Stitt: People have choice
Gov. Kevin St it ts aid Wednesday that people concerned about the spread of COVID-19 at the rally in Tulsa for President Donald Trump on Saturday should stay home.
The governor said he would get his first test for COVID- 1 9 on Thursday before he enters the White House for an event with the president about the economy. He also said the search for an outdoor venue for the Trump rally had been abandoned but that there would be an overflow site for those who can't get into the BOK Center.
“You' re free to stay home, and I want people to protect their families,” the governor said at a news conference.
“If they don't want to go to the rally, they shouldn't. There' s over a million requests right now to go to the rally. It's really unprecedented how many folks have requested tickets. So there' s a lot of folks that want to be there, want to support the president. But of course you need to make the best decision for your family.”
White House Press Secretary Kay leigh
McEnany echoed St it t' s comments and accused the media of giving protesters against police brutality a pass on safety measures while criticizing the Trump campaign for holding a rally.
As many as 250 Oklahoma Army National Guard soldiers also are being activated to help provide security, authorities said Wednesday.
Tulsa Police Chief Wendell Franklin said the guardsmen will be used as a “force multiplier” to help secure safety zones around the downtown BOK Center.
The guardsmen will be unarmed but will carry shields, batons and pepper spray in case they need to protect themselves, said Guard spokesman Lt. Col. Geoff Legler.
The rally will be Trump's first since early March, when the novel coronavirus put much of the nation into a lockdown.
“We are doing temperature checks, hand sanitizers, masks (at the BOK Center),” McEnany said.
“When you come to the rally, as with any event, you assume a personal risk. That is just what you do. When you go to a baseball
game, you assume a risk. That's part of life. It' s the personal decision of Americans as to whether to go to the rally or whether or not to go to the rally.
“But I would note that this concern fort her allies has been largely absent when it came to the protesters.”
Several demonstrations are expected to be held in Tulsa this weekend, while June teenth activities are set for Friday.
The rally and protests come as the state continues to set records for new COVID-19 cases, adding 259 on Wednesday. Stitt and the Trump administration have talked about Oklahoma “flattening the curve” in regard to COVID-19 cases, but the case count is rising and it is no longer attributable just to more testing.
George Mon ks, president of the Oklahoma State Medical Association, said Wednesday, “The climb in positive numbers over the six weeks since the state began reopening has shown that this virus is still very active. While it is necessary for Oklahomans to leave the house for shopping, doctor visits and work, it is also important to be mindful not only of your own health but also that of those in your community.”
Regarding the Trump rally, Monks said people should wear masks, maintain as much distance as possible from each other and wash their hands.
Oklahoma Health Commissioner Lance Fr ye issued similar
Tulsa's BOK Center will host President Donald Trump's rally on Saturday. [AP FILE PHOTO] guidance on Tuesday and also suggested that people get tested for COVID- 1 9 before and after the rally. He said people who attend the gathering were at- risk of being infected and of spreading the disease.
The state Health Department said Wednesday that Frye's guidance was“not only f or the upcoming rally in Tulsa but for all large-scale gatherings in Oklahoma,” including demonstrations.
A day after that guidance was issued by his top health official, Stitt, who has not been tested for COVID- 19, said he would get tested on Thursday before entering the White House for an event that was planned before Trump's rally was announced.
The governor, who does not typically wear a mask at public events, said, “As far as wearing a mask, I haven't decided whether I' m going to wear a mask yet. I'll be
introducing the president on Saturday so I won't have a mask on at that point. Whether I have one at the seat, I haven't decided yet.”
The BOK Center holds an estimated 19,000 people. The Trump campaign has been looking at alternate sites, including outdoor venues.
Trump said Monday that the campaign would use a nearby convention hall that would hold another 40,000 people. The campaign said only that other venues were being considered.
Stitt said Wednesday that Tulsa' s Cox Convention Center would be used and that it would hold another 6,000 to 8,000 people. The campaign has not confirmed that.
In Tulsa, Mayor G.T. By nu ms aid his concerns about the spread of COVID-19 extended beyond the events this weekend to everyday life in a metro area of about 1 million people. His own experience in grocery stores was that 10-20% of the people wear masks, Bynum said.
“For some reason wearing am ask has become a politically divisive issue," Bynum said. "It isn' t. It' s a public health issue.”
The state Health Department said Wednesday that Frye's guidance was “not only for the upcoming rally in Tulsa but for all largescale gatherings in Oklahoma,” including demonstrations.