of their skill to implement their surge plan with out an emergency declaration, despite the fact that solely about 16% of the state’s 804 staffed ICU beds are at the moment unoccupied.
The Oklahoma State Division of Well being on Tuesday (August 3) reported 946 new virus circumstances and a seven-day common of 1,657 new circumstances day by day, in comparison with a seven-day common of 213 on July 1.
The Cherokee Nation introduced Tuesday that it was briefly suspending elective surgical procedures at its well being amenities due to the surge in COVID-19 hospitalizations. It mentioned about 90% of the tribe’s new circumstances are in unvaccinated sufferers.
“Not solely is COVID-19 placing added pressures and dangers on our hospital, well being facilities and our wonderful well being care workforce tasked with treating COVID sufferers, however the resurgence as soon as once more threatens the general wellbeing of the Cherokee Nation and essentially the most weak amongst us, together with our Cherokee elders,” Cherokee Nation Principal Chief Chuck Hoskin Jr. mentioned in an announcement.
