The Yukon state of emergency is being extended to April 13 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The city council met Monday morning in an emergency study session at City Hall in the conference room to discuss the current situation. The state of emergency declaration approved last week goes until April 6. But it will be extended with a signature of the mayor Monday.
Also, new rules for restaurants and bars are also being considered.
Some restaurants are open for carry-out and drive-thru in Yukon.
Any new rules for bars or restaurants could include a possible $700 fine for violators.
The council is considering other restrictions in light of the pandemic.
Council members recognized that businesses are struggling. Possible rules for salons or barbershops were discussed.
City Manager Jim Crosby said safety of the people comes first. There are 81 cases of COVID-19 reported statewide Monday with two cases in Canadian County. There are 29 cases in Oklahoma County and 16 cases in Cleveland County, the Oklahoma State Department of Health reported.
“The whole thing is the protection of the city. If things get worse everything is going to be shut down there is no consideration and the whole thing is for the health and safety of the people,” Crosby said.
“People are losing jobs all over,” Crosby said.
“You start looking around at the impact and we are looking at it as long term.” “If this does not get better we may not have pools open this summer.”
Mayor Mike McEachern said, “I just feel like I don’t want anybody to die on my watch because I was too lenient,” McEachern said.
“We’re on the uphill curve,” McEachern said. “But I think the only reason we only have two (Canadian County cases) is we are not testing. I don’t want to think we did not act soon enough. The sooner we react the less people who die,” McEachern said.
“The problem with a pandemic is once it starts there aren’t any turn off valves, I know we can’t shut down everything,” McEachern said. “Everybody needs to be aware and know what we are doing.”
The council will meet again in a special meeting at 6 p.m. Tuesday at the Centennial Building. An April 7 election for Yukon residents to consider an Oklahoma Natural Gas franchise agreement is expected to be postponed.
