COVID-19 UPDATES 4/6/20

Sen. Montgomery, Rep. Caldwell, and I will be hosting a Facebook Live tomorrow to provide updates about COVID-19 in Oklahoma. The graphic below has all of our contact information.

Please text or Facebook message us any questions you have, and we’ll do our best to answer them during tomorrow’s Facebook Live.

We’ll provide a link to the Facebook Live on each of our pages once we start the livestream tomorrow.

Let’s stay Stay Calm, Stay Positive, and STAY HOME!

HEALTH DEPARTMENT STATUS
* As of this advisory, there are 1,327 positive cases of COVID-19 and 51 deaths in Oklahoma. There are now 41 positive cases in Comanche County. 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.

LEGISLATURE STABLIZES BUDGET
·       The state budget has been STABILIZED so that no agencies or school funds will receive cuts in the current fiscal year.
·       The Legislature today withdrew nearly $504 million from state reserves to MAINTAIN agency and school funding amid a revenue shortage caused by COVID-19 economic slowdowns and low oil prices.
·       This means state appropriated funding will continue UNINTERRUPTED during the pandemic response this fiscal year.
 
GOVERNOR’S EXPANDED HEALTH EMERGENCY AFFIRMED
·       Governor Stitt will be granted expanded powers to respond to COVID-19 under an affirmation granted in special session by the Legislature.
·       The GOVERNOR plans to use the expanded declaration to unify state and local response efforts, provide more information to first responders, and waive rules and laws that may inhibit effective response.
·       The Legislature maintains OVERSIGHT of the declaration and can modify or suspend it if needed.
 
MORE PRIVATE TEST RESULTS RECEIVED
·       More than 6,000 negative COVID-19 test results reported by PRIVATE labs dating back to February were reported to the Health Department over the weekend.
·       Private lab testing results continue to be collected, and a final count will be publicized when final. This will help provide a FULL PICTURE of the total testing in Oklahoma.
 
MEDICAL RESERVE CORPS SEEKING VOLUNTEERS
·       To prepare for the upcoming medical surge and prolonged response to COVID-19 in the state, the Oklahoma Medical Reserve Corps is recruiting VOLUNTEERS to serve in medical and non-medical positions.
·       LICENSED medical professionals are needed for triage, supplementing hospital personnel, monitoring critical patients, assisting with transporting patients, providing critical care in the field, and other needs.
·       UNLICENSED individuals are needed for non-medical duties such as warehouse work and administrative support.
·       To learn more visit okmrc.org

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