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Debate in Oklahoma over responses to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, 2020

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These pages were updated from March 2020 through June 2020 and do not contain the latest commentary available. To submit arguments for inclusion on this page, email editor@ballotpedia.org. To learn how Ballotpedia decides which arguments to feature, click here.


Ballotpedia is providing comprehensive coverage of how the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic is affecting America's political and civic life. In addition to monitoring federal, state, and local responses to the coronavirus, we are also capturing the nationwide and local debates on whether to extend or lift coronavirus-related restrictions affecting the economy, schools, government operations, public health, religious services, and travel.

These arguments come from a variety of sources, including public officials, journalists, think tanks, economists, scientists, and other stakeholders. We encourage you to share the debates happening in your local community to editor@ballotpedia.org.


This article covers the debate over continuing restrictions and closures in Oklahoma in response to the coronavirus pandemic. You will find the following:


Debate over stay-at-home orders in Oklahoma

See also: Debate over stay-at-home orders during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, 2020

This section includes a sampling of statements made by public officials, influencers, and stakeholders on the stay-at-home order in Oklahoma.


Debate over protests in Oklahoma

See also: Debate over protests during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, 2020

This section includes a sampling of statements made by public officials, influencers, and stakeholders on protests in Oklahoma.

  • Oklahoma City Mayor David Holt (KOCO News): "When I see images like that, I think of the health care professionals who are on the frontlines, who are going out every day, putting their lives on the line to take care of strangers. [Protesters] are going to get sick, especially if that behavior reflects their daily activity. I know those brave and courageous health care professionals are going to take care of those people just the same. I hope that weighs heavy on their heart when they do that kind of thing." - "Oklahoma City Mayor David Holt responds to protesters urging state to reopen," April 15, 2020.


Debate over the reopening plan in Oklahoma

See also: Debate over the reopening plan during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, 2020

This section includes a sampling of statements made by public officials, influencers, and stakeholders regarding reopening the state.

On April 22, Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt (R) announced a plan to reopen the state in phases beginning on April 24, 2020. The plan, called Open Up and Recover Safely (OURS), can be found here.

  • Norman Transcript Editorial Board (Norman OK Transcript): City's economic health is dependent on home football weekends, so Oklahoma University and city leaders need to coordinate.

    "Will OU implement a priority points system or require face masks to accommodate social distancing? Will fans have to sign a legal waiver not to take legal action if they get sick? And we don’t know when a COVID-19 vaccine will be approved or the magnitude of a potential second coronavirus wave. ... Without Sooner football this fall, the impact is far-reaching beyond the world of sports. Norman’s economic model is built around the university." - "Norman’s economic impact will be catastrophic without OU football," June 13, 2020.

  • State Rep. Jason Lowe (D) (KFOR): Oklahoma State Rep. Jason Lowe (D) said he was concerned about the state reopening when only 1.5% of the population had been tested. Lowe recovered from COVID-19 and warned people to take the virus seriously.

    "Just be careful. I don’t want one person to go through what I went through. This is a deadly virus, we have to take it seriously, and we have to follow the guidance from our health professionals. I felt like I got hit by a truck. The symptoms were pretty bad, I had chills, and aches, fatigue. We don’t have a clear picture of where we are in order to say we need to reopen the entire business industry at this point in time." - "State Representative Jason Lowe concerned Oklahoma is reopening too soon," April 28, 2020.

  • Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt (R) (The Oklahoman): Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt (R) said the reopening plan in Oklahoma is going to be data-driven. He also said mayors could choose to be more restrictive than the state plan.

    "We have 288 hospitalized folks across the state. That’s 288 too many, I want that to be zero, but when you build the capacity of 4,600, we think it’s time for a measured reopening and we’re going to be data-driven in the state of Oklahoma. We reserve the right to push those phases back, but we feel like it’s the right time to take a measured reopening stance. I’ve never been heavy-handed with mayors across the state. As you know, I’m putting out guidance for the entire state, some mayors chose to be more restrictive and that’s OK. They’re closer to their communities." - "Stitt: Oklahoma still on track to begin phased reopening Friday," April 28, 2020.

