Coronavirus in Oklahoma: American Sign Language interpreter thrust into role as a lifeline for deaf and hard of hearing

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Swerving in and out of traffic, Jimmy Mitchell made a mad dash to get to the Oklahoma state Capitol.

After a quick stop at a department store for a change of clothes and a risque fitting in the parking lot, Mitchell walked into the Capitol to find his partner and hearing interpreter Jacob Alexander with just minutes to spare.

“I sped so fast to get here,” Mitchell signed to Jake. “You’d think I had found the last stash of toilet paper in the city.”

Mitchell had received a call from Gov. Kevin Stitt’s office about 35 minutes before that the governor was scheduled to hold his first news conference to address Oklahoma's coronavirus preparations.