Tulsa Health Department Implores People To Wear Masks When In Public As Cases Rise

Tulsa Health Department Executive Director Dr. Bruce Dart spoke about the spike in new COVID-19 cases on Monday asking the people of Tulsa to wear masks in public.

Wednesday, June 24th 2020, 12:57 pm

By: News On 6


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The state health department reports 482 new cases of COVID-19 across the state and more than half of those cases were in Tulsa County.

Related Story: OSDH: 482 More Oklahomans Test Positive For Coronavirus; 1 New Virus-Related Death Reported

The Tulsa Health Department says the numbers are higher than what their models projected when businesses reopened.

Both the health department and Mayor GT Bynum are encouraging everybody to wear a mask when out in public and continue to practice social distancing. Bynum says the next week will be critical to determine how the virus is spreading and if we can slow the number of new cases down.

Right now, hospitalization numbers are increasing slightly, but both the county and state have more than enough hospital space available and the rate of deaths remains low and steady as more younger people are testing positive.

Bynum says he's working with Oklahoma City Mayor David Holt about their next steps going forward on a city level to slow the spread. He says right now, he has no plans to require people to wear masks in public, but that could change.

"If we get to a point where Dr. Dart tells me that we need to do that though to protect people in our community than we will, but right now we are not at that point," said Bynum.

Health officials say the virus is not spreading from just one major event in the county, but rather, several smaller ones, like funerals and family gatherings. See the full stats HERE

The Tulsa Fire Department also temporarily closed Fire Station 24 after one of their firefighters started showing symptoms.

Related Story: Tulsa Fire Station Briefly Closed After Firefighter Shows COVID-19 Symptoms




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