© 2024 Public Radio Tulsa
800 South Tucker Drive
Tulsa, OK 74104
(918) 631-2577

A listener-supported service of The University of Tulsa
classical 88.7 | public radio 89.5
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

Bynum: Tulsa Health Department Offers Most Important Guidance on Lifting Restrictions

Courtesy

Mayor G.T. Bynum said Tuesday he will follow the Tulsa Health Department’s guidance on when to start lifting restrictions to limit the spread of COVID-19.

President Donald Trump wants to reopen the U.S. on May 1, which health experts have warned may be unrealistic.

Bynum said he will only act after infection and hospitalizations rates start declining, and restrictions will be loosened slowly.

"And we’ll monitor contagion rates and hospital loads as we do that ramp down to make sure that we’re not going too far, too quickly and doing something that endangers lives in Tulsa," Bynum said.

Bynum said there will have to be a community discussion on what measures are needed for people to feel comfortable going about their daily lives again.

"We want it to be a series of practices that give confidence to everyday people — and whether that’s wearing masks or I’ve heard some talk about occupancy limitations on restaurants in other cities — whatever that might be, I think we’re open to looking at those different practices and identifying what’s best here in Tulsa," Bynum said.

Bynum said this is a critical week for Tulsa when it comes to staying home to limit the peak load on hospitals expected early next month.

Matt Trotter joined KWGS as a reporter in 2013. Before coming to Public Radio Tulsa, he was the investigative producer at KJRH. His freelance work has appeared in the Los Angeles Times and on MSNBC and CNN.
Related Content