Stillwater Mayor Declares State Of Emergency Due To Community Health Concerns

Stillwater Mayor Will Joyce has declared a state of emergency for the city starting Friday, September 3.

The mayor said it’s due to the medical health of the community, with a high number of patients and a shortage of hospital staff. OSDH is deploying the Medical Reserve Corp, which will have additional medical professionals available and help man overflow tents that will be put up Friday morning.

Stillwater residents and visitors who go to the hospital for treatment this weekend may be diverted to nearby or out-of-state hospitals.

“Our health professionals have incessantly warned us that we may reach the point when much-needed medical attention, COVID or non-COVID related, may not be available,” said Joyce. “We have now reached that critical threshold where our hospital no longer has available staffed beds and without each of us making necessary health changes, the trajectory is anticipated to continue declining.”

The state of emergency comes just two days before the first Oklahoma State home football game, where the city expects an influx of visitors.

“With the upcoming holiday weekend, several large events and our current lack of available beds and staffing, we are extremely concerned about an additional surge of patients needing medical care.” said Shyla Eggers, Director of Public Relations at Stillwater Medical.

OSU Medicine will be offering COVID-19 vaccinations at the game for anyone who wants the shot.

Related Story: OSU Medicine Offering COVID-19 Vaccine Shots At OSU Season Opener

You can read the full declaration here.