OKLAHOMA CITY — Citing concerns about COVID-19, the Oklahoma Senate has canceled its ceremonial swearing-in but will proceed with an official ceremony on Monday.
The ceremonial swearing-in had been set for 2:30 p.m. Monday at the Oklahoma History Center.
“Out of an abundance of caution and due to increasing community spread of COVID-19 across Oklahoma, the Senate is modifying its plans for swearing-in,” said Senate Majority Floor Leader Kim David, R-Porter, in a Thursday communication to senators.
The Oath of Office ceremony will take place in the Senate chamber beginning at 1:30 p.m. Monday, she wrote.
Senators will be escorted into the chamber in small groups. Each senator will only be allowed up to 10 guests to join them while taking the oath, she wrote.
“If you are ill or have been exposed to a positive COVID-19 case, please do not attend,” she wrote.
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The Senate will accommodate those who don’t attend at a later date to administer the oath of office, she wrote.
“We strongly encourage you to wear a mask during the Oath of Office ceremony and at any other time you are in a public setting,” she wrote.
The Oklahoma House is working with the Oklahoma State Department of Health on contact tracing after two asymptomatic members recently tested positive for COVID-19.
During the House’s Wednesday ceremonial swearing-in at the Capitol, many members and guests were not wearing masks or adhering to social distancing guidelines.
The House held its formal swearing in ceremony with smaller groups in the chamber, per requirements, following the ceremonial swearing in.
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House Swearing In
Spectators — some with masks, some without — crowd onto a balcony to watch a ceremonial swearing-in for the Oklahoma House of Representatives at the Capitol in Oklahoma City on Wednesday, Nov. 11, 2020.
House Swearing In
District 4 Rep.-elect Bob Ed Culver holds a mask in his hand as he shakes hands with another representative before a ceremonial swearing-in for the Oklahoma House of Representatives at the state Capitol in Oklahoma City on Wednesday.
House Swearing In
Rep. Denise Crosswhite Hader, R-Piedmont, clutches a German language Bible during a ceremonial swearing-in for the Oklahoma House of Representatives at the state Capitol in Oklahoma City on Wednesday.
House Swearing In
Spectators forgo social distancing as they crowd onto a balcony to watch newly elected and reelected Oklahoma state representatives be sworn in at the state Capitol in Oklahoma City on Nov. 11.
House Swearing In
Rep. Mark Lawson, R-Sapulpa, holds his daughter, Ivy Ruth Lawson, as his 12-year-old son, Asher Hulion, plays with her before a ceremonial swearing-in for the Oklahoma House of Representatives at the state Capitol in Oklahoma City on Wednesday.
House Swearing In
Rep. John Waldron, D-Tulsa, wears a mask as he takes part in a a ceremonial swearing-in for the Oklahoma House of Representatives at the state Capitol in Oklahoma City on Wednesday, Nov. 11, 2020
House Swearing In
Rep. Ty Burns, R-Pawnee, goes maskless during a ceremonial swearing for the Oklahoma House of Representatives at the Oklahoma Capitol in Oklahoma City on Wednesday.
House Swearing In
Rep. Denise Crosswhite Hader, R-Piedmont, prays during a ceremonial swearing-in for the Oklahoma House of Representatives at the state Capitol in Oklahoma City on Wednesday, Nov. 11, 2020.
House Swearing In
Spectators — some with masks, some without — crowd onto a balcony to watch a ceremonial swearing-in for the Oklahoma House of Representatives at the Capitol in Oklahoma City on Wednesday, Nov. 11, 2020.
House Swearing In
Rep. John Talley, R-Stillwater, and Rep. Mauree Turner, D-Oklahoma City, wear masks and fist bump in greeting at the ceremonial swearing-in for the Oklahoma House of Representatives at the state Capitol on Wednesday, Nov. 11, 2020.
House Swearing In
Rep. Judd Strom, R-Copan, wears a mask as he prays during a ceremonial swearing-in ceremony for the Oklahoma House of Representatives at the Capitol in Oklahoma City on Wednesday.
House Swearing In
Rep. Bob Ed Culver, R-Tahlequah, raises his right hand during a ceremonial swearing-in ceremony for the Oklahoma House of Representatives at the state Capitol in Oklahoma City on Wednesday.
House Swearing In
Rep. Bob Ed Culver, R-Tahlequah, waits for a ceremonial swearing-in to begin for the Oklahoma House of Representatives at the state Capitol in Oklahoma City on Wednesday.
House Swearing In
Rep. Bob Ed Culver, R-Tahlequah, raises his right hand during a ceremonial swearing-in for the Oklahoma House of Representatives at the state Capitol in Oklahoma City on Wednesday, Nov. 11, 2020.
House Swearing In
Rep. Mark Lawson, R-Sapulpa, holds his daughter, Ivy Ruth Lawson, before a ceremonial swearing-in for the Oklahoma House of Representatives at the state Capitol on Wednesday. The Oath of Office ceremony for senators will take place in the Senate chamber on Monday.
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