Gov. Stitt amends order on when medical procedures and elective surgeries may resume

TULSA, Okla. (KTUL) — Governor Kevin Stitt issued amendments to Executive Memorandum (EM) 2020-02 and Executive Order (EO) 2020-13, which clarifies when minor medical procedures and elective surgeries may resume and shields health care workers from civil lawsuits amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

Under amended EM 2020-02, medical providers and facilities that have enough PPE available can resume minor medical procedures and non-emergency dental procedures on April 30.

Amended EO 2020-13 further clarifies that elective surgeries may resume on April 24.

“We initially suspended elective surgeries to preserve hospital bed capacity and PPE to handle a potential surge in COVID-19 patients,” said Gov. Stitt. “Since our data indicates we are in a good position regarding hospital capacity and provided individual institutions can accommodate their internal demand for PPE, it is time to bring some of these procedures back to help our hospitals and the Oklahomans who need them.”

Additionally, the EO states that civil immunity is provided for healthcare providers and facilities as a matter of Oklahoma law.

“Our health care professionals and hospitals are working around the clock to treat and care for their fellow Oklahomans during this pandemic,” said Gov. Stitt. “This flexibility provides them with the protections necessary to continue to do their job effectively.”