Governor Stitt, Mayor Holt Speak On State And OKC Reopening For Businesses

Oklahoma City Mayor David Holt and Governor Kevin Stitt are weighing in on plans to reopen the state as the first few businesses reopen this week.

Mayor Holt says residents should stay safe and follow strict sanitation protocols, even as OKC slowly reopens.

He says details will be released this week about restrictions businesses will have to follow when reopening. This includes the possibility of servers and person care workers wearing masks, and patrons social distancing in restaurants.

But even without the city in a surge of the virus, Holt says he's still cautious going into the next phase knowing that COVID-19 is still in the community.

Governor Stitt defended the decision to open Oklahoma businesses and overstep White House recommendations, in an interview on Fox News Sunday morning.He focused on hospitalizations and said he believes the state is relieving the pressure so that businesses can reopen.

"Three hundred hospitalized cases are across the state, with the capacity for 4600. We think its a reasonable time to reopen. You can always play Monday morning quarterback and say 'hey lets wait till we have 100 folks in the hospital in Oklahoma, or 50 or zero. But I just don't think that is practical," said the Governor.

OKC will see non-essential businesses reopen this Friday.

This includes the possibility servers wearing mask, and patrons social distancing in restaurants.