Keeping You Informed: Your Weekly COVID-19 Updates

The Oklahoma Commissioner of Health, Gary Cox, last week lowered the parameters for Covid-19 testing. The requirements to be tested now include temperature of 100.4 or higher, cough, shortness of breath, or having been in direct contact with someone known to have the virus.

The state has more than 13,000 tests, Cox said, and has opened drive-through testing locations in various areas. Those sites may be stationary or change day-to-day. As of April 8, there were 1,472 positive cases in 61Oklahoma counties and 67 deaths. Nationally there are 380,744 cases and 11,907 deaths while 21,309 have recovered, according to worldmeter.com.

Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt has placed the entire state under a stay home order, closing all businesses not considered essential. Additionally, many towns and counties have enacted curfews, clearing the streets of citizens without appropriate cause to be out. Necessary public meetings are now allowed to utilize technology to hold virtual meetings and many are now live streamed. The Department of Public Safety is allowing renewal of certain driver’s licenses via computer and closed all offices to face-to-face service. The state has declared any driver’s license that was set to expire after March 1, 2020, valid until the pandemic passes and regular DPS office hours can resume.

On Sunday, the president granted a major disaster declaration for all 77 counties in Oklahoma. The declaration authorizes the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s public assistance program. That program funds emergency protective measures and federal assistance for state and local governmental response to the Covid-19 pandemic. Stitt also asked for assistance such as crisis counseling, unemployment and legal disaster assistance. Those requests are still being reviewed by the White House.

Meanwhile county and other governments and essential businesses are struggling with developing policies for leave time during the pandemic. At issue is how to allow employees who develop symptoms or have been exposed to someone who has the virus stay off work for the two week quarantine, which essentially uses up any Family Leave Act days, and then have them remain off work until they have recovered if the virus develops. There is also the likelihood that family members could become ill one after the other, meaning many weeks of quarantine. Governments and businesses are scrambling to develop policies to protect those individuals, and pay them if appropriate, but avoid being taken advantage of at the same time.

It also remains unclear whether someone who has had the virus and recovers is immune from it going forward. If not, and that individual has used up all the sick leave, family leave and vacation days available, how or if are they to be paid should they become ill again reamins in question.

Blaine County Commissioners wrestled with the issue April 6 at the regular meeting. The Department of Labor had sent notification reminding the county about the Federal Family Leave Act.

“They covered their own bases,” Commissioner Mike Allen said about the department, “But they didn’t help us cover ours.” There was no clear information on what to do should a new hire – such as temporary or part time deputies who are being added during the outbreak – become ill or need to self-quarantine. Those individuals haven’t been working long enough to accrue any time off, sick leave or vacation time.

“If we find out anyone was taking advantage of the situation, we’ll deal with it later,” said Blaine County Undersheriff David Robertson. Deputies are already working 12-hour shifts.

Connie Burcham can be reached at Editor@WatongaRepublican.com