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The Oklahoma State Department of Health (OSDH) has issued the following situation update about coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in Oklahoma:
Read moreThe Oklahoma City National Memorial & Museum observed the 25th anniversary of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building bombing Sunday through its annual Remembrance Ceremony to honor those who were killed, those who survived and those changed forever on April 19, 1995.
Read moreThe Oklahoma Employment Security Commission (OESC) is now accepting pre-applications from claimants impacted by COVID-19 related job loss or business closure who do not otherwise qualify for traditional Unemployment Insurance compensation benefits.
Read moreOICA Encourages Caution as Oklahoma Examines “Re-opening”
Read moreOKLAHOMA CITY – The House of Representatives released a public service announcement Monday reminding Oklahomans to care for their mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic. Titled “Help Your House,” the 90-second video message is intended to raise awareness of the availability of mental health services in Oklahoma. It encourages people seeking help to contact the Oklahoma Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services, which offers COVID-19 support on its website at ok.gov/sodmhsas and over the phone at 1-877-215-8336. While working with constituents during the pandemic, House members have observed an increasing amount of mental health challenges constituents are facing in their districts. House members are sharing the public service announcement in their districts through their social media channels, while asking news, mental health, public health, first responder and community organizations in their districts to do the same.
Read moreOn Thursday, April 16, after participating in a call with President Donald Trump, Gov. Kevin Stitt announced plans to gradually begin reopening non-essential businesses in Oklahoma as soon as next month. “We will continue to make decisions based on the scientific data and the information that is happening on the ground here in the state of Oklahoma,” Stitt said. “We will also make decisions based on the advice from our health professionals.” In comparison to other states, Stitt explained, Oklahoma is doing relatively well; there are hospital beds, ICU beds, and ventilators prepped and ready to-go should a sudden surge in cases occur. “We currently have 325 people in the hospital across the state of Oklahoma; that number peaked at 560 back on March 30 and for the last two-and-half weeks, we have continued to trend down,” Stitt said. “We are still preparing for a surge. We do not expect this to happen, but we are staying proactive just in case it does.” If the trend of COVID-19 cases continues to fall, then Oklahoma businesses could begin reopening their doors within the next few weeks. “I don’t anticipate anything before May 1, but we’re going to make decisions based on data and if these trend lines continue as they have been, we believe May 1 will be a good time to start proactively reopening some things up,” Stitt said.
Read moreThe Legislature on April 6, in anticipation of a revenue failure for the fiscal year, passed three bills regarding the state’s budget: Senate Bill 199, Senate Bill 617, and Senate Bill 1053. These bills appropriated money from the state’s Rainy Day Fund to the General Revenue Fund and the Revenue Stabilization Fund as well as set in place protocols regarding the allocation of these transferred funds. However, an appropriation for the governor’s Digital Transformation Revolving Fund was intentionally missing from these three bills. Gov. Stitt explained that the failure of the legislature to fund the digital transformation program was a violation of the budget agreement that he and his office made with the House and Senate. In response, Stitt refused to act regarding SB199 and canceled the scheduled Board of Equalization meeting, a board which the governor chairs.
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