Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt announced Wednesday that he is the first governor in the United States to test positive for the coronavirus and is isolating himself in his country.
Stitt, 48, said he mostly feels fine, although he started feeling “a little sore” on Tuesday and looked for evidence. He said his wife and children were also tested Tuesday and that none of them tested positive.
Stitt has backed one of the country’s most aggressive reopening plans, has resisted any state mask mandate, and rarely uses one.
“We respect the rights of people … not to wear a mask,” Stitt said during the virtually Wednesday press conference. “You just open a big can of worms.
“Many companies require it, and that’s fine. I just hesitate to order something that I think is problematic to enforce, ”he said.
Stitt attended the President Trump rally in Tulsa last month, which according to health experts likely contributed to an increase in coronavirus cases there.
Stitt said he is confident he did not contract the virus at the rally.
“How far it became infected is really unknown,” said Oklahoma Health Commissioner Dr. Lance Frye. “It was not as far behind as the rally,” which took place almost a month ago.
Frye said contact tracing has begun in the Stitt case, with a particular emphasis on determining those who may have been within 6 feet of the governor for more than 15 minutes.
In recent months, Stitt has attended numerous press meetings and conferences where he was in close contact with people without wearing a mask. And he was criticized early in the pandemic after he tweeted a photo of himself and his children eating at a crowded restaurant.
On Tuesday morning, he attended a meeting of the Land Office Commissioners in a conference room on the State Capitol attended by more than 20 people.
Stitt said he contacted Lt. Gov. Matt Pinnell and Agriculture Secretary Blayne Arthur, whom he said he spoke to during the meeting.
One of Stitt’s cabinet members, David Ostrowe, tested positive for the coronavirus in March.
Stitt’s announcement came as Oklahoma reported a second consecutive day of record numbers of new confirmed virus cases, at 1,075, bringing the state total to more than 22,000. The previous daily high was 993 cases confirmed on Tuesday. Health officials also confirmed four additional deaths from COVID-19 on Wednesday, bringing the statewide death toll to 432.
Coronavirus-related hospitalizations are also on the rise in Oklahoma, rising from 458 last week to 561 on Wednesday, although Frye said there is still a lot of hospital capacity.
While Stitt has resisted calls for a mask mandate across the state, several local municipalities have enacted one, including Norman and Stillwater. Tulsa City Council is expected to consider a mask mandate on Wednesday.
Dr. George Monks, president of the Oklahoma State Medical Association, said Stitt’s diagnosis is an “unfortunate reminder that no one is safe from this rampant pandemic.”
“On behalf of the Oklahoma doctors, we wish the Governor a speedy recovery and encourage all Oklahomans to take protective measures that can help curb the spread of the coronavirus.”
