Stitt stands firm on COVID response
As Oklahoma schools grapple with how to keep students safe amid a COVID-19 surge that is straining hospital capacity, Gov. Kevin Stitt says he stands by his decision to sign legislation that largely blocks districts from requiring masks in public schools.
Noting Senate Bill 658 had strong support among Republican legislators who make up the majority of the Oklahoma Legislature, Stitt said he stands by his decision to sign the bill that prevents local school boards from implementing mask mandates unless he has declared a state of emergency.
“Oklahomans want parents to be able to choose the health options and what’s best for their kids,” Stitt said.
The new law has been criticized by some health professionals and educators alike. The Oklahoma State Medical Association and several parents filed a lawsuit in an attempt to overturn the law.
Putting herself at odds with the governor, state schools Superintendent Joy Hofmeister, also a Republican, tweeted Sunday she hopes the law will be struck down in court.
Stitt has largely been tight-lipped about the latest COVID-19 surge in Oklahoma that is being driven by the highly contagious delta variant. In a 20-minute interview with The Oklahoman on Friday, Stitt expressed concerns about the growing number of people hospitalized due to COVID-19 but offered no concrete steps to reduce the spread of the virus or increase the number of people getting vaccinated.
He also reiterated that he has no plans at this time to declare a state of emergency due to COVID-19.
Although Stitt said he is keeping a close watch on the number of people hospitalized with COVID-19, the governor is preaching a message that Oklahomans have to learn to live with the virus as it mutates and spreads.
Stitt said Oklahoma is in a better position than it was at the start of the pandemic because the state has crafted hospital surge plans and stockpiled personal equipment for hospitals and health care workers.
“This is a different fight than it was last year,” he said. “Oklahoma has really been back to normal since last June. We’ve had ups and downs, and we’re in a little uptick right now, but this is going to go back down.
“Again, we’re concerned about our hospitals, we’re watching those very, very closely. But again, this is a virus that’s going through our nation, and there is no magic word or anything that we can do to keep that from happening.”
Legislative Democrats have chastised the governor for not doing more to address the worsening 19 situation.
In a “State of the State” speech to the Tulsa Regional Chamber on Thursday, Stitt largely avoided talking about COVID-19 and called the U.S. Supreme Court’s McGirt decision the “most pressing” issue facing the state. His comments drew swift condemnation from some tribal leaders and other critics who said the governor is ignoring the COVID-19 crisis.
“This pandemic is clearly one of the worst crises in our state’s history, and Oklahomans have not heard their top elected leader address it in five months,” Rep. Melissa Provenzano, D-Tulsa, said in a statement. “How different today would look if the Governor would have used an hour a week addressing Oklahomans and advocating for the vaccine.”
Hospital situation
Recent COVID-19 hospitalizations mirror the highs seen in January, before vaccines were widely available. Hospitals are running low on beds to treat COVID and non-COVID patients, and they’re simultaneously struggling with widespread staffing issues as burnout and fatigue afflicts many medical professionals.
In Oklahoma, about 93% of the people hospitalized recently with COVID-19 were unvaccinated.
Although Oklahoma started strong with vaccinations, uptake has since slowed, and the state has remained among the bottom states for its percentage of fully vaccinated residents. Concerns about the delta variant, however, appear to be fueling an increase in vaccinations in Oklahoma and across the country.
Stitt said he is in constant contact with the chief medical officers at a number of local hospitals. He also noted new emergency rules at the Oklahoma Health Department give hospitals flexibility to add more beds.
When talking to hospital executives, Stitt said he hears most frequently about staffing issues. Stitt said he’s working with Oklahoma’s colleges and universities to increase the number of nursing graduates, although he acknowledged that is a long-term solution to an immediate problem.
“Are we concerned about this new variant? Yes,” Stitt said. “But like I’ve said before, this is a virus that’s going through our nation. Now we’ve got the delta variant. We could have another (variant) next year. We’re going to have to learn how to live with it, keep us safe and then also focus on our health care workers and what our hospitals need.”
As a vocal contingent of Oklahoma conservatives call on the governor to block hospitals from requiring their employees to get vaccinated for COVID-19, Stitt said he has no plans to tell private businesses how they should operate.
Stitt said a pregnant nurse at a local hospital reached out to him saying she was going to lose her job because she didn’t want to get vaccinated. Stitt said he’s sympathetic to the nurse’s situation, especially because she’d already contracted COVID-19, but in a right-towork state like Oklahoma, private businesses have the right to set employment requirements.
“I think it’s a little shortsighted on the hospital not to have some kind of exemptions in those kind of cases when we’re short-staffed on nurses,” he said.
Four local health systems are requiring COVID-19 vaccinations for their employees. All are offering exemptions for medical or religious reasons.
School mask mandates
As some local K-12 districts have imposed mask mandates, Stitt has applauded schools that offer families the chance to opt out of face coverings.
Stitt praised Oklahoma City Public Schools and Santa Fe South Charter Schools for offering an opt-out option, but threatened legal action against Hulbert Public Schools for implementing a mask mandate without offering personal exemptions.
“I’m glad that 99% of these school districts, including Oklahoma City, are agreeing with us that kids need to be in school five days a week and parents need to have an option for the health of their children,” he said.
Stitt said he’s not concerned by a growing number of private schools implementing mask mandates because parents have a choice to enroll their kids in private schools.
Such schools are exempt from SB 658.
He also brushed off criticism from the Biden administration about Oklahoma’s school mask prohibition, saying the president should be focused on Afghanistan instead of interfering in the Sooner State.
The issue of whether local school boards and superintendents can impose mask mandates despite SB 658 will go before an Oklahoma County district judge this week.
Attorney General John O’Connor’s office will defend the state law.
“Once the case is fully litigated, we are sure that Oklahoma City Public Schools and other schools across the state will comply with the ruling — rather than lawlessly defy both the Legislature and the courts,” O’Connor spokesman Alex Gerszewski said.
Throughout the pandemic, Stitt has urged Oklahomans to take “personal responsibility” to prevent the spread of COVID-19.