On April 24 th, 2020, the 3,121 st case of a novel coronavirus ("COVID-19"), was confirmed in the State of Oklahoma. As noted in a previous Executive Order, the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has identified the potential public health threat posed by COVID-19 as "high" both globally and in the United States. In addition, on March 14, 2020, the President of the United States declared a national health emergency in the United States as a result of the national spread of COVID-19. On March 15, 2020, I issued Executive Order 2020-07, which was last amended in Eighth Amended Executive Order 2020-07, declaring an emergency caused by the impending threat of COVID-19 to the people of this State and the public's peace, health, and safety. Further, on April 2, 2020, I declared a health emergency in the State of Oklahoma as defined in 63 O.S. § 6104 of the Oklahoma Statutes.
Therefore, I, J. Kevin Stitt, Governor of the State of Oklahoma, pursuant to the power vested in me by Section 2 of Article VI of the Oklahoma Constitution and 63 O.S. §§ 6101-6900 of the Oklahoma Statutes, specifically 63 O.S. § 6401, do hereby declare and order the following:
1. There is hereby declared an emergency caused by the impending threat of COVID-19 to the people of this State and the public's peace, health, and safety. The counties included in this declaration are: All 77 Oklahoma Counties
2. The State Emergency Operations Plan has been activated, and resources of all State departments and agencies available to meet this emergency are hereby committed to the reasonable extent necessary to prepare for and respond to COVID-19 and to protect the health and safety of the public. These efforts shall be coordinated by the Director of the Department of Emergency Management with comparable functions of the federal government and political subdivisions of the State.3. State agencies, in responding to this emergency, may make necessary emergency acquisitions to fulfill the purposes of this declaration. If using a P-Card to make such acquisitions, agencies may purchase the necessary acquisitions without regard to the current P-Card policy limitation of $5,000.00 purchase limit. Agencies may make the necessary emergency acquisitions without the requirement to follow bidding requirement/limitations on such emergency acquisitions, without the need to purchase from State Use Vendors, or to purchase from mandatory Statewide contracts. Such necessary emergency purchases shall be capped at $250,000.00 per transaction. All such purchases must be readily identifiable as such, as following the conclusions of this threat, all such necessary emergency acquisitions will be audited to determine if they were made for emergency purposes.4. Effective immediately, a moratorium is placed on all out-of-state travel for all employees and officers of agencies that is paid for, in whole or in part, by the State of Oklahoma. This moratorium shall apply to all travel expenses not already incurred as of the date of this Order. Any state employee or officer seeking an exception to this moratorium may submit a written request to the Governor, who shall have the sole discretion to approve or deny the request.5. State agencies, in responding to this emergency, may employ additional staff without regard to the classification requirements of such employment.6. The requirement in Amended Executive Order 2019-3 that the Chief Administrative Officer request and obtain approval from the Cabinet Secretary for an exemption to the personnel freeze for agencies under the Secretary of Health and Mental Health shall be waived.7. State agencies shall continue to follow guidance for interaction with the public provided by the Oklahoma Department of Health.8. Emergency responders employed by the State of Oklahoma who are correctional officers, law enforcement officers, and fire personnel shall not be excluded from the application of and benefits under the Emergency Paid Sick Leave Act of the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA) if: a. They are subject to a coronavirus quarantine or isolation order;b. They have been advised by a healthcare provider to self-quarantine due to coronavirus concerns; orc. They are experiencing symptoms of coronavirus and are seeking a medical diagnosis. In addition, I direct as follows:
1. All State agencies shall transmit a clear delegation of authority for state agency directors and designate an Emergency Management Liaison by 5:00 p.m. on March 16, 2020.2. All State agencies shall establish and, if necessary, implement a remote work policy that balances the safety and welfare of state employees with the critical services they provide.3. All State agencies shall encourage Oklahomans interacting with agency services to utilize online options whenever possible.4. All State agencies shall ensure continued compliance with Executive Order 2019-13, which limits non-essential out-of-state travel.5. All State agencies shall promulgate any emergency rules necessary to respond to the emergency and to comply with the directives contained herein.6. All state agencies with licensing and certificate responsibility over medical professionals, including the Board of Medical Licensure and Supervision, State Board of Osteopathic Examiners, and Board of Nursing shall, as necessary, promulgate emergency rules necessary to increase the number of medical professionals able to practice in the State. Such action may include, but is not limited to, the following: a. Reduction in supervisory requirements or limitations placed on non-physicians;b. Removal of barriers of entry for retired medical professionals from re-entering the workforce. Medical professionals who have lapsed or inactive licenses or certifications may have their single-state license or certification reinstated if they submit a reinstatement application and fee proscribed by their respective licensing boards and meet the qualifications for licensure or certification established by such Board, provided such license shall only be valid as long as this Order is in effect. The continuing qualifications as required for licensure or certification are hereby waived for those reinstated licensees as long as this Order remains in effect. It is strongly recommended any required fees be waived to the fullest extent possible; andc. Increase opportunities for students and recent graduates who are not yet fully licensed to practice. Any license or certificate issued pursuant to such Emergency Rules or this Order shall only be valid for as long as this Order is in effect. Further, any retired physician who returns to practice to provide assistance with the State's response to COVID-19 shall register with the Medical Reserve Corps.
