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CONSIDERATION OF ORDINANCE O-2021-3 UPON FIRST, SECOND AND FINAL READING: AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF NORMAN, OKLAHOMA ADDING ARTICLE XI, COVID-19 PANDEMIC TO CHAPTER 10 OF THE CODE OF THE CITY OF NORMAN, OKLAHOMA AND ADDING SECTIONS TO SET FORTH FINDINGS OF FACT, DEFINITIONS, MANDATING THE USE OF FACE COVERINGS WITH SOME EXCEPTIONS, IMPOSING CAPACITY LIMITATIONS THROUGH SOCIAL DISTANCING IN BARS AND RESTAURANTS, SETTING FORTH A SUNSET PROVISION, CREATING PENALTIES FOR NON-COMPLIANCE; DECLARING AN EMERGENCY; AND PROVIDING FOR THE SEVERABILITY THEREOF.
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A respiratory disease caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus called COVID-19 began spreading throughout China and much of the rest of the world during the winter of 2019/2020. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention ("CDC"), COVID-19 is spread primarily from person to person, mainly through respiratory droplets produced when an infected person talks, coughs, or sneezes.
The first cases in Norman were diagnosed in March 2020. Considerable spread was identified in nursing homes. A number of proclamations were issued by the Mayor throughout the Spring as part of a nationwide effort to "flatten the curve" of the spread of the virus. The curve was effectively flattened and Norman saw very few new cases in late April, throughout May, and in early June. This led to a phased return to normal activities on June 12.
Since June 12, there has been an increase in positive cases in Norman residents, primarily among the younger age groups, with 58.2% of the new cases between June 16 and June 30 occurring within the 0 - 35 year old age bracket, and 73.7% occurring within the 0-49 year old age bracket. According to the Cleveland County Health Department, these cases are occurring as a result of broad community spread and a return to normal. Between June 16 and June 30, there were an additional 171 new positive cases in Norman, with an average of 12 new cases per day.
According to the CDC, resear...
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