The City of Lawton canceled all events and initiatives “slated to take place” at city sites and facilities, effective March 14 and continuing for 30 days, “as a preventative measure” because of “growing concern” about the coronavirus, Lawton Mayor Stan Booker announced last Friday.
The cancellation includes “City events, City co-sponsored events, and external community meetings or gatherings that take place on any City of Lawton property.”
Recreational facilities, except for feeding sites and feeding operations, will be closed to the public, Booker said. City youth sporting events and leagues will be discontinued during this period, and activities at Lawton’s public library will be canceled, too, he said.
City Hall and municipal offices will remain open to the public “for business purposes,” and all regularly scheduled meetings “will take place unless otherwise indicated...”
City officials “will continue to monitor and assess the situation and provide measured responses as needed,” Booker said.
“Due to mounting public concern, we wish to act proactively on behalf of the community,” the mayor wrote in his announcement. “Keep calm, practice good hygiene and know that all City officials are still available to serve you by phone or online communication.”
MEDICINE PARK MEETING MAY BE LIVE-STREAMED
The Medicine Park Board of Trustees meeting set for Tuesday evening was still on, as of 10:15 a.m. Monday, according to Town Clerk Kirsten Sellens.
Out of concern for public health and safety, “We encourage our citizens to stay home“ rather than attend the meeting at the Town Hall, she said. Instead, “We’re going to try to live-stream the meeting” via the internet. “Please bear with us.”
CORRECTIONS DEPT. CANCELS VISITATION, VOLUNTEER ACCESS
The Oklahoma Department of Corrections canceled all visitation and all volunteer access to facilities effective at 6 p.m. Friday. “This decision is necessary to keep staff, inmates, and volunteers safe from the spread of COVID-19 inside a facility,” said agency Public Information Manager Matt Elliott.
ODOC is “taking a number of proactive steps to prevent introduction and spread of COVID-19 inside facilities, closely adhering to guidelines set by the American Correctional Association, Oklahoma State Department of Health, and the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention,” Elliott wrote. The agency is utilizing its “Management of Pandemic Influenza” procedure “as the basis for developing a specific, comprehensive response to COVID-19.”
The department “understands the importance of inmates connecting with family members,” Elliott said. “The agency is working to expand options to allow such interaction.”
Each week the DOC director will reassess the need to keep visitors and volunteers from entering facilities, Elliott said.
REPS. COLE, LUCAS CLOSE D.C. OFFICES
Oklahoma’s U.S. Reps. Tom Cole and Frank Lucas both announced that their offices in Washington, D.C., will be closed temporarily, but their staffs will continue assisting the public via “telework.”
“Services and assistance for constituents will not be disrupted,” Cole, R-Moore, said Monday. His offices in Oklahoma will remain open, he said. Telephone calls to his D.C. office will be forwarded to his Norman office, 405-329-6500.
Lucas, R-Cheyenne, said his district office in Canadian County can be reached by telephone, “and we are standing by waiting to assist you in any way or answer any questions or concerns related to the coronavirus crisis.”
U.S. CAPITOL CLOSED TO GENERAL PUBLIC
Congress closed the U.S. Capitol complex to the general public on March 12 due to escalating concerns about the coronavirus. Entry was limited to lawmakers, staff, and credentialed reporters as well as visitors on official business when accompanied by an escort.
The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission asked D.C. staff to work remotely, becoming the first major federal employer to do so.
WHAT OTHERS ARE DOING
Seattle closed its public schools for two weeks; so did Maryland. Ohio closed its schools for three weeks.
Louisiana announced Friday it will delay its presidential primary until this summer, because of concerns about the coronavirus.
New Mexico’s health secretary issued an order forbidding mass gatherings of 100 or more people. However, the order does not include schools or regular businesses, including offices and grocery stores, along with several other exemptions. It instead targets events that bring together 100 or more people in places such as auditoriums, theaters, stadiums, arenas or conference centers.
San Francisco has banned large public gatherings, including major sporting events, in a bid to contain the coronavirus.
New York dispatched the National Guard to assist an outbreak in New Rochelle, just north of New York City; the region will be under containment for two weeks.
New York, Washington, California, Utah, Florida, Maryland, Massachusetts, North Carolina, Colorado, and Oregon declared states of emergency.
Kentucky urged churches to halt services.
Italy quarantined the entire country – placing 60 million people on lockdown. The government shut down all non-essential services and shut down all stores except supermarkets and pharmacies.
India temporarily suspended all travel visas (except diplomatic, United Nations and employment visas) on March 13 and closed its land border with Myanmar (Burma).