7. A licensed physician shall be able to supervise any number of Physician Assistants, Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists, and Nurse Practitioners, and shall be able to supervise the Physician Assistants, Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists, and Nurse Practitioners using remote or telephonic means.8. Any medical professional who holds a license, certificate, or other permit issued by any state that is a party to the Emergency Management Compact evidencing the meeting of qualifications for the practice of certain medical services, as more particularly described below, shall be deemed licensed to practice in Oklahoma, subject to the following conditions: a. This shall only apply to Medical (MD) and Allied Licenses issued by the Board of Medical Licensure and Supervision, Licenses issued by State Board of Osteopathic Examiners, and Licenses and Certificates issued by the Board of Nursing, all three shall collectively be referred to as "Boards";b. Any medical professional intending to practice in Oklahoma pursuant to this Order, hereinafter referred to as "Applicant," shall first apply with and receive approval from appropriate Board;c. It is the responsibility of each Board to verify the license status of any applicant and, upon verification of good standing, shall issue a temporary license to practice within this State; andd. Any applicant licensed under this Order shall be subject to the oversight and jurisdiction of the licensing Board, which includes the ability of the Board to revoke said license and to initiate any administrative or civil proceeding related to any alleged misconduct of the applicant.9. All occupational licenses issued by any agency, board, or commission of the State of Oklahoma that expire during this emergency shall be extended. All occupational licenses extended during this Order will expire fourteen (14) days following the withdrawal or termination of this Order.10. Hospitals and Physician Clinics (collectively referred to as "hospitals") operating in the State shall cooperate with and respond to all requests for critical data from the Oklahoma State Department of Health ("OSDH"), as applicable to the services they provide. This shall include, but will not be limited to, the daily submission, no later than noon, of critical data in a manner and format prescribed by OSDH. Critical Data shall include, but not be limited to: a. The number of available (i) ICU beds, (ii) medical surgery beds, (iii) operating room beds, (iv) pediatric beds, (v) PICU beds, (vi) ventilators, (vii) anesthesia machines capable of patient ventilation, (viii) ventilator connecting circuits, (ix) patient interfaces, (x) negative flow rooms, (xi) and overall occupancy status;b. COVID-19 Test Availability, as measured by the number of COVID-19 testing kits available for use at the hospital; c. The number of (i) positive patients and persons under investigation in the hospital receiving treatment and (ii) positive patients and persons under investigation sent home for self-quarantine; andd. Personal Protective Equipment stock on hand.11. Every public or private entity that is utilizing, or has utilized, an FDA-approved test, including an emergency use authorization test, for human diagnostic purposes of COVID-19, shall submit to Oklahoma State Department of Health (OSDH), as well as to the local health department, daily reports of all test results, both positive and negative, the number of test supplies ordered, the number of test supplies available, the number of samples/specimens received and pending processing, and timeframe of test completion, for all days from March 15, 2020 forward. In addition, OSDH shall promptly share this information with the CDC.12. The OSDH shall provide daily an aggregated summary of the information requested in the preceding paragraphs to the Office of the Governor by 3:00 p.m.13. For the duration of the health emergency declared herein, any physical space offered and found to be safe for patient care by a Medicare- or Medicaid-certified and Oklahoma-licensed hospital (including psychiatric and critical access facilities) or skilled nursing facility shall be deemed an annex to a provider's license. State certificate of need requirements for adding beds are waived and Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services regulations, including waivers of certain regulations due to COVID-19 emergency, will pre-empt state statutes and rules relating to expanding capacity. For the duration of Executive Order 2020-12, or any extension thereof, for any Medicare-or Medicaid-certified and Oklahoma-licensed hospital (including psychiatric and critical access facilities) or skilled nursing facility, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services regulations, including waivers of certain regulations due to COVID-19 emergency, will pre-empt any conflicting state statutes and rules.
