The Oklahoma State Medical Association on Wednesday issued a letter in support of amending Tulsa's mask ordinance to require masks for children 10 years and up.
"As we continue to face this pandemic, social responsibilities are of utmost importance. Oklahoma physicians feel one of the most important duties of our elected officials is to protect our citizens. As such, we urge you to support an extended face mask ordinance requiring the wearing of masks in public places for those persons 10 years of age or older," Dr. George Monks, the group's president, wrote in the letter addressed to Tulsa Mayor G.T. Bynum and the Tulsa City Council.
Appearing at a virtual meeting of the council's budget committee, Monks said the cut-off at 10 years old is a good middle ground between Tulsa's current age minimum of 18 and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's recommendation that children over 2 wear masks.
Tulsa is an outlier among Oklahoma cities with mask mandates in not requiring them of children. Norman, Oklahoma City, Stillwater, and Edmond all require masks of children above various ages under their ordinances.
Dr. Bruce Dart, director of the Tulsa Health Department, has supported the change, as has Bynum. A vote has not yet been scheduled in the council.
