TULSA, Okla. — The White House coronavirus task force, a group leading the U.S. government’s coronavirus response, is no longer sending states weekly reports unless they are requested.
The Center for Public Integrity first released information on the new policy change.
The White House previously sent weekly COVID-19 reports directly to state leaders. The reports include recommendations to provide guidance through the pandemic.
Online, the Oklahoma State Department of Health lists each report it has received since June 29. The last one published is from the week of Dec. 6.
After not receiving the White House’s Dec. 13 COVID-19 report, the OSDH alerted the public via Twitter.
OSDH has not yet received this week’s White House report. The cause for the delay is currently unknown but is unrelated to the technical issue causing the delayed situation update. We appreciate everyone’s patience and will provide an update when we have any new information.
— OK Dept of Health (@HealthyOklahoma) December 16, 2020
UPDATE: This week’s White House report still has not been received by OSDH. We will provide an update when we have any new information and share the report as soon as it is received.
— OK Dept of Health (@HealthyOklahoma) December 17, 2020
On Dec. 21, OSDH's Chief of Communications Jackie Shawnee said, "The most recent report we have received from the White House Coronavirus Task Force is posted on the OSDH website. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services recently began publishing daily national COVID-19 information on HealthData.gov which will give Oklahomans a more real-time look at the data.”
Governor Stitt's office also referred to the daily data on HealthData.gov. That site does not include recommendations.
The Dec. 13 White House coronavirus task force report puts Oklahoma in the red zone for cases and test positivity.
2 Works for You is waiting to hear back from the White House on why the task force’s coronavirus reports will not be automatically released to states anymore.
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