As the coronavirus spreads, it continues to take a toll on cities and towns all across the United States. The response to this ubiquitous contagion, however, appears much more variant: Some states are just now reopening, some have been reopened for more than a month, some are closing again, and others are doing nothing. These disparities in response put up an impossible front in an endless battle. How are we, as a nation, going to defeat this virus if we cannot even agree on how to fight it?
One such state that has preferred inaction to action is Oklahoma. Oklahoma, lying landlocked by agriculture, does not host the metropolitan regions that are particularly susceptible to infection. This may appear puzzling when viewed alongside the state’s rising case count. How is a seemingly pandemic-proof state faring so poorly? The short answer is that the necessary steps to limit viral spread were not taken in this red state. Oklahoma’s response to the pandemic was mired by partisan politics and misinformation that endangered the health of its residents; if the state is to now take a strong step forward in fighting the outbreak, it must heed the advice of health professionals and observe public safety guidelines.
Coronavirus’ Sprint through the Sooner State
In early March, as governments in the United States and abroad were declaring states of emergency, America’s heartland felt isolated from the danger. The coronavirus had a slow and unalarming start in Oklahoma — the state’s first reported case came on March 6, nearly two months after the first reported domestic case. With more farmland than cities, Oklahomans doubted the coronavirus could get a foothold in the state’s rural landscape. While this sentiment may seem naive in hindsight, it did not appear that way initially: It took until June 12 to see a daily increase of over 200 positive cases.
Despite infection rates that initially seemed low, nothing was stopping the virus from slowly prying its way into Oklahoma communities. From June 12 to July 13, the number of cases more than tripled, bringing the state’s case count to 23,441. Just two days after, Oklahoma hit a new daily increase record of 1,075 positive cases. Unfortunately, these numbers are not anomalous, they are to be expected: Oklahoma is one of the 39 states currently experiencing a rise in cases.
The rapid growth unfolding in Oklahoma poses a serious question: How did this happen? Given it had ample time to prepare, the state’s current condition can only be attributed to how it was handled by those in charge.
Exercising Partisanship Before Health
One of the major political failings that this global health crisis has revealed is the partisanship that has overtaken even pandemic policy. This realization, however grim, is key to understanding how a state such as Oklahoma, which had a two-month headstart, has been handing its COVID-19 response worse than states who were hit much harder much earlier.
Oklahoma’s lethargic response to the coronavirus was driven by Republican Gov. Kevin Stitt, who did not even acknowledge the coronavirus until March 12, when he issued an order merely stating that Oklahomans should be mindful of the ongoing pandemic. Stitt only took substantial measures two weeks later when executive order 2020-07 was amended to officially enforce social distancing guidelines. The amendment mandated that restaurants only provide drive-through or takeout, long-term care facilities prohibit visitors, nonessential businesses close, doctors postpone elective surgeries and minor procedures, residents limit gatherings to 10 people, and those over 65 years of age and the immunocompromised adhere to a statewide “Safer at Home” order. These restrictions were set to be in place through April 15, but the governor soon extended the order until April 30 after cases continued to increase statewide.
In the time since, the Oklahoma government has only served as a localized mouthpiece for the president. For example, Stitt and Trump worked against the guidance of health officials to host a June rally in Tulsa, Oklahoma, that boastfully anticipated hundreds of thousands of attendees. As Trump continues to downplay the threat of the coronavirus and redirect attention to economic fallout, Stitt redistributes the president’s rhetoric and applies his political priorities to the governance of the state. This is evidenced by the state’s swift transition from restricted operations to business as usual without ever implementing a statewide stay-at-home order. Beyond that, Stitt announced plans to begin reopening the state on April 16, just two weeks after he had renewed the duration of lockdown-esque restrictions. His “Open Up and Recover Safely” plan gave three dates at which various facilities could resume; the final date, June 1, allowed for the complete reopening of business, barring senior care facilities.
From March to the present day, politicians at all levels of government have failed to take the threat of contagion seriously, setting a dangerous example for their communities. Rep. Jim Inhofe seemed to downplay the severity of the coronavirus when he responded to a reporter who asked if he was taking any precautions against the virus. “No, wanna shake hands?” he said. Inhofe is not the only elected official showing little concern over the coronavirus — Governor Stitt took his share of backlash after he posted a photo from a restaurant in Oklahoma City with the caption, “It’s packed tonight!” Oklahoman officials have only gotten more irresponsible since then. When the U.S. Senate voted on the Coronavirus Response Bill in March, which would provide sick leave and free testing to many throughout the state, Oklahoma Sens. Inhofe and Lankford both voted against it. And reflecting the state of Oklahoma’s health, as of July 15, Stitt became the only known governor to contract the coronavirus. His infection is just one of the thousands that comes as a result of politically-infused negligence.
The government’s rushed reopening and lax demeanor have undeniably contributed to two major issues. First is the sharp uptick in cases and transmission rates. Second, and more lethal, is a population that does not respect the severity of the situation. Even now, as cases are on an aggressive rise, parties, gatherings, and festivities are all in full swing with no virus-related precautions. Someone coming into Oklahoma from another state may mistake the population for being immune to the virus because of the blatant disregard that has festered within our borders. As you walk into a Walmart, you see no one wearing a mask. As you browse social media, you see people who have tested positive for the virus still attending large-scale social events. Sadly, both the government’s response and the public’s consequent disregard have put Oklahoma into a regrettable, and preventable, situation.
How the Public Can Proceed
In light of infections spiking across multiple states, a handful of governors have started to reinstate lockdowns. Oklahomans, now void of restrictions but not safe from infection, may be wondering how to advance as a state. Reversing lockdown policy is certainly not popular among Republican representatives nor their constituents, but it appears that it is the only way to proceed. Contrary to what is necessary, Stitt has vowed against rolling back reopening policy and mandating mask usage. With no action being taken by our representatives, the burden then falls onto the people to act appropriately. Across all levels of society, Americans must show more deference to health officials and respect preventative measures whenever and wherever possible.
Many communities have taken their health and safety into their own hands. Jason Hill, chief medical officer for the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma, told the HPR that the tribe is working to serve its members during this unprecedented time, especially through Chief Gary Baton’s education initiatives. By compiling and explaining information regarding the coronavirus and also answering direct questions, the Choctaw Nation is taking extra steps to inform the public of the severity of the situation. Hill added that the Choctaw Nation is also taking steps to provide aid to underserved regions of the state, taking outdoor clinics to some of the most rural regions.
However, what one Native American tribe does to serve their community does not fix the missteps that have occurred in the rest of the state. Oklahomans are owed a more substantial response than being advised to follow CDC guidelines. The state needs to take the necessary actions to reinstate lockdowns and increase public health literacy; without this, the state will only continue to accumulate preventable deaths and infections. Only by taking these measures can we, as a nation, contain the virus and return our society back to a state of normalcy. Oklahoma’s politicians must put public health over party affiliations and do what is right before any more irreversible damage is done.
Image Credit: Photo by Rodrigo Gonzalez is used under the Unsplash License