By: Caleb Califano
OKLAHOMA CITY -
The Oklahoma City-County Health Department has chosen a developer for a multi-million dollar expansion to its campus. The expansion includes a new site for drive-thru testing and vaccinations.
The department said its $4.5 million expansion will happen in two phases with a 7,000-square foot drive-thru facility. The drive-thru facility is expected to be completed in July.
This will be primarily used for vaccinations and COVID-19 testing.
OCCHD Director Dr. Patrick McGough said the drive-thru will be a gamechanger once construction is finished. We will still be trying to get vaccines out to people, so it will have exponential impact as well, Dr. McGough said.
Stitt: Students need to be in school now By: Janice Francis-Smith The Journal Record January 12, 2021
Gov. Kevin Stitt said quarantining students and teachers in cases of exposure in the classroom is the biggest impediment to resuming in-person learning and has “created substantial staffing shortages.” (AP file photo)
OKLAHOMA CITY – More and more Oklahomans can be vaccinated in upcoming weeks as more vaccine becomes available, but children need to be back in school right now, Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt and other state officials said during a press conference at the state Capitol on Tuesday.
Stitt said the new quarantine protocol announced for schools Tuesday will encourage more widespread, consistent use of masks in schools without his having to issue a mask mandate.
Chief COVID-19 Officer Dr. Dale Bratzler said OU Health is vaccinating less than half its estimated patient capacity due to limited vaccine doses provided by the federal government.
By: News 9
OKLAHOMA CITY -
Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt and state health leaders held a press conference Tuesday to announce changes to in-school quarantine guidelines.
In an effort to keep teachers in students in schools, Stitt and the state department of health said schools following proper COVID-19 safety protocols will be able to skip the mandatory two-week quarantine period for possible virus exposures.
“We need to put our students first, and we need to get them back in class,” said Gov. Stitt. “Refusing to offer in-person school is jeopardizing our kids education; it’s jeopardizing teachers careers; and it’s jeopardizing the future of the State of Oklahoma. Today, we’re announcing a new policy that will help us keep schools open safely. It will also help encourage and reward mask wearing in schools across the state. Moving forward, schools that enforce the use of masks will not have to quarantine students that were potentially exposed to COVID-19 unless t