Stitt's contagiousness deemed limited
Officials believe governor may have shed virus no more than 48 hours before symptoms
Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt likely wasn't contagious for more than 48 hours before he started experiencing symptoms of COVID-19, according to state health officials.
St itt, who began feeling fatigued Monday, was likely only contagious on or after Saturday, if at all, a spokeswoman for the Oklahoma State Department of Health clarified Friday.
The governor announced Wednesday he tested positive for COVID-19 a day prior. Stitt has not felt fatigued since Monday, nor has he developed any additional symptoms, said st ate health spokeswoman and former Stitt aide Donelle Harder.
Contact tracing efforts are still ongoing, but Harder said the State Department of Health believe sit has come in contact with everyone St it t may have exposed to the virus. State health experts count those who were within six feet of the governor for 15 or more minutes as an exposure. Only those who may have been exposed to the governor on Saturday or after have been contacted, Harder said.
"The purpose of contact tracing is to assess the known active case and quickly get in touch with exposed in divi duals to ask that they quarantine and to schedule them to be tested or to get in t ouch with exposed locations that need to enhance sanitation efforts," she said.
As it would with anyone who contract ed COVID- 1 9, the State Department of Health will stay in contact with those individuals for 14 days to monitor their symptoms, Harder said.
Typically, a C OVID -19 patient can be contagious anywhere between 48 and 72 hours before detecting symptoms of the virus, said Dr. Dale Bratzl er, O UM edi ci ne Enterprise Chief Quality Officer.
“Sometimes, it's a bit difficult to define when the start of symptoms actually occurred, but usually for two to three days before somebody develops symptoms they may be shedding the virus and could be infectious,” Bratzler said
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention offers similar guidance, and said research suggests people are most likely to spread the virus during the 48 hours before they have symptoms.
The timeline is important because it suggests St itt likely wasn' t contag io us before last weekend.
Stitt and his wife, First Lady Sarah Stitt, attended a funeral for a fallen Tulsa police officer on July 9, a Thursday.
A photo of the event showed the funeral for Sgt. Craig Johnson was well attended and there may not have been room for attendees to physically distance themselves from others.
As for other events St it t may have attended recently, The Oklahoman requested a copy of t he governor's cal - end ar since July 1, but has yet to receive the public documents.