14. Telemedicine shall be used to maximum potential and shall be allowed for non-established patients for the purposes of the COVID-19 response. The preexisting patient relationship requirement for telemedicine, as required by 59 O.S. § 478.1, only applies to the prescribing of opiates and other controlled dangerous substances. 59 O.S. § 478.1 already allows the physician to see patients using telemedicine without the prior establishment of the physician patient relationship. Nothing in this Order shall waive 59 O.S. § 478.1 (C) for the purpose of prescribing opiates and other controlled dangerous substances reference therein.15. In order to allow stretcher vans and stretcher aid vans to assist with the emergency and operate anywhere in the state, the geographic and population-based limitations found in 63 O.S. § 1-2503 are hereby waived.16. The requirement that an individual be unemployed for a waiting period of one (1) week before benefits are paid, as required by 40 O.S. § 2-206, is hereby waived.17. Advanced practice registered nurses, registered nurses, licensed practical nurses and advanced unlicensed assistants who have lapsed or inactive licenses or certifications may have their single-state license or certification reinstated if they submit a reinstatement application and fee prescribed by the Board and meet the qualifications for licensure or certification established by the Board, provided such license shall only be valid as long as this Order is in effect. The continuing qualifications as required for licensure or certification by OAC 485:10-7-4(h); 485: 10-7-5(g); 485:10-9-4(h); 485:10-9-5(g); 485:10-10-8.1(d) are hereby waived as long as this Order remains in effect. It is strongly recommended any required fees be waived to the fullest extent possible. 18. The requirements for Oklahoma Tax Commission compliance for any license or certificate issued by the Board of Medical Licensure and Supervision, State Board of Osteopathic Examiners, and Board of Nursing for renewal or reinstatement of a lapsed or inactive license or certification who is identified as being Oklahoma Tax Commission non-compliant, as set forth in 68 OS § 238.1 (E), is hereby waived. 19. Oklahoma State regulations requiring Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendment (CLIA) certification for testing laboratories are hereby suspended for the universities named below and for the narrow purposes described herein. During this suspension, laboratories operated by or through the University of Oklahoma and Oklahoma State University are authorized to conduct testing and testing-related activities in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Further, the Oklahoma Commissioner of Health, acting through and on behalf of OSDH, is hereby authorized to contract with the Board of Regents for the Oklahoma Agricultural and Mechanical Colleges, the Board of Regents for the University of Oklahoma, and/or their constituent agencies to perform laboratory tests and test-related activities, without regard to CLIA certification requirements, as necessary to detect and report COVID-19 infection in compliance with applicable law. The Commissioner of Health is authorized to negotiate and execute any and all agreements and terms necessary to execute and implement this provision.20. No prescription for chloroquine or hydroxychloroquine may be dispensed unless all of the following apply: a. The prescription bears a written diagnosis from the prescriber consistent with the evidence for its use.b. The prescription is limited to no more than a fourteen (14) day supply, unless the patient was previously established on the medication prior to the effective date of this Order.c. No refills may be permitted unless a new prescription is furnished. If a scenario is not addressed in these medication limitations a pharmacy can use the waiver form provided by the Board of Pharmacy to request further consideration.
