COVID-19 Situation Update: April 20

(TULSA, Okla.) To date, the Tulsa Health Department (THD) has confirmed 422 positive COVID-19 cases in Tulsa County. 276 residents have recovered and 22 have died. Test results are updated daily at www.tulsa-health.org/COVID19. A Safer at Home Order is in place for every Tulsan, prohibiting public events, private events and social gatherings through April 30. It’s vitally important to remain vigilant. Please stay home and only go out for necessities needed to survive at home. Under the Safer at Home Order, residents can make essential trips to the grocery store, get medication and other necessary items needed for survival. Patronizing essential businesses for non-essential purposes, such as apparel or personal care services, should not occur. If you have questions of what you can or can’t do, visit www.cityoftulsa.org/yesorno. Walmart Drive Thru Testing Site Tulsa area residents who need testing because they have COVID-19 symptoms can now setup an appointment to get tested in the parking lot at the Walmart at 81ST and Lewis, 2019 E. 81st St. The site is supported by Walmart, eTrueNorth and state and local officials. “Walmart is part of the community, and we are proud to help support the expansion of COVID-19 testing in Tulsa during this unprecedented time,” said Laurie Smalling Letts, Walmart Public Affairs Senior Director. “We are grateful to our associates who keep our stores running, our pharmacists who support these testing sites, and to eTrueNorth and local officials as we work together to open the site and help our community.” Testing has no out-of-pocket cost and is open to all Tulsans with symptoms and to all healthcare providers and first responders, whether or not they are exhibiting symptoms by appointment only. No walk-ins will be accepted. You can schedule an appointment at www.DoINeedaCovid19test.com. For questions regarding testing at this site, call 1-800-635-8611. The drive thru testing site will be open daily, weather permitting, from 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. Those being tested should stay in their cars for verification of eligibility, an ID check and a self-administered test. This is the only local Walmart location in Tulsa participating in testing and testing is not available inside Walmart stores. Additional Testing Sites Two more mobile testing sites launched today at OSU Center for Health Sciences and at OU-Tulsa. For a brief screening and to schedule an appointment at one of these locations, call 2-1-1. If you were exposed to a known COVID-19 patient or are exhibiting symptoms for COVID-19, such as fever, cough or shortness of breath, call THD at (918) 582-9355. THD also offers specimen collection for a limited number of individuals who have symptoms of COVID-19 who are uninsured or underinsured. Aside from the testing sites listed above, 211 is another helpful resource in helping residents with testing questions. 211can answer COVID-19 questions and offers assistance to those who are uninsured or underinsured. City of Tulsa Updates To date, 56 employees are in quarantine and two City employees have tested positive for COVID-19. One is recovered and the other is recovering. To help keep officers safe, Tulsa Police are asking residents to make non-life-threatening reports online at www.tulsapolice.org or by phone through the Tulsa Police non-emergency number at (918) 596-9222. 911 should be used for emergencies only. On Wednesday at 5 p.m., the Mayor will be discussing FY20 funding more in depth with the Tulsa City Council in their public meeting and will present the proposed FY21 budget, which starts on July 1. Howl & Howler Event On Friday, the City of Tulsa and River Parks are hosting a citywide stay-at-home event. At 7 p.m., open your window, step onto your balcony, or go out to your front yard and make some noise for at least 2 minutes. For more information, visit the events tab on the City of Tulsa Facebook page, @CityofTulsaGov. Tulsa County Update In partnership with the City of Tulsa, Tulsa County officially opened the old Juvenile Justice Center location to accommodate approximately 55 men from the Salvation Army. The location is ran in partnership with the Day Center for the Homeless and the Salvation Army. Staff have been trained extensively on proper hygiene and cleaning and disinfection protocols. The County has also implemented several practices in the shelter for maintaining proper distancing procedures to ensure the safety of those who are helping and those who need our help. The men have already been moved to the temporary shelter by Tulsa Transit, who provided complimentary transportation services earlier this morning. Presiding Judge Bill LaFortune made the news late last week for his efforts in continuing to ensure critical court operations and processes are maintained. As he said, there’s a silver lining in this crisis in that it has made all businesses, governments, and other entities find solutions that accommodate operations electronically—but not just in the short term. What Tulsa County is learning today about how we operate the court systems will lead to some long-term solutions that allow us to be nimbler and more forward thinking when it comes to technology and how we can use it to keep things going—even when we have to distance ourselves from one another. Mayor’s Economic Recovery Advisory Committee Formed to Help Restore Tulsa Economy Amid COVID-19 Response The City of Tulsa and the Tulsa Regional Chamber announced the creation of the Mayor’s Economic Recovery Advisory Committee to help guide near-term strategy around Tulsa’s economic recovery while also identifying long-term opportunities for growth as the Tulsa community responds to the COVID-19 threat. “As we manage a public health crisis using guidance from independent local public health experts, so too will we rely upon guidance from some of the best minds in Tulsa’s private sector to recover from this economic crisis,” said Tulsa Mayor G.T. Bynum. “I am very grateful for these Tulsans stepping up with their time and expertise across a broad array of industries. Working together, we will work to restore Tulsa’s economy while protecting public health.” The Mayor’s Economic Recovery Advisory Committee will focus on two main goals. First, to develop guidelines for safely reopening the Tulsa economy during the coming weeks and months, and second, to identify what the Tulsa-area business community needs to do to drive a stronger post-pandemic economy. “We are confident that the City of Tulsa working in concert with the local business community can ensure we rebound as safely as possible,” said Mike Neal, president and CEO of the Tulsa Regional Chamber. “This committee will also leverage the collective brainpower of many of Tulsa’s brightest leaders in hopes of helping us all emerge from this challenge as quickly as possible.” Mayor’s Economic Recovery Advisory Committee: Steve Bradshaw, Bank of Oklahoma Chet Cadieux, QuikTrip Gerry Clancy, University of Tulsa Carlin Conner, SemGroup (retired) Kevin Gross, Hillcrest Medical Center Marilyn Ihloff, Ihloff Salon & Day Spa Ben Kimbro, Tulsa City Council Dave Kollmann, Flintco Paula Marshall, Bama Foods Josh Miller, George Kaiser Family Foundation Steve Mitchell, Argonaut Private Equity Mike Neal, Tulsa Regional Chamber Elliot Nelson, McNellie’s Group Jeff Nowlin, Ascension St. John Erik Olund, American Airlines Pete Patel, Promise Hotels Anja Rogers, Senior Star Living Larry Rooney, Manhattan Construction Peggy Simmons, American Electric Power Casey Sparks, ASM Global Barry Steichen, Saint Francis Health System Kathy Taylor, Lobeck Taylor Family Foundation Rose Washington, Tulsa Economic Development Corp. *Lead Staff: Kian Kamas, City of Tulsa Chief of Economic Development and Justin McLaughlin Tulsa Regional Chamber Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer. For the most up-to-date news, information and business resources in Tulsa, visit www.cityoftulsa.org/COVID-19.