August 20, COVID-19 Situation Update

8/20/2020

Situation Update

To date, the Tulsa Health Department (THD) has confirmed 11,873 positive COVID-19 cases in Tulsa County. 10,389 residents have recovered and 123 have died. Test results are updated daily at www.tulsa-health.org/COVID19.  For the most up-to-date news, information and business resources in Tulsa, visit www.cityoftulsa.org/COVID-19.

Tulsa Parks Student Support Camps

To help support City employees with children, Tulsa Parks is opening up several of its community centers to offer Student Support Camps for school-aged children. To launch this effort, Tulsa Parks is hiring school support aides to help staff these camps. If you or someone you know has teaching or childcare experience and needs work, call (918) 596-7275. Positions are full-time, temporary positions, that pay $12/hour.

Each camp is designed to ensure each child’s distance/virtual learning needs are met, while providing a safe environment for them to complete their coursework and learning in. Children will be monitored in socially distanced “pods” with one adult per average of 10 kids. To keep everyone safe, there will be daily COVID questionnaires, temperature checks, and masks will be mandatory for children and staff.

These camps will first be open to City employees, and depending on open slots and staffing, will be opened up to the public.

The plan is to continue the program through December while Tulsa Public Schools is fully virtual, at which time the program will be reevaluated based on need.

YMCA Go Club Program

There are additional school support resources available at Hicks Community Center through the Go Club Program in partnership with the YMCA.

Because of this partnership, Hicks Community Center will be able to hold up to 90 students in a similar environment to the Student Support Camps. For more information and to sign up, visit www.ymcatulsa.org.

Tulsa Parks Meals on Wheels

Tulsa Parks will be partnering with TPS and Meals on Wheels to stand up recreation centers to provide food to families during the week of Aug. 24 – 28. Tulsa families can come to Hicks, Lacy, Malone and Reed Parks to pick up these meals between 10:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m.

DCC Receives Funding for Outdoor Business Capacity Expansion Program

The City of Tulsa’s Downtown Coordinating Council (DCC) has received $675,000 in CARES Act funding from Tulsa County to support its Outdoor Business Capacity Expansion Program, which will provide $10,000 grants for businesses to expand their operations outdoors via a parklet, sidewalk café or street dining. 

“Strong regions require strong downtowns, and Downtown Tulsa is made so by our small businesses,” DCC Executive Director Brian Kurtz said. “Thanks to the federal CARES Act dollars allocated by Tulsa County, Downtown Tulsa businesses that have been crippled by the global COVID-19 pandemic will have the financial resources to meet the changing needs of safe operations through outdoor dining.” 

These outdoor options will use public right-of-way including sidewalks, on-street parking spaces and closed streets and will be required to meet site specifications and other safety measures. Additionally, permits are required, and local regulations and ordinances must be followed. Additional information will be available at www.downtowntulsaok.com next week.

Financial Navigator Updates

Since the launch of the City’s Financial Navigator Program, which is a program designed to triage residents needing financial advice due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the City has received 72 interest forms, completed 52 sessions, and given callers more than 400 referrals. These referrals come from trained Navigators who help residents realize all of the services available to them.

To date, most callers have discussed a wide range of topics, mostly centered on housing assistance, rental assistance, evictions and utility assistance. Some have been able to get important information on food pantry assistance as well. 

Navigators are available to any Tulsan at no cost. To learn more and to request a virtual appointment, visit: https://www.cityoftulsa.org/government/resilient-tulsa/financial-empowerment/.

Translation Assistance

The City’s website, www.cityoftulsa.org.  has a tool to help with translation assistance for any page. Website visitors can click the drop down menu on any page that says, “Select Language,” and choose from one of more than 100 different languages.