Some experts are predicting as many as 20 states are ready to make the first day of May their Coronavirus V-Day (Victory Day) – the day they can ease restrictions that have resulted in the nation’s economy being shocked to a standstill by the pandemic that has left thousands dead all across the nation.
Oklahoma could very well be one of those states. On last Sunday’s morning talk shows, Robert Redfield, the director of the federal Center For Disease Control (CDC), said he believes that 19-20 of the states less impacted by the virus may be able to resume normal business and daily life by the May 1 deadline suggested by President Donald Trump and others. He did not name the states.
Over the last week to 10 days a variety of national, state and local political and business leaders have engaged in a push toward reopening the country, even though numerous medical and infectious disease experts continue to urge extreme caution in any such decisions.
Many medical experts prefer keeping numerous safety mandates in place for at least another week or two to avoid setting off a new explosion of the deadly virus nationally.
In the last week, protestors have taken to the streets and other public places demanding a return to everyday American life where they can do what they want, when they want, without facing repercussions such as fines and arrests for their actions.
Pointing to staggering unemployment claims that are reaching the millions of dollars in many states, and the permanent closure of numerous businesses, people backing a return to normal are arguing the country could collapse into another economic depression that would rival the Great Depression of the 1930s.
Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt is one of the leaders hoping Oklahoma can open its doors for business in May, but he has remained cautious about allowing such actions or predicting it. His orders regarding dealing with the virus are set to expire on May 6.
In a press conference last week, Stitt said he is working on a virus exit plan for the state with a variety of experts and he will announce that effort soon. Meanwhile, hospitals, doctors and nurses continue to battle the easily spread virus, putting their lives at risk every day.
Oklahoma State Health Department statistics show Oklahoma has had 2,680 COVID-19 cases, and 143 deaths. In Comanche County 71 cases have been reported to the OSDH – 62 of those in Lawton. The OSDH numbers show zero deaths in Comanche County, and that 44 people have recovered from the virus.
Jackson County has reported six cases. Cotton County 5. Kiowa County 3, Tillman County 2, Harmon County 0, Grady County 23, and Caddo County 52.
According to OSDH statistics, Comanche County hospitals have 47 ventilators on hand, 50,231 surgical masks, 7,302 N95 masks, 179,696 gowns, 960 pairs of gloves, 5,077 Face-Eye Protectors and 26 Anesthesia Masks.