Tulsa City Council To Consider Expansion, Extension Of Mask Ordinance

Medical experts urged councilors to act as the Tulsa City Council considers extending and expanding the city’s mask ordinance.

The current mask mandate only applies to adults and only within the City of Tulsa, but the council might expand the age range.

Latoya Durant said she wears a mask everywhere, when she can't keep a distance, and she supports having children wear them too.

"I think it would be good. Everybody needs protection, including babies,” Durant said.

Adults in Tulsa are required to wear masks in public places when they can’t be distanced from others. Children are not required to wear masks at all, though even outdoors the recommendation is to keep a distance.

Though many adults are wearing masks in Tulsa, there are plenty of people who are not. Most stores have signs reminding people of the mandate, but when it comes to the youngest children, under 10, the advice has been just to keep a distance.

"Tulsa's children have watched their parents wear masks and I think they're ready to be like Mommy and Daddy and assume an important role in society protecting others,” Dr. David Kendrick, MyHealth Access Network, said.

The Director of the Tulsa County Health Department and the President of the Oklahoma State Medical Association support the possible expansion. Dr. George Monks, President of the OSMA, said if more children were wearing masks, schools districts would have a better chance of having in-person classes with fewer disruptions.

"I think there's a great benefit if you guys extend the mask mandate down to 10," Monks told Councilors, "it's not just going to help protect the children, but it's going to protect those teachers."

The mask mandate could impact schools if they reopen and the medical advice given to the council said masks for everyone 10 and older. The Oklahoma State Medical Association supports a wider mandate, based on data that shows children transmit the virus as well as adults.

“Kids with COVID turn into adults with COVID, that turns into elderly with COVID, and that turns into hospitalizations and deaths,” Kendrick said. “So, we’ve got to address that early on.”

The council has not decided if or when they will change the ordinance.