Schools have second-highest number of cases in Tulsa County, Dr. Dart says
TULSA, Okla. (KTUL) — Dr. Bruce Dart with the Tulsa Health Department and Mayor G.T. Bynum held a press conference Thursday to address the coronavirus response for the city.
Dr. Dart said the group with the largest increase in cases is within the 5 to 17 age group with a growth of over 41%.
The group that continues to maintain the most number of cases is the 18 to 35 age group; however, schools are close behind with the second-highest number of cases.
"Within the high-risk settings, after long-term care and nursing homes, schools have the second-most number of associated cases," Dr. Dart said.
Bynum addressed the issue later by saying, "We're in this third phase when schools are starting to reopen, and I had a state official put it to me this way, 'This is like having a super spreader event every single day in almost every community around the state of Oklahoma.'"
Dr. Dart spoke briefly about what the data shows regarding the effectiveness of mask mandates, and both he and Bynum called for a broader mask mandate for the county.
"I have seen growing evidence of the effects of cities with mask mandates versus cities without, and the data shows that cases are slowing in cities with mask mandates," he said.
"Together, as a county, we can all do this. We need all of our municipalities here in Tulsa County in unison to agree to do this as well, to keep their communities safe, to make sure that we're all going in one direction when it comes to this response," he added.
Dr. Dart stressed that everyone remembers the three Ws: wear your mask, wash your hands, and watch your distance, and added one final note for the citizens of Tulsa.
"It's been an incredibly long year, we've all had to deal with the impact and the burden of COVID-19, and in this response, frankly, we've seen the best of human nature and the worst of human nature," Dr. Dart said. "It's important that instead of fighting each other, we need to fight this virus, and we need to stay together, come together, and continue to be united so that we can beat this virus down."
Mayor Bynum addressed the latest White House coronavirus reports and recommendations for Oklahoma, and he said the city is already following most of the guidelines. One of the few things not implemented in the city is the restriction on restaurants and bars.
"When we look at the actual contact tracing data here in Tulsa on what's causing the spread, restaurants and bars are not causing the spread right now," Bynum said.
He then added, "Any of the orders put in place... we've always done that based on what we've heard from our local experts here in Tulsa at the Tulsa Health Department and in our health systems here in Tulsa... When it comes down to it, when we decide what's best for Tulsa, we're talking with" local health officials.
Dr. Dart reiterated Bynum's statement by explaining the importance of following local data for Tulsa rather than state or federal data for the most accurate information and guidance.
Bynum shifted his focus to Hurricane Laura and how the city is assisting our neighboring states and introduced the Executive Director of the Tulsa Area Emergency Management agency, Joseph Kralicek, to talk about how the community will help.
Louisiana has requested the assistance of the state of Oklahoma, and surrounding states, following the devastation of Hurricane Laura. Kralicek said approximately 38 members of the Tulsa Urban Search and Rescue Team left to assist with hurricane operations in southwestern Louisiana and are now on the ground there.
He said Tulsa will continue to answer Lousiana's calls for help and assistance following the storm.