Oklahoma Governor Tests Positive for COVID-19

Oklahoma governor Kevin Stitt announced, on Wednesday, that he has tested positive for the coronavirus disease and is currently staying at home.

Stitt was reported to be the first U.S. governor to test positive forCOVID-19.

The 48-year old state governor said he started feeling "a little achy" on Tuesday and decided to get tested.

Stitt said his family was tested, and none of their results came back positive.

He supported aggressive plans of reopening and refused to implement a statewide mask-wearing mandate. Stitt rarely wears one himself.

Stitt said on Wednesday that he respects people's rights not to wear a mask.

He said many businesses require it, but he's "just hesitant to mandate something that I think is problematic to enforce."

Stitt said he's sure he did not get the virus at the rally.

Oklahoma Health Commissioner Dr. Lance Frye said where the governor got infected is still unknown.

Frye said, "It wasn't so far back as the rally." The rally took place nearly a month ago.

The governor's spokesperson Charlie Hannema said Stitt doesn't have any underlying medical conditions that would cause serious complications.

Hannema said contract tracing is already started, especially for those who may have been within 6 feet of the governor for more than 15 minutes.

Stitt has attended several meetings and press conferences without wearing a mask. He has recently tweeted a photo of himself and his children eating in a crowded restaurant.

In March, Stitt's cabinet member David Ostrowe also tested positive for COVID-19.

Stitt had a meeting with Tesla CEO Elon Musk this month. Musk is considering Tulsa as a possible site for the automaker's new U.S. assembly plant.

The governor also visited Kai Vietnamese Cuisine last week. The restaurant announced on its Facebook page that it would be closing temporarily to do testing on its staff.

Oklahoma COVID-19 Cases

The state has a total of 22, 813 confirmed cases, with 432 deaths.

Oklahoma's Health department has tweeted that the state is experiencing a rise in active COVID-19 cases.

"It's crucial for all of us to do our part by following guidelines and getting tested after being at a public event. OSDH provides free testing available to everyone!" it tweeted.

Stitt's refused to implement a statewide mask mandate. But several local municipalities applied the same order, which includes the college towns of Norman and Stillwater.

Tulsa's city council was set to consider a mask mandate on Wednesday.

President of the Oklahoma State Medical Association Dr. George Monks said the governor's diagnosis is an "unfortunate reminder that no one is safe from this rampant pandemic."

"On behalf of Oklahoma's physicians, we wish the governor a quick recovery and encourage all Oklahomans to take protective measures that can help slow the spread of coronavirus," Monks was quoted in a report.

Oklahoma State Reopening

Stitt announced in April its plans to reopen the state on April 24. This was the fourth state to announce then that it would reopen, including Florida, Georgia, and South Carolina.

Monks said the reopening plan was "hasty at best."

Stitt said there was a downward trend in hospitalizations, and cases are plateauing.

However, doctors said that was not enough.

Monks said that the White House advised states to reopen until they've seen a two-week downward trend in cases.

Monks said then that the star was far from that point.

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