Tulsa Coronavirus Situation Update For March 4

Press release from City of Tulsa:

March 4, 2021

Situation Update

To date, the Tulsa Health Department (THD) has confirmed 71,227 positive COVID-19 cases in Tulsa County. 69,103 residents have recovered and 723 have died. Test results are updated daily at www.tulsa-health.org/COVID19. For the most up-to-date news, information and business resources in Tulsa, visit www.cityoftulsa.org/COVID19.

Tulsa Thanks You Project:

Today, the City of Tulsa released the video from its Tulsa Thanks You video project, a communications initiative to thank Tulsa’s health care workers who have worked throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.

Once the City started receiving video clips, the City’s Communications Department compiled the video clips into one video that will be utilized in various settings across Tulsa. The video is currently being circulated in Tulsa’s local health care industry and in hospital systems, on the City’s social media channels and can be found at www.cityoftulsa.org/TulsaThanksYou.

In January, the City asked for videos from any Tulsan, regardless of age or language spoken, to submit a short, 15-second video with a “Thank You” message. By Feb. 5, 2021, the City had received nearly 80 videos.

The City thanks Tulsans for making this possible.

One Year of COVID-19 Response in Tulsa

One year ago this week, the first case of COVID-19 was confirmed in Tulsa County. The City took immediate steps to try prevent the spread of the virus and various executive orders and ordinances were issued during the year-long response.

2020 Lookback:

• March 16 – Proclaimed a civil emergency in the City of Tulsa - Events and gatherings were limited to a maximum of 50 people.
• March 17 – Limited all restaurants to only curbside, drive-through, takeout and delivery. Total closures included places of public accommodation such as bars, theaters, performance venues, museums, fitness centers, spas, and recreational or entertainment facilities.
• March 24 - Limited gatherings to a maximum of 10 people.
• March 28 - Amended existing executive orders to include physical distancing, adding a shelter-in-place order, prohibiting gatherings of people from different households, closing non-essential businesses, and providing quarantine guidelines. 1st municipality in the metro to issue a safer at home order.
• April 1 - Extended the provisions through April 30, prohibiting gatherings of any size, and requiring Tulsans to stay Safer At Home unless obtaining essential food or medical services, exercising or performing essential work.
• April 29 - Opened restaurants and public accommodations by May 1 and bars by May 15 following physical distancing and safe capacity in coordination with Governor Stitt’s Open Up & Recover Safely plan.
• On April 20 - With the Tulsa Regional Chamber, the City created the Mayor’s Economic Recovery Advisory Committee to help restore Tulsa’s economy amid its COVID-19 response.
• In May – The City created and executed a furlough plan to protect jobs and continuity of government; furloughs were lifted as planned in December 2020.
• In July – The City of Tulsa became the first city in the Tulsa metro to institute a mask mandate, approved by the City Council – the mask mandate helped slow the spread in Tulsa and continues to remain in effect until at least April 30, 2021.
• In October –Mayor Bynum signed an amended ordinance, which lowered the age requirement for those required to wear masks, extended the sunset clause, and added additional exceptions to the mandate.
• In November – Mayor Bynum signed an ordinance requiring all events with 150 people or more to submit a COVID-19 safety plan to THD. Additionally, more provisions were passed, including the requirement of separation and distance provisions to be put in place at places of public accommodation, with the ability for THD and City code enforcement to enforce the new ordinance.

COVID-19 Relief Funding Updates

As we mark one year since the first case of COVID-19 was confirmed in Tulsa County, the City continues to support Tulsans’ physical and financial health during the pandemic through Coronavirus Relief Funds received from the State of Oklahoma, as well as federal funding allocated to several ongoing community projects. To date, $29.9 million has been distributed toward these community and economic development programs with $11.9 million remaining funds.

The City’s overflow shelter at the former Tulsa County Juvenile Detention Center has seen more than 19,377 visitations since its opening in September 2020 from individuals experiencing homelessness. Adhering to social distance guidelines, the shelter has provided day and night services, such as shelter, more than 30,230 meals, wellness exams, free pet clinics, legal aid and case management. Some of the partners in this citywide effort include Mental Health Association of Oklahoma, Community Service Council, Housing Partners of Tulsa, Iron Gate and City Lights Foundation.

Since the launch of the Financial Navigators program and Financial Empowerment Centers, which are designed to help Tulsans with free financial counseling, the City and its program partner, Goodwill Industries of Tulsa, have completed 240 sessions and given callers more than 1,595 referrals. The top three topics to date are utilities, rent and food pantry assistance. To learn more about either of these programs, visit: https://www.cityoftulsa.org/government/resilient-tulsa/financial-empowerment/

Funds have also been allocated toward Connect Tulsa, a program aimed at providing internet connectivity to households who lack high-speed internet during the pandemic. A total of 860 households have signed up for subsidized internet service or are awaiting approval through the City’s partnership with Cox Communications. For more information on the program and to see if you qualify, contact Tulsa Responds at (918) 900-0918 or visit https://www.tulsaresponds.org/.

The City’s Student Support Camps launched in September of 2020 to help students with distance learning under the supervision of a support aide. An average of 70 children per week have been enrolled at various parks and recreation centers.

Two new programs this year funded by COVID-19 relief funding include an Emergency Rental Assistance program, which is being developed to provide utility and rental assistance to individuals impacted by the pandemic, and the Request for Proposals grants for nonprofits to serve residents in our community who have been affected by COVID-19.

For more information on COVID-19 relief funding, visit: https://www.cityoftulsa.org/cares

Translation Assistance

The City’s website, www.cityoftulsa.org, has a tool to help with translation assistance for any page. Website visitors can click the drop down menu on any page that says, “Select Language,” and choose from one of more than 100 different languages.

This press release was produced by the City of Tulsa. The views expressed here are the author’s own.