Public Health Advisory

MEASURES TO ENSURE
THE PROTECTION OF PUBLIC HEALTH
IN RESPONSE TO COVID-19

WHEREAS, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has identified the potential public health threat posed by COVID-19 as “high” both globally and in the United States. In addition, on March 14, 2020, the President of the United States declared a national health emergency in the United States as a result of the national spread of COVID-19;

WHEREAS, on July 30, 2020, an emergency caused by the threat of COVID-19 was declared by Governor Stitt in all seventy-seven (77) Oklahoma counties;

WHEREAS, to reduce and slow the spread of COVID-19, the CDC recommended implementation of mitigation strategiesto contain this virus; WHEREAS, the CDC and the U.S. Surgeon General advocated for wearing a face covering, practicing social distancing, washing hands, and checking temperatures as methods of mitigating the spread of COVID-19, and as such, strongly recommended wearing face coverings in public settings, especially when social distancing measures are difficult to maintain;

WHEREAS, as schools reopen, it is of utmost importance to keep our teachers, administrators, and students safe, while also allowingour businesses to stay open and keeping Oklahoma’s economy thriving;

WHEREAS, following the recommendations presented in this Advisory is the easiest and most effective means to protect each other, ensure a safe start to the school year and help our businesses remain open and our economy running.

NOW THEREFORE, in view of the foregoing, the Office of the State Commissioner of Health for the State of Oklahoma hereby recommends the following:

1. Public and private entities should increase testing capacity to perform more tests and have all test results with a turnaround time of forty-eight (48) hours or less. Turnaround time is defined as the period beginning when a testing lab receives the specimen and ending when the result is reported to the patient.
2. The Oklahoma State Department of Health (“OSDH”) should continue to develop its data collection system. Developing and delivering advanced analytics will strengthen the State’s management of COVID-19.
3. If in a red or orange county under Oklahoma’s COVID-19 Alert System, it is recommended individuals ages eleven (11) and older wear a face covering over the nose and mouth when:
   1. Inside a business, public building, or other indoor place open to the public. This does not extend, however, to private offices, private workspaces, meetings, and religious gatherings in which six (6) feet of social distancing can be achieved and maintained between people not in the same household;
   2. In an outdoor public space wherever it is not feasible to maintain six (6) feet of social distancing from another person not in the same household; or
   3. Using public transportation or while in a taxi, private car service or ride-sharing vehicle.
4. It is recommended visitors to nursing homes, long-term care facilities, retirement homes, medical facilities, prisons, or other communal living facilities statewide –in all counties -wear a face covering over the nose and mouth.
5. It is recommended all school teachers and other essential school personnel wear a face covering over the noseand mouth.
6. If in a red or orange county under Oklahoma’s COVID-19 Alert System, it is recommended all restaurant staff wear a face covering over the nose and mouth, and restaurants in these counties maintain six (6) feet of distance between groups seatedat different tables.
7. It is a recommended “Safer in Oklahoma” policy that when entering the State of Oklahoma from an area with substantial community spread, an individual wear a face covering over the nose and mouth when in public spaces listed in (a-c) below and limit indoor gatherings per the guidelines recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
   1. Inside a business, public building, or other indoor place open to the public. This does not extend, however, to private offices, private workspaces, meetings, and religious gatherings in which six (6) feet of social distancing can be achieved and maintained between people not in the same household;
   2. In an outdoor public space wherever it is not feasible to maintain six (6) feet of social distancing from another person not in the same household; or
   3. Using public transportation or while in a taxi, private car service or ride-sharing vehicle.
8. It is recommended staff in all long-term care facilities test for COVID-19 weekly.

Issued this 13th day of August 2020.