21. Unless otherwise addressed in the Open Up and Recover Safely (OURS) Plan on the Department of Commerce website, adults over the age of sixty-five (65) and people of any age who have serious underlying medical conditions, collectively referred to as "vulnerable individuals," shall stay in their home or place of residence except for working in a critical infrastructure sector, as more particularly described herein, and the conduct of essential errands. Essential errands shall mean those errands which are critical to everyday life and includes obtaining medication, groceries, gasoline, and visiting medical providers. The vulnerable population is encouraged to use delivery and/or curbside services whenever available. 22. Elective surgeries on and after April 24 th, 2020 are subject to the guidelines set forth in Amended Executive Memorandum 2020-02. Oklahomans and medical providers in Oklahoma shall postpone minor medical procedures and non-emergency dental procedures until April 30 th, 2020. For purposes of aiding in the determination of what is considered an elective surgery, medical providers are encouraged to consult the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Non-Emergent, Elective Medical Services, and Treatment Recommendations.23. For the period of time the Legislature concurs with my declaration of a health emergency as defined by 63 O.S. 6104, any health care provider or health care facility, as such terms are defined by 63 O.S. § 6104, or any alternate care location designated by the state, shall be treated as an individual or business, respectively, within the meaning of, and as covered by 76 O.S. § 5.9.24. Unless otherwise specified in the Open Up and Recover Safely (OURS) Plan on the Oklahoma Department of Commerce website, individuals should follow Centers for Disease Control (CDC) guidelines for social distancing by staying out of crowded places, not gathering in groups, and staying at least 6 feet from other people.25. Effective April 24, 2020, all businesses should, unless the local municipality has more stringent guidelines, adhere to the statewide Open Up and Recover Safely (OURS) Plan as provided on the Oklahoma Department of Commerce website.26. Except for end-of-life situations, visitors are prohibited from entering and visiting patients and residents at nursing homes, long-term care facilities, and retirement homes.27. All delivery personnel including package, floral, and food delivery shall, at the request of a hospital, clinic, long-term care facility, or childcare facility submit to a screening prior to delivering goods. Such screening shall include a temperature check and may include a short questionnaire about potential exposure. Additionally, package delivery drivers must take their own temperature daily and shall not deliver packages if it registers over 100.4 degrees Fahrenheit. Questionnaires shall include questions about recent travel to areas with significant community spread and personal contact with individuals who have tested positive for COVID-19.28. As supporting front-line healthcare workers is essential to our battle against COVID-19, front-line healthcare workers and their children, who have not tested positive for COVID-19 and are not otherwise exhibiting the symptoms thereof, shall not - simply because they are healthcare workers or children of healthcare workers - be discriminated against in housing or childcare services.29. Any statutory or rule-based time requirements for completing training and becoming certified as a peace officer for duly appointed or elected peace officers during the existence of this emergency are hereby waived during the period of the emergency and for thirty days after the emergency is declared to be over.30. Any requirements that county reserve deputies, municipal reserve officers, or other duly appointed reserve peace officers in this State be CLEET-certified prior to serving in an individual capacity or be accompanied by a CLEET-certified peace officer prior to becoming CLEET-certified are hereby waived during the period of the emergency and for thirty days after the emergency is declared to be over. Any such reserve deputy, municipal reserve officer, or other duly appointed reserve peace officer must be commissioned and authorized by his or her appointing agency's head or designee before being allowed to work as a peace officer under this provision.31. During the existence of this emergency, the Executive Director of CLEET or his designee is authorized to issue conditional private security licenses for unarmed security guards upon receipt of a properly completed application and licensing fee but without requiring fingerprint cards or electronic submission of fingerprints. In addition, the Executive Director of CLEET or his designee is authorized to renew conditional licenses as necessary. Any conditional licenses granted or renewed pursuant to this provision will expire and become void thirty days after the emergency is declared to be over unless such conditional licenses are again renewed by CLEET action.32. I hereby direct all persons who enter the State of Oklahoma from an area with substantial community spread, including but not limited to the New York Tri-State Area (Connecticut, New Jersey and New York), the state of Washington, California, and Louisiana, to quarantine for a period of 14 days from the time of entry into the State of Oklahoma or the duration of the person's presence in the State of Oklahoma, whichever is shorter. This Order shall not apply to persons employed by the airlines and those performing military, emergency or health response, or those workers coming into the State to participate in businesses within critical infrastructure sectors as defined by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. This Order shall also not apply to persons employed by utility companies and their contractors, as well as their Mutual Aid partners, and Mutual Aide First Responders, who are traveling into the State to assist with Emergency Management. This Order shall take effect immediately and apply retroactively to all persons who have entered Oklahoma after being in any area with substantial community spread within the previous 14 days. All persons quarantining under this Section shall be responsible for all costs associated with their quarantine, including