  • Oklahoma City Mayor David Holt (KRMG News): Oklahoma City Mayor David Holt said he would assess data before reopening certain businesses immediately as allowed under Stitt's reopening plan.

    "On the advice of our local public health experts, it is our intent to follow the spirit of the White House criteria for potentially entering a new phase after April 30th." - "Oklahoma mayors react to Gov. Stitt’s plans to reopen state," April 23, 2020.

  • Norman Mayor Breea Clark (KRMG News): "Norman's Stay at Home Order will remain in place through 4/30. You may be willing to risk lives by moving forward without proper testing or a plan for contact tracing, but I'm not. ... When [Stitt] allows cities to pick who opens what/when, [Stitt] pits cities against each other. This recovery plan will begin the Hungers Games between Oklahoma cities fighting over sales tax, forced to put their economies ahead of the safety of their residents." - "Oklahoma mayors react to Gov. Stitt’s plans to reopen state," April 23, 2020.

  • Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt (R) (The Hill): "This statewide approach is based on the data from our public health experts, is intended to mitigate risk of a resurgence, and protects Oklahoma’s most vulnerable citizens from the threat of #COVID19. ... We will do this safely, responsibly, and based on the data here in our state." - "Oklahoma to allow some businesses to reopen Friday," April 23, 2020.


Debate over school closures in Oklahoma

See also: Debate over school closures during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, 2020

This section includes a sampling of statements made by public officials, influencers, and stakeholders on school closures in Oklahoma.

We have not yet identified any statements related to this topic or state. To suggest a statement, email us.


Debate over religious service restrictions in Oklahoma

See also: Debate over religious service restrictions during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, 2020

This section includes a sampling of statements made by public officials, influencers, and stakeholders on religious service restrictions in Oklahoma.

We have not yet identified any statements related to this topic or state. To suggest a statement, email us.


Debate over absentee voting in Oklahoma

See also: Debate over absentee voting during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, 2020

This section includes a sampling of statements made by public officials, influencers, and stakeholders on absentee voting in Oklahoma.

  • The Oklahoman Editorial Board (The Oklahoman): "Groups such as those challenging Oklahoma’s law want to make voting requirements as lax as possible, either via extended early voting or allowing people to register and vote on the same day. The pandemic has provided a new opportunity to press for these changes and others." - "Oklahoma's voting law is under siege," May 27, 2020.


Responses to the coronavirus in Oklahoma

See also: Government responses to and political effects of the coronavirus pandemic, 2020 (Oklahoma)

Click the links below for more on responses to the coronavirus pandemic in Oklahoma.

General resources

The chart below shows coronavirus statistics from countries across the world. The information is provided by Real Clear Politics.

Click the links below to explore official resources related to the coronavirus outbreak.


See also

Footnotes

v • e
Political responses to the coronavirus pandemic, 2020-2021
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Federal policy responses • State government responses • Local government responses • Diagnosed or quarantined incumbents, candidates, and officials • State legislative session changes • State legislative responses • State executive orders • Eviction and foreclosure policies • Travel restrictions • School responses (2021-2022) • School responses (2020-2021) • School responses (2019-2020) • State court closures • Stay-at-home order status • States that issued stay-at-home orders • States that did not issue stay-at-home orders • Changes to ballot measure campaigns and policies • Changes to vote-by-mail and absentee voting procedures • Initial key federal official responses • Arguments in support of and opposition to government responses • Lawsuits • Multistate agreements • Non-governmental plans to reopen • Unemployment filings • Analysis articles • Paycheck Protection Program • Mask requirements • School budget changes • State budgets • Federal definitions of essential and nonessential businesses • Federal aid to states • Lost Wages Assistance (LWA) program • State emergency power authority • Changes to state emergency power authority • Municipal emergency power authority • Halloween guidelines • Vaccine distribution plans • State plans to end federal unemployment • Changes to emergency power laws • Active COVID-19 emergency orders • State vaccine requirement (vaccine passport) policies • Recalls related to the pandemic • Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidance on school responses to the coronavirus • State employee vaccine requirements • Healthcare worker vaccine requirements
State responses to coronavirus
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