Tulsa City Council votes to extend mask mandate to children 10 and older

TULSA, Okla. — The Tulsa City Council voted unanimously Wednesday to lower the age requirement for masks in the city to children 10 years or older.

The city council also modified the ordinance to exclude children involved in ‘strenuous athletics.’

The decision comes after the Tulsa Health Department’s Dr. Bruce Dart made the recommendation to change the age requirement earlier this month.

City councilors also voted to extend Tulsa’s mask ordinance to stay in effect through January 2021.

Tulsa Mayor G.T. Bynum previously said he would approve of the changes.

“When Dr. Dart comes to us as a city government and says that kids 10 years and older shed this virus at the same level as an adult, then that makes it clear for us what that cutoff ought to be,” Bynum said at the city’s news conference on Monday.

“I am thankful for the City Council’s broad support in approving this important amendment to our mask ordinance,” Bynum said. “Our local health care leaders made clear how important it was for more children to be wearing masks, especially as they return to classrooms. This amendment is critical in a time when we need to continue to ensure the integrity of our local health care system.”

The change requires Mayor G.T. Bynum’s signature before going into effect.

Tulsa remains the only city in Tulsa County with a mandatory mask requirement.

Cox Media Group