Sophomore Cody Bradley puts on his mask before entering the building on the first day of in-person instruction at Jenks High School earlier this year. The Jenks City Council will consider a citywide mask mandate on Tuesday.
Jenks could soon become the second municipality in Tulsa County to implement a mask mandate.
City councilors are scheduled to vote on a proposed mask ordinance Tuesday. The special meeting is scheduled for 6 p.m. and will be broadcast on the city’s YouTube channel.
Jenks Mayor Robert Lee said city officials have been contemplating a mask mandate for months and that the time has come to take action.
“As the situation has progressed and gotten worse here locally, we feel like this is the right time,” Lee said.
As of Friday, Jenks — a city of approximately 25,000 people — had 94 active COVID-19 cases and nine residents had died from the virus, Lee said.
“I think the bottom line is, we are going to do whatever we can to keep people safe,” he said.
The proposed ordinance is almost identical to the mask mandate approved by Tulsa city councilors in July. Enforcement would be handled in the same way it is in Tulsa.
“We are wrapping that up in trespassing laws just like Tulsa is,” Lee said. “Basically, the idea is if you walk into someone’s store without a mask on and you’re asked to do it and you won’t, at that point you’re trespassing.”
The mandate would apply to anyone 10 years of age or older.
Lee said police would enforce the mask mandate just as they did the shelter-in-place ordinance earlier in the year.
“The police weren’t out to bust anybody or to be heavy-handed about their approach to this,” he said. “We don’t see it being any different here. We have a friendly community Police Department that will enforce this in a friendly way.”
Lee is aware that there are people who oppose mask mandates but said Jenks residents owe it to first-responders, teachers and others on the front lines to do everything they can to ensure their safety.
“The vast majority of the medical community is telling us that this is the best tool we have to help protect all these folks on the front lines,” he said. “I don’t think it is too much to ask for people to take this really small step to protect these folks.”
He added: “I don’t want to be in a position where a police officer’s family is coming to me and saying, ‘Why didn’t you do more to protect my family member?’ Or a teacher’s family or a business owner’s family. We want to do everything we can just to keep people safe around our city.”
Jenks Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Stacey Butterfield expressed her support for the mask mandate in a letter to city councilors.
“We want our schools to remain open, and we want our businesses to continue to succeed during this difficult time,” she wrote. “We are learning if citizens are wearing masks our entire community is safer. It is a simple step to take in slowing the spread of COVID-19.”
Tuesday’s meeting will be in City Council chambers of City Hall, 211 N. Elm St. The public can attend the meeting in person or watch on YouTube. Comments for councilors should be submitted to the City Clerk’s Office.
Video: Tulsa Mayor G.T. Bynum encourages neighboring communities to talk to health care officials about COVID-19.
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
Kevin Canfield
Staff Writer
I cover local government in Tulsa from the mayor to city council. Phone: 918-581-8313
