OKLAHOMA CITY — A former top aide to Gov. Kevin Stitt received two contracts with state entities that he approved for millions of dollars in COVID-19 relief funds.
Donelle Harder, 34, served as Stitt’s campaign manager and senior adviser before leaving her $140,600-a-year state job in February.
In March, she was hired under a contract with the Oklahoma State Department of Health, where she was paid $27,500 for communications support for the agency during the pandemic. That contract ended June 30.
On June 1, she signed a contract with the Office of Management and Enterprise Services for up to $130,000 a year for 28 hours a week for work and being on call. It was paid for with dollars from the Coronavirus Relief Fund authorized under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act, called CARES.
Her duties included “providing strategic consultation for stakeholders on CARES Act public policy and external facing factors on the management and distribution of funds.”
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Harder recently ended that contract, saying her new company, Pliris Strategies, was pursuing private contracts.
Harder served on the CARES Forward Finance team that oversees the deployment of $1.2 billion in federal coronavirus relief funds.
State Chief Operating Officer John Budd said Pliris worked on a website and other communications and had no involvement in recommending or processing projects prior to approval.
In addition to those dollars, Stitt has doled out millions through another federal COVID-19 relief fund, called the Governor’s Emergency Education Relief program, or GEER.
The nearly $40 million in federal GEER funds are separate from the Coronavirus Relief Fund, but were authorized under the CARES Act.
On June 9, Tri County Tech in Bartlesville signed a contract with Harder and Pliris Strategies for $2,500 a month from July 1, 2020, through June 30, 2021.
The school’s general fund is being used to pay for the contract, said Lindel Fields, Tri County Tech superintendent and CEO.
The school in the past has had public relations contracts, he said.
On July 10, Stitt announced a $1 million grant from GEER funds to Tri County Tech to launch Skills to Rebuild to provide free training for those who complete an accelerated program.
On July 17, Stitt announced $12 million in GEER funds would go toward Learn Anywhere OK for virtual education options to public school districts.
The Oklahoma Statewide Virtual Charter School Board would administer the program, said a spokeswoman for the board.
The agency did not receive GEER funds for administration and was not using it for public relations work, said a board spokeswoman.
On July 27, Harder signed a contract with the Oklahoma Statewide Virtual Charter School Board for $7,500 a month from Aug. 1 through May 31, 2021.
Former Education Secretary Michael Rogers presented the GEER funding ideas to Stitt for approval, said Charlie Hannema, a Stitt spokesman.
In the past, the board has contracted for public relations services.
On Aug. 31, Harder told state officials that her company was ending its contract with OMES and the Oklahoma State Department of Health effective Sept. 11.
“Pliris Strategies will soon be taking on an expanded role for a private sector client, which led to the need to make this transition,” Harder said in an email to state leaders, which she provided to the Tulsa World.
Harder also serves on the Governor’s Solution Task Force to respond to the pandemic.
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The governor said that that the funding from Congress helped reimburse state agencies, small businesses, unemployment relief and more
COVID-19 basics everyone needs to know as the pandemic continues
COVID-19 basics everyone needs to know as the pandemic continues
How it spreads, who's at risk
Studies have shown many infected people show no symptoms or have symptoms so mild they may go undetected; those people can still transmit COVID-19 to About 20% of patients diagnosed with COVID-19 require hospitalization.
The disease can be fatal, especially for vulnerable populations: those older than 65, living in a nursing home or long-term care facility, and anyone with underlying health conditions such as diabetes, heart disease, lung disease or obesity.
Science of virus spread
COVID-19 is spread mainly from person to person via respiratory droplets produced by an infected person. Spread is most likely when people are in close contact, within about 6 feet. A person might also be infected with COVID-19 after touching a surface or object that has the virus on it and then touching their face. According to the CDC, evidence suggests the novel coronavirus may remain viable for hours to days on surfaces, though that form of transmission is said to be minor.
Transmission between people more than 6 feet from one another may occur in poorly ventilated and enclosed spaces, the CDC says, especially where activities cause heavier breathing, such as singing or exercising.
The infectious period for patients can begin up to 48 hours before symptom onset.
List of symptoms
The CDC recently expanded its list of possible symptoms of COVID-19. The symptoms can appear from two days to two weeks after exposure.
- Fever or chills
- Cough
- Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
- Fatigue
- Muscle or body aches
- Headache
- New loss of taste or smell
- Sore throat
- Congestion or runny nose
- Nausea or vomiting
- Diarrhea
This list does not include all possible symptoms and will continue to be updated by the CDC. One symptom not included is "purple toes," which someone may experience with no other symptoms, sometimes several weeks after the acute phase of an infection is over. The coloration and pain is caused by a lack of blood flow to the toes caused by excessive blood clotting, a late-stage concern with COVID-19 infections.
Kinds of testing
Those getting tested may experience different kinds of swabs. The viral test, known as PCR, involves a deep nasal swab that can be painful.
Other tests that require less-invasive swabs may produce results faster, but with less accuracy. These should not be used diagnostically.
It is not yet known whether COVID-19 antibodies can protect someone being infected again or how long protection might last.
The 'serious seven'
The "serious seven" refer to close contact environments where residents should take extra precautions if they choose to attend. The seven are gyms, weddings, house gatherings, bars, funerals, faith-based activities and other small events, according to Tulsa Health Department Director Bruce Dart.
Treatments being investigated
The FDA has allowed for antiviral drug remdesivir, previously tested on humans with Ebola, to treat more severe cases of COVID-19 in adults and children. Safety and effectiveness aside, preliminary studies have shown it can shorten recovery time for some patients.
After previously approving an emergency use authorization, the FDA as of July 1 cautions against use of hydroxychloroquine or chloroquine for COVID-19 outside of the hospital setting or a clinical trial. A review of safety issues includes reports of serious heart rhythm problems and other safety issues, including blood and lymph system disorders, kidney injuries, and liver problems and failure.
Convalescent serum therapy
Some patients are receiving convalescent serum, meaning the antibodies made by people who have recovered after a COVID-19 infection. Antibody-rich blood plasma is being given to severely or critically ill COVID-19 patients, including Ascension St. John, Saint Francis Health System, OSU Center for Health Sciences and Hillcrest HealthCare System in Tulsa.
From June to July, requests for convalescent plasma from the Oklahoma Blood Institute multiplied seven-fold.
Recovery, as defined by CDC
To be considered recovered (without a test), these three things must happen, the CDC advises:
- No fever for at least 72 hours (three full days of normal temperature without the use of medicine)
- Other symptoms improved (no more cough, etc.)
- At least 10 days since symptoms first appeared
