OKC-County Health Department Reverses Suggestion; Now Asking Returning Spring Breakers To Practice Social Distancing

The Oklahoma City-County Health Department is reversing its suggestion of urging anyone who travels out of state to self-quarantine upon their return.

Saturday, March 21st 2020, 10:06 am

By: News On 6

OKC-County Health Department Reverses Suggestion; Now Asking Returning Spring Breakers To Practice Social Distancing

The Oklahoma City-County Health Department is reversing its suggestion of urging anyone who travels out of state to self-quarantine upon their return.

User: OKC-County Health Department To: link

The department now suggests that spring break travelers "who traveled outside of Oklahoma to locations with widespread outbreak for spring break to practice social distancing when outside your household for 14 days and to monitor yourself for symptoms during that time," according to a post to the OCCHD's Facebook page late Saturday morning.

The new suggestion differs from an earlier OCCHD statement Saturday that urged spring break travelers should do their best "to self-isolate for 14 days" upon their return to Oklahoma.

In the previous statement, OCCHD executive director Dr. Patrick McGough said returning travelers should not return to work or interact in-person with others for at least 14 days.

“Spring break travel is an act that can inherently increase your risk of transmission. Many spring break travel destinations have widespread local transmission. Also, many spring break travel destinations bring together people from other places, and many of those places may have widespread local transmission," McGough said in an earlier statement. "As such, we are asking anyone who traveled outside of Oklahoma for spring break or had any interaction with others to take protective measures. We ask such people to not return to a workplace or to otherwise interact in-person with others outside your household for 14 days and to monitor yourself for symptoms during that time.”

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User: OKC-County Health Department To: link

The department now suggests that spring break travelers \"who traveled outside of Oklahoma to locations with widespread outbreak for spring break to practice social distancing when outside your household for 14 days and to monitor yourself for symptoms during that time,\" according to a post to the OCCHD's Facebook page late Saturday morning.

The new suggestion differs from an earlier OCCHD statement Saturday that urged spring break travelers should do their best \"to self-isolate for 14 days\" upon their return to Oklahoma.

In the previous statement, OCCHD executive director Dr. Patrick McGough said returning travelers should not return to work or interact in-person with others for at least 14 days.

“Spring break travel is an act that can inherently increase your risk of transmission. Many spring break travel destinations have widespread local transmission. Also, many spring break travel destinations bring together people from other places, and many of those places may have widespread local transmission,\" McGough said in an earlier statement. \"As such, we are asking anyone who traveled outside of Oklahoma for spring break or had any interaction with others to take protective measures. We ask such people to not return to a workplace or to otherwise interact in-person with others outside your household for 14 days and to monitor yourself for symptoms during that time.”