Lt. Governor: Wearing masks “the patriotic thing to do” as state waits for vaccine supplies

Lt. Gov. Matt Pinnell said Tuesday wearing masks protects others, but soon Oklahomans can protect themselves through vaccination

TULSA — The Oklahoma State Department of Health now says more than 100,000 people have received an initial dose of a COVID-19 vaccine in the state, as health officials and elected leaders continue to push for public health measures in a bid to help hospitals overwhelmed by the pandemic.

During an online panel Tuesday hosted by the Healthier Oklahoma Coalition, Pinnell had a message for Oklahomans.

HEAR OUR KRMG IN-DEPTH REPORT ON COVID-19 AND VACCINES IN OKLAHOMA

“We are dealing with the largest health crisis of the past century, and for many generations,” Pinnell said. “This is not the flu, folks. Again, the largest health crisis of the past century, this is not the flu.”

He spoke about the positive developments regarding vaccines, calling them a “game-changer.”

But he urged Oklahomans not to relax their vigilance, and to continue to wash their hands, watch their distance, and wear masks.

“It’s the patriotic thing to do, to be wearing a mask right now,” Pinnell said.

“We need unification right now in this country, we all know it,” he continued. “And I think one of the things that we can do, to unify and to rally, again, is to do the patriotic thing. And again, that is to wear masks when we are out in public, and we are around other individuals.”

Russell Mills

Russell Mills

Anchor/Reporter/Show Host

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