The advocates, led by Oklahoma Disability Law Center, argue the state’s plan is riddled with discriminatory protocols and deprioritizes people with disabilities for life-saving COVID-19 treatment and care.
About one in three COVID-related deaths in Oklahoma have been connected to a long-term care facility, according to the state health department.
Oklahoma Secretary of Commerce and Workforce Development Sean Kouplen said there is currently a “healthy tug-of-war” in Gov. Kevin Stitt’s administration between businesspeople, who want the state to reopen immediately, and the health experts who say to wait.
Attorney Josh Lee, who filed the suit on Monday and was listed as a plaintiff, argued that the ordinance was a violation of residents’ constitutional rights, was a “24/7 mandatory lock down, subject to criminal penalties, and not merely a curfew,” and that the ordinance was so broad it required subjective interpretation of what activities were allowed by the officers charged with enforcing it.
Stitt has until April 20 to make up his mind whether the state question will appear on the ballot on June 30 or the Nov. 3 general election ballot.
The decision by a three-person panel on Monday evening allows federal Judge Charles Goodwin’s order issued on April 6 to stand, which partially and temporarily blocked the state’s ban on most abortions in the state during the pandemic.
The city of Vinita is facing a lawsuit filed Monday seeking an injunction and court ruling against the city’s recently passed emergency ordinance related to the coronavirus pandemic.
The state has enough hospital beds, intensive care beds and ventilators to treat the sickest COVID-19 patients, the governor said Friday.
