Tulsa County officials gave an update Friday afternoon on their preparations to deal with COVID-19.
New coronavirus testing protocols are coming from the Oklahoma State Department of Health. Tulsa Health Department Executive Director Doctor Bruce Dart said they will match guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control on who should be tested for COVID-19.
"And that expansion will include hospitalized patients who have signs and symptoms compatible with COVID-19, symptomatic individuals such as older adults and those with chronic health conditions, anyone who within 14 days of symptom onset had close contact with a suspect or lab-confirmed COVID-19 patient," Dart said.
The guidelines also say people showing symptoms who traveled to areas with high rates of the illness within the past 14 days should be tested.
The City of Tulsa is still not canceling any events because of concerns about COVID-19. Mayor G.T. Bynuym said he is following the advice of health officials, and that could change.
"Should there be a single instance of proven community spread in this community, I will work with the Tulsa Health Department and my colleagues at Tulsa County to address that very aggressively," Bynum said.
Bynum said city officials have been reviewing their continuity plans this week and are happy with where they are, but it’s possible COVID-19 could impact the city budget through decreased tourism and sales tax revenue.
"Out of an abundance of caution and because of that, yesterday, I implemented both a hiring and employee travel freeze at the City of Tulsa," Bynum said.
That hiring freeze does not apply to the police or fire departments.
People with cold and flu-like symptoms are being told to stay home and call a health care provider, and some healthy people are even doing their jobs from home. Tulsa County Sheriff Vic Regalado said first responders can’t work remotely.
"And I would insist that if you need police services, to please communicate any issues, whether you are in quarantine, been affected or you believe you’re symptomatic of the COVID-19 or any other virus. Let’s not forget about the flu," Regalado said.
Regalado and Tulsa Police Chief Wendell Franklin encouraged people to make police reports for nonemergencies online or by phone whenever possible.
Tulsa firefighters have been equipped with additional protective equipment. Fire Chief Ray Driskell said they will be working normal hours, but public access at fire stations will be limited.
