Statement from Senator Carri Hicks on Oklahoma State Department of Health's New School Quarantine Policy

Senator Carri Hicks, D-Oklahoma City, released the following statement in response to the new policy regarding in-school quarantining announced by the Oklahoma State Department of Health:

“Allowing in-school quarantine in our public schools raises many serious concerns. We should prioritize the safety of students, teachers, support personnel, and their families. The State Department of Health must address several unanswered questions regarding how this high-risk data collection experiment will work, including who will be liable if a child or teacher dies as a result of COVID exposure from the quarantine. As a former classroom teacher, I understand very well the challenges our school districts face. I agree that students learn best in the classroom. However, until we fully commit to reducing community transmission rates to a level that the Centers for Disease Control recommends prior to convening in person instruction, we should not be gambling with the lives of our children .”