Salons, Churches Among First to Open Doors
In a press conference April 22, Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt announced a timeline for reopening the state and hopefully jump starting its lagging economy.
Stitt started off by saying Oklahomans have done a tremendous job of flattening the curve and said the hospitalizations for Covid-19 have decreased since a high of 560 on March 30. New cases, he said, continue to decline even though more tests are being conducted.
“We know the virus will continue to be around for a long time. We’re not out of the woods yet. But we will continue to take a measured response, keep testing and tracing contacts,” he said.
Using data, the decision has been reached to phase in a reopening of the state.
Phase one will include personal care businesses opening by appointment only on Friday, April 24. During the earliest phase, vulnerable populations are encouraged to remain at home unless using shopping times set aside for them. Continued use of social distancing, handwashing, sanitizing businesses and limiting non-essential travel will remain the order of the day.
On May 1, sporting facilities such as gyms, restaurant dining rooms, theaters and churches may reopen, although church nurseries are to remain closed and no food is to be served in houses of worship.
If there is no spike in cases after two weeks of these businesses being opened, organized sports, funerals and weddings may resume with social distancing observed and bars may reopen. Church nurseries can open as well.
If the case loads remain manageable, Stitt said, the next phase can begin. That phase includes the restoration of businesses and the economy, although there were no details released as to what that entails.
There was also no mention of when regular retail establishments not recognized as essential would be allowed to reopen.