After weeks of surging cases, deaths and hospitalizations in Oklahoma, on Monday Governor Stitt announced new COVID-19 regulations. State leaders held a news conference to announce the regulations after the state saw daily increases of 2,000, 3,000 and 4,000 new cases over the last two weeks, and more than 1,000 hospitalized at one time in the state. Hospitalizations are up 19 percent statewide in just a week. Hospitals across the state are getting near their capacity and healthcare workers are exhausted.
Governor Stitt announced new statewide restrictions for bars and restaurants. The restrictions are that beginning Thursday, Nov. 19, 2020, all bars and restaurants must close at 11 p.m. Drive thru and carryout will still be allowed after that time. Stitt also will require all state employees to wear a mask while inside a state building.
Governor Stitt pled with the public to help in anyway possible to flatten the curve of this deadly disease. Stitt said, “I need the public's help in flattening the curve of the virus. We are all going to have to make sacrificesin one way or another but they are sacrifices worth making.”
The City of Sapulpa held a city council meeting Monday evening where a mask mandate was approved by a vote of 6 to 4, as the total of confirmed cases in the city has reached 963 and totaling 16 deaths. Sapulpa follows Tulsa and Jenks in implementing a mask mandate. Bristow's Mayor Rick Pinson has asked the community to wear a mask, especially where social distancing is not possible, and for each resident to do their part in helping slow the virus.
A total of 2,700 new cases were reported in Oklahoma on Monday, along with 10 deaths. Across the nation, a staggering 11,202,980 cases have been confirmed and 247,202 people have lost their lives.
Oklahoma has reached 156,857 and over 1,500 deaths. Creek County is now at 2,109 with 41 deaths and the community of Bristow has reached 297 confirmed cases since March and remains at nine deaths. It is going to take everyone
It is going to take everyone working together to help battle this war against COVID and as Govenor Stitt said, we are all going to have to make sacrifices that are worth making.