Tulsa Mayor G.T. Bynum issued an executive order on Friday ending his civil emergency declaration because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The civil emergency that was declared March 16, 2020, officially ends at midnight Friday.
Bynum said the decision was made in consultation with the Tulsa Health Department and because just 1% of hospitalizations are now for COVID. In January, 25% of local hospital patients had COVID.
"I remain incredibly thankful for all those who are deploying the vaccine in Tulsa — especially the Oklahoma State Department of Health, the Tulsa Health Department, and the tribal governments in our region — and all who have received it as a way to protect yourselves and our community. Without you, we would not be in a position to take this step as we gradually emerge from the pandemic," Bynum said in a statement.
When Bynum issued his COVID executive order in March 2020, it restricted gatherings to 50 people. In April, a new order prohibited gatherings of any size and required Tulsans to stay home except for essential trips, like buying groceries or filling prescriptions.
The withdrawal of the emergency order also ends requirements for gatherings of 500 or more people to submit COVID-19 safety plans to THD for approval and for businesses to follow the Oklahoma Department of Commerce reopening guidelines.
