House Minority Advocates Awareness System
OKLAHOMA CITY – Leaders of the state Democratic Party called on Gov. Kevin Stitt to implement a system to better prepare Oklahoma for pandemics such as and including COVID-19.
The Oklahoma Virus Awareness Program is similar to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Terrorism Advisory System in that it would use color coded levels to make recommendations for actions based on data, according to a press release from House Minority Leader Emily Virgin.
Virgin said, “This system would help the process become a bit more transparent and more easily understood by relying on specific data thresholds instead of cherry-picked data.”
House Democrats presented a sample chart of the program. But the plan is for the actual thresholds and recommendations to be created by public health experts.
“What we have presented today is an example of how this system can work,” Virgin said. “We hope that it will be implemented, and we can start taking these proactive measures sooner rather than later.”
The chart showed level five or code black as low hospital capacity with recommendations that citizens shelter in place. Level four or code red shows a rising or high level of transmission. It carries the suggestion that public places like restaurant dining areas, gyms and event centers reduce operations to 25 percent of capacity.
Level three or code orange indicates general circulation of the virus and recommends social distancing and mask use while level two or code yellow means the case number is elevated and social distancing is appropriate. Level one or code green indicates there is no threat.
The awareness program doesn’t mandate action, meaning the governor could implement the program immediately to help protect Oklahomans and the Oklahoma economy.
“This program could prevent unnecessary shutdowns and also help maintain gains from previous actions,” Virgin said.