Mask Mandate To Remain In Place For Tulsa

Tulsa’s Mayor said Wednesday it’s possible the city mask mandate could be lifted before it expires April 30th, but it will remain in place for at least another 10 days.

Mayor G.T. Bynum said health authorities had recommending waiting until two weeks after Spring Break travel ended in case a surge of infections resulted from it. 

"Their ask of us was to get past the Spring Break holiday and wait about two weeks after that to see what impact that holiday, and the related travel from it, has on COVID levels in Tulsa County and on hospitalizations here. That was their ask and that's what we're going to do,” said Bynum.

Related Story: Tulsa Leaders Say It’s Too Soon To Lift City's Mask Mandate

The Mayor said he expected he and the Council would discuss lifting the mask mandate at the earliest around April 4. The mask mandate currently expires on Friday, April 30.

Bynum and Dr. Bruce Dart, the head of the Tulsa Health Department, both noted that trends were improving for all stages of COVID-19, which Dart attributed to precautions taken by people wearing masks, and the increasing numbers of vaccinations.

Dart said 51% of Tulsa County residents 65 and older had been fully vaccinated, and 32% of people under 65 have had at least the first dose.

Tulsa Health is encouraging people to take and post videos relaying their stories of getting vaccine with the hashtag #ourshot918.