This time last year the city of Tulsa extended its mask mandate to include children, but instead of requiring masks now, city officials are focusing on vaccinations.
Tulsa City Councilor Phil Lakin, Jr. said they consider science and data when looking at mask mandates, and health officials are encouraging them to remain focused on vaccines.
"Public health officials are saying please focus in on helping people get the vaccine," he said. "Don't take your eye off the vaccine. Don't give people an excuse through a mask to fight this virus because the mask is not the same thing as a vaccine."
The city council's resolution to encourage masks passed in late August but the Tulsa Health Department has not seen this lead to a boost in vaccinations.
"We really have not seen a significant increase in the number of individuals who are receiving their vaccines, but it has been steady," said Ellen Niemitalo, Manager of Clinic Services with the Tulsa Health Department.
Both the city of Tulsa and THD are taking a layered approach to stop the spread including vaccinations, testing, washing hands, socially distancing, and masks.
Lakin said data on masks has been inconsistent though. Past mask ordinances in Tulsa didn't determine what type of mask a person must wear but Lakin said not all masks provide the same protection.
"If we all had access to N-95 masks, then I think that they would be a pretty formidable defense mechanism or offensive mechanism, whichever way you look at it, but the reality is that not everybody has N-95 mask availability, so it does reduce efficacy of using those masks."
The CDC doesn't recommend N-95 masks to non-health professionals but does recommend layered cloth masks to limit the spread of the virus.
Lakin said there are other factors to consider when looking at requiring masks in the city, including community unity and staff shortages.
"As we saw with Oklahoma City, they were not able to pass a mask mandate," he said. "It was a split vote and it was a very contentious meeting. What we're focused on in Tulsa is not creating division within our community."
Lakin said with a focus on vaccinations and testing, there aren't enough workers to also focus on mandating masks.
He said city workers are leading by example though. Employees wear masks inside city hall and there is a vaccine incentive for city workers.
NewsChannel 8 asked Mayor G.T. Bynum if a mask mandate was possible soon and he responded by saying,
I learned early in the pandemic not to try to make long term predictions. We take it week by week and rely on the guidance of local health care leadership.
The city is also considering a proposal to provide THD with additional funding from American Rescue Plan dollars.