TULSA AND OKLAHOMA CITY ORDER RESIDENTS TO “SHELTER IN PLACE”; TULSA PROVIDES ADDITIONAL GUIDANCE TO BUSINESSES

As many of you are already aware, the Mayors of Tulsa and Oklahoma City issued “shelter in place” orders for both metros over the weekend. As throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, Mayor G.T. Bynum (Tulsa) and Mayor David Holt (OKC) seem to be working in tandem.

In effect through (at least) April 16, the joint orders require residents to leave their homes only for “essential activities” or to operate “essential businesses” (the latter was defined by Governor Stitt last week). “Essential Activities” include:

• engaging in activities or performing tasks essential to their health and safety or that of their family, household members, or pets (such as obtaining medication, visiting a doctor, getting supplies to work from home, or performing property maintenance);
• obtaining necessary services or supplies for themselves, their family, household members, or pets, or delivering those services or supplies to others (for example, food and beverages, pet supplies, any household consumer products, and any other products necessary to maintain the safety, sanitation, and essential operation of residences);
• engaging in outdoor activity or exercise, provided residents engage in proper social distancing guidelines;
• performing work at any essential business (and, by necessity, traveling to/from); and
• caring for or transporting a family member or pet in another household.

Both cities have published Frequently Asked Questions to provide additional guidance to residents and aid them in compliance, which are available on their respective websites: here for Tulsa and here for OKC.

On March 28, the City of Tulsa also issued an Essential Worker and Industry Guide “meant to assist workers and businesses in determining whether their positions and operations are considered essential.” In it, you will find FAQs of a general nature. You will also find specific guidance on what workers are and are not essential within various industries including chemical, communications and IT, commercial facilities, defense, energy, financial, food and agriculture, government, healthcare and public health, manufacturing, and transportation. The Guide provides best practices for both essential and non-essential businesses and even some sample communications. Although developed by the City of Tulsa, much of the information contained in it would be applicable to any community in Oklahoma.

Consult Tulsa‘s and Oklahoma City‘s websites for more resources on the COVID-19 pandemic.

By Kristen L. Brightmire and Rebecca D. Bullard
kbrightmire@dsda.com and rbullard@dsda.com