Late Wednesday night, we got a heads up from a local Molestradamus about the lack of safety precautions being displayed by Derplahoman lawmakers during a swearing-in ceremony at the capitol. Check it out:
Not surprisingly, less than 48 hours after a big event where social distancing and mask-wearing were disregarded by at least half the audience, news has come out that two Oklahoma lawmakers have tested positive for COVID.
Here are the details from our good, chummy pal Barbara Hoberock with The Tulsa World:
Contact tracing underway after two Oklahoma House members test positive for COVID-19
The Oklahoma House is working with the State Department of Health on contact tracing after two lawmakers tested positive for COVID-19.
Both lawmakers showed no symptoms and took COVID tests as a requirement to attend events, said House Majority Floor Leader Jon Echols, R-Oklahoma City.
One positive member, Kevin Wallace, R-Wellston, was sworn in early on Wednesday while in quarantine. Other members who had been in contact with Wallace were also sworn in separately.
Those members did not attend the ceremonial swearing-in at 10 a.m. Wednesday, Echols said.
Regardless of your thoughts on the Coronavirus, or where you fall on the mask "debate," one thing we can all agree on is if there's going to be a big Covid outbreak in Oklahoma, it might as well be at the State Capitol. Like, it's not that we want an outbreak to happen there, but if we could choose one place in the state for one, that would probably be it.
Here are details on the other lawmaker who had it:
Echols said legislative leaders found out about a second legislator’s positive test Thursday.
That representative, Tammy Townley, R-Ardmore, did not have a mask on for at least a portion of the ceremonial swearing-in.
“I tested positive for Covid-19 antibodies this summer and for that reason had zero reason to believe I was a transmission risk this week,” she said in a written statement. “That is why it is so surprising I tested positive again after the oath ceremony. I am asymptomatic, feel fine and only took a test because it was required for an event I planned to attend Thursday.”
In all fairness to Townley, you can't blame her for her stupid assumption. It's not like health professionals say you should still wear a mask and practice social distancing even if you've had Covid, or that's there's been thousands and thousands of documented reports about people catching Covid twice.
In fact, let's hope her test was a false positive! The last thing we would want is her blatant and selfish disregard for public safety measures to infect this elderly veteran and war hero she honored on Tuesday:
Not surprisingly, Democratic lawmakers who were at the Capitol event found out about the Covid cases via Twitter. They made sure to let people know that:
Not shocked. Also, great learning about this on Twitter. https://t.co/9JJYjkDphn
— Rep. Monroe Nichols (@Monichols) November 13, 2020
Disappointing and concerning that I’m just now learning about this on Twitter... https://t.co/GjVG1Mf9RR
— Rep. Mickey Dollens (@MickeyDollens) November 13, 2020
How the hell do I find out about this on Twitter and not from the House leadership? This is ridiculous. This is the same BS happening across the state. WE CAN’T IGNORE OUR WAY OUT OF THIS. https://t.co/27FdNn3HSp
— Forrest Bennett (@ForrestBennett) November 13, 2020
Uhm, isn't that's kind of the point of Twitter? You find out about news and information in real-time as it's happening, and not just when then people in charge who would prefer that stuff like this stays covered up wants you to know about it.