God brought us back together again! On the road to a couple of forevers.

January 9 — WHO Announces Mysterious Coronavirus-Related Pneumonia in Wuhan, China At this point, the World Health Organization (WHO) still has doubts about the roots of what would become the COVID-19 pandemic, noting that the spate of pneumonia-like cases in Wuhan could have stemmed from a new coronavirus. There are 59 cases so far, and travel precautions are already at the forefront of experts’ concerns.

Celebrating Boston's Big 50!

January 21 — Chinese Scientist Confirms COVID-19 Human Transmission At this point, the 2019 novel coronavirus has killed 4 and infected more than 200 in China, before Zhong Nanshan, MD, finally confirms it can be transmitted from person to person. However, the WHO is still unsure of the necessity of declaring a public health emergency. January 23 — Wuhan Now Under Quarantine In just 2 days, 13 more people died and an additional 300 were sickened. China makes the unprecedented move not only to close off Wuhan and its population of 11 million, but to also place a restricted access protocol on Huanggang, 30 miles to the east, where residents can’t leave without special permission. This means up to 18 million people are under strict lockdown.

It's OUR Anniversary!

It's OUR Anniversary!

It's OUR Anniversary! https://www.sushineko.com/gallery

It's OUR Anniversary! https://vimeo.com/48897765

January 31 — WHO Issues Global Health Emergency With a worldwide death toll of more than 200 and an exponential jump to more than 9800 cases, the WHO finally declares a public health emergency, for just the sixth time. Human-to-human transmission is quickly spreading and can now be found in the United States, Germany, Japan, Vietnam, and Taiwan.

February 2 — Global Air Travel Is Restricted By 5 pm on Sunday, those en route to the United States have to have left China or they can face a 2-week home-based quarantine if they had been in Hubei province. Mainland visitors, however, will need to undergo health screenings upon their return, and foreign nationals can even be denied admittance. Other countries beginning to impose similar air-travel restrictions at this point include Australia, Germany, Italy, and New Zealand.

We are ENGAGED!

Community Service at the City Rescue Mission

Community Service at the City Rescue Mission

Community Service at the City Rescue Mission

Community Service at the City Rescue Mission

Community Service at the City Rescue Mission

March 6 — 21 Passengers on California Cruise Ship Test Positive Twenty-one people of just 46 tested aboard a cruise ship carrying more than 3500 people off the California coast test positive for COVID-19, with 19 being crew members. The ship is held at sea instead of being allowed to dock in San Francisco while testing is conducted. Since the event, 60 passengers have sued the cruise line and parent company, Carnival Corp, for gross negligence in how passenger safety was handled.

On March 7, 2020, the first case of COVID-19 was confirmed in Oklahoma in a patient who had returned from Italy on February 23 and began showing symptoms on February 29.

March 11 — WHO Declares COVID-19 a Pandemic In declaring COVID-19 a pandemic, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, director general of WHO, said at a briefing in Geneva the agency is “deeply concerned by the alarming levels of spread and severity” of the outbreak. He also expressed concern about “the alarming levels of inaction.”

March 13 — Trump Declares COVID-19 a National Emergency President Donald Trump declares the novel coronavirus a national emergency, which unlocks billions of dollars in federal funding to fight the disease’s spread. March 13 — Travel Ban on Non-US Citizens Traveling From Europe Goes Into Effect The Trump administration issues a travel ban on non-Americans who visited 26 European countries within 14 days of coming to the United States. People traveling from the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland are exempt.

Happy Alphaversary!

On March 18, there were 29 cases, an increase of 71% from the previous day's total.[14] In addition, the first COVID-19 patient died of the disease in Tulsa. He was a man in his 50s who had been admitted the day before. Testing capabilities remain limited in Oklahoma.

March 19 — California Issues Statewide Stay-at-Home Order California becomes the first state to issue a stay-at-home order, mandating all residents to stay at home except to go to an essential job or shop for essential needs. The order also instructs health care systems to prioritize services to those who are the sickest.

On March 24, Governor Stitt announced a "Safer at Home" executive order effective through April 30, requiring vulnerable populations (including those over the age of 65 or with underlying health conditions) to remain at their residences unless conducting essential shopping, medical appointments, or exercise.

Effective March 25, gatherings of more than 10 people were prohibited. In the 19 counties that had a confirmed case, "non-essential" businesses that involve social gatherings or close contact (such as bars, dine-in restaurants, gyms, and personal care facilities) were ordered to close for 21 days. This order would also be applied to any other county that had new positive cases going forward. On March 25, the state board of education voted to close all public schools until the end of the school year.

Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt has told older and vulnerable people across Oklahoma to stay home, but mayors in the state's major cities, including Oklahoma City, Tulsa and Norman, ordered all residents to do so. "We want to leave no doubt," Mayor David Holt of Oklahoma City said. "The safest course of action during this public health crisis is to stay home." Ardmore About 25,000 people | Shelter in place, effective April 6 at 11:59 p.m. Claremore About 19,000 people | Stay at home, effective April 6 at 8 a.m. Edmond About 93,000 people | Shelter in place, effective March 30 at 11:59 p.m. Moore About 62,000 people |Shelter in place, effective April 4 at 11:59 p.m. Norman About 123,000 people |Stay at home, effective March 25 at 11:59 p.m. Oklahoma City About 649,000 people| Shelter in place, effective March 28 at 11:59 p.m. Sallisaw About 9,000 people | Shelter in place, effective April 4 at 11:59 p.m. Stillwater About 50,000 people | Shelter in place, effective March 30 at 11:59 p.m. Tulsa About 401,000 people |Shelter in place, effective March 28 at 11:59 p.m.

On March 31, the business closures were extended through April 30, and became effective state-wide on April 1. Stitt encouraged residents to support local restaurants, which would still be allowed to offer take-out services. Stitt also encouraged medical officials to increase their testing of those with any symptoms or had been recently in contact with someone who had tested positive. Oklahoma’s safety requires statewide “stay-at-home” order CARLY PUTNAM // APRIL 1, 2020 // UPDATED: APRIL 1, 2020 COVID-19 // OK POLICY BLOG // HEALTH Gov. Stitt on Wednesday extended his executive order to close non-essential businesses to all 77 counties through April 30. However, that’s not enough. To slow the virus’s spread and give our health systems the resources to respond, Gov. Stitt should issue a statewide stay-at-home order. Oklahoma, along with Michigan and Georgia, have been identified as emerging hotspots where outbreaks are intensifying and per capita testing rates are some of the lowest in the nation. There are already signals of rapidly expanding outbreaks in some parts of the state, as the number of confirmed infections has more than doubled during the past five days. This weekend, Tulsa and Oklahoma City joined 43 of the nation’s largest cities in issuing “stay-at-home” orders, restricting residents’ movement to essential errands and occupations. Following Norman’s stay-at-home order earlier last week, more than 1 in 4 Oklahomans are now staying home except when absolutely necessary. At present, Gov. Stitt’s executive order closes non-essential businesses in all 77 counties, and only “high-risk” persons are asked to stay at home. Gov. Stitt has acknowledged that Oklahoma’s number of COVID — and by extension, their locations — are almost certainly underreported because there aren’t enough tests available. Without adequate testing, many medical officials are concerned the virus will spread. This can be especially troubling to our rural areas, which are already underserved by doctors and hospitals. Without a statewide stay-at-home order, the virus will continue to spread, putting more people at risk. The previous patchwork approach and its apparently narrow application created widespread confusion, something the mayors of Tulsa and Oklahoma City both cited when they issued stay-at-home orders this weekend. With the Governor currently asking only elderly and other high-risk Oklahomans to stay at home, it’s not clear to whom the order applies. This leaves it up to the individual to decide for themselves. Among other issues, this might force workers to disclose a medical condition to explain to their boss why they can’t come into work. In addition, given Oklahoma’s sky-high uninsured rate, Oklahomans themselves may be understandably unsure if they have health conditions that could make them high-risk, such as asthma or diabetes. As of Wednesday afternoon, 34 states have issued statewide stay-at-home or nearly identical shelter-in-place orders. Oklahoma should join them, as the state’s health care providers have urged. As many epidemiologists have noted over the last few weeks, “flattening the curve” assumes that a substantial number of people will contract COVID-19. These medical experts say the best chance at keeping our health system from being overwhelmed is for us to avoid getting sick all at once. This also maximizes access to health care for sick Oklahomans. A statewide stay-at-home order recognizes the gravity of the situation, and it gives Oklahomans and local businesses the power to limit their exposure, keeping all of us safer.

On April 15, the Safer at Home order was extended through May 6, with Stitt stating that elective surgeries could resume on April 24.

COVID-19 hits the US and Oklahoma is officially quarantined.

On April 23, Governor Kevin Stitt announced that phase 1 of the reopening of business would begin April 24, including personal care facilities, state parks, outdoor recreation, and that dine-in restaurants (excluding bars), cinemas, gyms, sports venues, and places of worship could reopen on May 1, subject to social distancing and other sanitation protocols and guidelines per-industry. Phase 2 began May 15, including reopening of bars at limited capacity, funerals and weddings, and organized sports, subject to social distancing. Phase 3 began June 1, including businesses that had been restricted to appointments only, summer camps, and limited visitation at hospitals, and for long-term care facilities in end-of-life situations. Guidance regarding social distancing and the Safer at Home guidelines for vulnerable residents remain in force.

Happy Father's Day!

Happy Father's Day!

Happy Father's Day!

Happy Father's Day!

Happy National Best Friends Day

Happy National Best Friends Day

Happy Labor Day!

Happy Labor Day!

Happy Labor Day!

Never Forget! We remember 9/11.

It's on the KNOT! The Venue is BOOKED!

Power in our voices! #powerinourvotes

WOW! It's been a whole year!

Happy Thanksgiving! We are full of gratitude for our friends and family, and most especially, US!