Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt hasn’t been willing to order masks statewide in his conservative stronghold no matter who’s come calling.

He hasn’t been willing to take further steps requiring face coverings as a public health measure even as local mayors have hoped to see more action from the governor. When the head of a House subcommittee charged with monitoring COVID response scolded him for his approach, he didn’t budge. Even after some Republican governors relented and ordered facial coverings as the coronavirus ravaged their states, Stitt hasn’t moved.

Not even reports from the White House Coronavirus Task Force that have recommended in recent weeks that the state implement a mask requirement has changed his mind.

“I’m not going to mandate something statewide,” Stitt said during a press conference Tuesday, saying the decision should be left to the local level. “Every community is different.”

That lack of follow-through from the governor has disappointed some elected officials in the state as they try to contain the coronavirus through a patchwork of local mask requirements. As of Monday, 17 cities and towns had mask ordinances according to the Oklahoma State Medical Association.

“It really is much less …continued .
[Source: CNBC News]