Healthcare Workers Emphasize Benefits Of Vaccination Against COVID-19

Health officials said COVID-19 is worse than before with many Oklahomans, for example, arriving at a hospital Monday and passing away by Friday.

"This virus is undermining our way of life, robbing mothers and fathers of health and of a future with their children taking years to those who deserve to live their lives to the fullest," Integris Health chief medical officer Dr. Julie Watson said.

Their message remains the same: Get vaccinated.

Fully-vaccinated individuals are 600 times less likely to be hospitalized after a positive COVID test.

After being mostly silent on the pandemic for weeks, Governor Kevin Stitt told News 9 that he approves of mask requirements, similar to the one implemented at Oklahoma City Public Schools, because of the opt-out option available for parents.

"I am not about mandates,” Stitt said. “It is about personal responsibility. It's a personal choice. It's what good for you and your doctor.”

Though he doesn't support mandates, Stitt said he thinks businesses should choose whether to require vaccinations for staff, and the state should not play a role in that choice.

Some state Republicans are calling on an all-out ban on vaccine mandates.