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The White House coronavirus task force currently ranks Oklahoma first out of all 50 states for COVID-19 test positivity.
But the @GovStitt administration has opted to stop receiving and publishing the task force's weekly reports. https://www.publicradiotulsa.org/post/stitt-administration-choosing-no-longer-receive-weekly-white-house-coronavirus-task-force#stream/0
But the @GovStitt administration has opted to stop receiving and publishing the task force's weekly reports. https://www.publicradiotulsa.org/post/stitt-administration-choosing-no-longer-receive-weekly-white-house-coronavirus-task-force#stream/0
These White House reports have been, like, a whole thing.
A timeline thread:
Back in July, @publicintegrity / @l_e_whyte leaked a WH report showing Oklahoma was a red zone state. https://www.publicradiotulsa.org/post/white-house-document-shows-oklahoma-among-18-states-coronavirus-red-zone#stream/0
A timeline thread:
Back in July, @publicintegrity / @l_e_whyte leaked a WH report showing Oklahoma was a red zone state. https://www.publicradiotulsa.org/post/white-house-document-shows-oklahoma-among-18-states-coronavirus-red-zone#stream/0
At the time, Tulsa officials including Mayor @gtbynum and @TulsaHealthDept Director Dr. Bruce Dart said they knew nothing about the report, which contained specific advice for Tulsa. https://www.publicradiotulsa.org/post/mayor-health-department-say-theyve-heard-nothing-governor-or-feds-new-wh-recommendations#stream/0
That led a US House subcommittee to ask the governor why he was declining to implement the federal recommendations. https://www.publicradiotulsa.org/post/us-house-covid-panel-wants-know-why-stitt-not-complying-white-house-recommendations#stream/0
. @GovStitt said the subcommittee was trying to make a "political statement." https://www.publicradiotulsa.org/post/stitt-house-panel-trying-make-political-statement-asking-why-he-ignored-virus-recommendations#stream/0
The governor's office said they weren't legally required to follow the White House's guidelines. https://www.publicradiotulsa.org/post/governor-s-office-confirms-they-are-not-adhering-federal-guidance-virus-response#stream/0
The governor replied to the House letter. He stressed local control and raised concerns over child abuse. https://www.publicradiotulsa.org/post/stitt-responds-house-coronavirus-subcommittee-stressing-local-control-and-abuse-concerns#stream/0
Then Dr. Deborah Birx, coordinator of the task force, visited Tulsa. Mayor @gtbynum requested that @TulsaHealthDept director Dr. Bruce Dart be allowed to attend. @GovStitt said no, citing capacity concerns. Press wasn't allowed in, nor to question Birx. https://www.publicradiotulsa.org/post/public-press-tulsa-health-director-shut-out-during-visit-white-house-coronavirus-doctor#stream/0
Turns out Tulsa wasn't the only municipality not informed by the governor's office that the White House had public health recommendations for their community. There was considerable pique from officials across Oklahoma. https://www.publicradiotulsa.org/post/local-officials-across-oklahoma-blindsided-shocked-white-house-report-not-shared-governor#stream/0
The White House task force reports have repeatedly recommended a statewide mask mandate, a measure Stitt has vowed not to consider. https://www.publicradiotulsa.org/post/trump-administration-continues-push-stitt-require-masks-statewide
In October, the White House told @GovStitt many of Oklahoma's COVID-19 deaths could have been prevented. The governor's office dismissed that as an "editorial opinion." https://www.publicradiotulsa.org/post/many-recent-covid-deaths-oklahoma-were-preventable-white-house-says#stream/0
Last month, they told @GovStitt the state's mitigation efforts were "inadequate." https://www.publicradiotulsa.org/post/pences-task-force-tells-stitt-covid-19-mitigation-efforts-inadequate-surge-linked-halloween
And earlier this month, in what was likely the last weekly COVID report for Oklahoma from the Trump administration we'll see, Mike Pence's team told the governor Oklahoma is doing worse than other "heartland" states. https://www.publicradiotulsa.org/post/vice-president-pences-team-says-covid-worse-oklahoma-other-heartland-states
And now we won't be getting them anymore -- at least not from the state. @publicintegrity / @l_e_whyte are continuing to publish various reports from various states, occasionally all 50 at once. None of this reporting would be possible without them. https://publicintegrity.org/health/coronavirus-and-inequality/darkest-red-coronavirus-surge-states-do-more/
Happy new year!