transportation, lodging, food, medical care and any other expenses to sustain the person during the period of quarantine.33. I hereby direct all persons covered under paragraph 32 of this Order to inform any individual in Oklahoma with whom they have had direct physical contact in the past 21 days that they traveled from an area with substantial community spread.34. All local educational agencies shall to the greatest extent practicable, continue to pay their employees and contractors for the remainder of the contracted period of the 2019-20 fiscal year, and in furtherance of this intent the State hereby authorizes accredited public school districts to pay support staff for the remainder of their contracted period for the 2019-20 fiscal year and waives any statutory or rule-based time limitations on which support personnel (as defined in 70 O.S. § 1-116 ) may accumulate or receive leave for the 2019-20 fiscal year. Further, I hereby order the temporary suspension of the following as they apply to vehicles in the support efforts:
1. The cost and fees of oversize/overweight permits required of carriers whose sole purpose is transportation of materials, equipment, and supplies used for recovery/relief efforts which require an overweight permit under Title 47 of Oklahoma statutes.2. By execution of this Order, motor carriers and drivers providing direct assistance in support of relief efforts related to the COVID-19 outbreaks are granted emergency relief from Parts 390 through 399 of Title 49 Code of Federal Regulations, except as restricted herein. Direct assistance means transportation and other relief services provided by a motor carrier or its driver(s) incident to the immediate restoration of essential services, such as medical care, or essential supplies such as food, related to COVID-19 outbreaks during the emergency. a. This Emergency Declaration provides regulatory relief for commercial motor vehicle operations that are providing direct assistance in support of emergency relief efforts related to the COVID-19 outbreaks, including transportation to meet immediate needs for: (1) medical supplies and equipment related to the testing, diagnosis and treatment of COVID-19;(2) supplies and equipment necessary for community safety, sanitation, and prevention of community transmission of COVID-19 such as masks, gloves, hand sanitizer, soap and disinfectants;(3) food for emergency restocking of stores;(4) equipment, supplies and persons necessary to establish and manage temporary housing, quarantine, and isolation facilities related to COVID-19;(5) persons designated by Federal, State or local authorities for medical, isolation, or quarantine purposes;(6) persons necessary to provide other medical or emergency services, the supply of which may be affected by the COVID-19 response;(7) fuels and petroleum products (to include fuel oil, diesel oil, gasoline, kerosene, propane, and liquid petroleum); and(8) livestock, poultry, feed for livestock and poultry, and crops and other agricultural products ready to be harvested.b. Direct assistance does not include routine commercial deliveries, or transportation of mixed loads that include essential supplies, equipment and persons, along with supplies, equipment and persons that are not being transported in support of emergency relief efforts related to the COVID-19 outbreaks.c. Direct assistance terminates when a driver or commercial motor vehicle is used in interstate commerce to transport cargo or provide services that are not in support of emergency relief efforts related to the COVID-19 outbreaks or when the motor carrier dispatches a driver or commercial motor vehicle to another location to begin operations in commerce. 49 CFR 390.23(b). Upon termination of direct assistance to emergency relief efforts related to the COVID-19 outbreaks, the motor carrier and driver are subject to the requirements of 49 CFR Parts 390 through 399, except that a driver may return empty to the motor carrier's terminal or the driver's normal work reporting location without complying with Parts 390 through 399. However, if the driver informs the motor carrier that he or she needs immediate rest, the driver must be permitted at least 10 consecutive hours off duty before the driver is required to return to the motor carrier's terminal or the driver's normal reporting location. Once the driver has returned to the terminal or other location, the driver must be relieved of all duty and responsibilities and must receive a minimum of 10 hours off duty if transporting property, and 8 hours if transporting passengers.3. The requirements for licensing/operating authority as required by the Oklahoma Corporation Commission.4. The requirements for licensing/registration authority as required by the Oklahoma Tax Commission. Nothing contained in this Order shall be construed as an exemption from the Controlled Substance and Alcohol Use and testing requirements. (49 C.F.R. part 382), the Commercial Driver License requirements (49 C.F.R. part 383), the Financial Responsibilities requirements (49 C.F.R. part 387), or any other portion of the regulations not specifically identified herein. Motor carriers that have an Out-of-Service Order in effect cannot take advantage of the relief from regulation that this declaration provided.
This Order shall supersede any conflicting provisions found in the Eighth Amended Executive Order 2020-07.
This Order shall be effective until the end of thirty (30) days after the filing of this Order.
Copies of this Executive Order shall be distributed to the Director of Emergency Management, the Oklahoma State Health Commissioner, the Commissioner of the Department of Public Safety, the Director of the Office of Management and Enterprise Services, the Oklahoma Tax Commission, the Oklahoma Corporation Commission who shall cause the provisions of this Order to be implemented by all appropriate agencies of State government.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have set my hand and caused the Great Seal of the State of Oklahoma to be affixed at Oklahoma City, this 24 th day of April 2020.
BY THE GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA
J. Kevin Stitt
ATTEST:
Michael Rogers
Secretary of State
Okla. Admin. Code § 1:2020-13D
Adopted by Oklahoma Register, Volume 37, Issue 17, May 15, 2020, eff. 4/24/2020