COVID-19 UPDATES 3/27/20

HEALTH DEPARTMENT STATUS

• As of this advisory, there are 322 positive cases of COVID-19 and eight deaths in Oklahoma. Comanche County now has six positive cases. Please follow CDC guidelines and the Governor’s executive order. 
• The Oklahoma State Department of Health (OSDH) continues to support guidelines from the CDC related to social distancing and personal hygiene. OSDH encourages Oklahomans to stay home, reduce person-to-person contact, wash hands frequently, and avoid touching your face. If you develop symptoms such as fever, shortness of breath or cough, please contact your medical professional or call the COVID-19 call center at 877-215-8336 or 211 for assistance.
• For more information, visit coronavirus.health.ok.gov.

OKLAHOMA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

• As a reminder, the state House will continue working REMOTELY next week, from March 30 to April 3. The House will remain OPEN at this time but won’t be working from inside the Capitol. No committee or floor activity is planned next week.

 
FEDERAL UPDATE

• The U.S. House votes today on the $2.2 trillion coronavirus RELIEF BILL, which is expected to be signed immediately by the president after House passage.
• Upon passage, a campaign to EDUCATE and engage the public on what the bill means for them will be launched by federal officials.
• A good SUMMARY of what the sweeping bill means for state governments can be found here:
  https://www.ncsl.org/ncsl-in-dc/publications-and-resources/coronavirus-stimulus-bill-states.aspx
• In addition to the individual and business relief measures in the bill, relief money will be available to STATE, LOCAL and TRIBAL governments for:
  • Public health
  • Education
  • Disaster relief
  • National Guard deployments
  • Transit, including rural transit
  • Election security
  • Unemployment insurance
  • Economic revitalization
  • Housing, child care and food banks
  • and more

 
EXECUTIVE ORDER ENFORCEMENT

• It is being left up to city and county officials to ENFORCE the governor’s coronavirus executive orders, including temporary orders for vulnerable populations to stay at home and nonessential businesses to close.
• Local officials can enforce the order AS THEY SEE FIT. Governor Stitt has said he believes Oklahomans are complying and he is not worried about violations being a problem.
• VIOLATIONS of the orders can be misdemeanors.

 
REAL ID

• Federal officials have EXTENDED the deadline for states to comply with REAL ID by a year, from Oct. 1, 2020 to Oct. 1, 2021.
• Oklahoma’s efforts to roll out REAL ID compliant drivers licenses have been interrupted by coronavirus response and will resume when possible.

 
SBA LOANS

• Oklahoma businesses interested in learning more about Small Business Administration disaster loans available through the federal relief bill should register for CONFERNENCE CALLS with the Oklahoma Commerce Department next week. Registration is available here:
  https://www.okcommerce.gov/oklahoma-small-business-teleconference-sba-economic-injury-disaster-loan-application-and-program/

 
SCHOOLS / AP TESTING

• While mandatory statewide testing has been waived in public schools this year, ADVANCED PLACEMENT tests are still available for high school students seeking college credit. The College Board is offering AP testing ONLINE. More information can be found here: 
  ​https://apstudents.collegeboard.org/coronavirus-updates

As always, I can be reached via email at daniel.pae@okhouse.gov and phone at 405-557-7374.