“We urgently request that you issue an executive order that will implement a shelter-in-place policy and close non-essential businesses until this pandemic is truly contained,” says the Monday letter, which listed the Oklahoma Hospital Association and Oklahoma State Medical Association among its signers.

“Current CDC recommendations should be considered a bare minimum,” the letter says. “Even so, these recommendations do include adopting a shelter-in-place policy for states with community transmission of COVID-19.”

Shelter-in-place policies have proven to be the most effective at reducing the spread of COVID-19, the letter says.

“The decisions you make in the coming days will have far-reaching impacts on the duration and severity of this crisis,” the letter says. “Your office can exhibit decisive leadership now to not only mitigate the effects of current infection but to truly prevent the spread of this disease.”

Dr. Kayse Shrum, state secretary of science and innovation, said she thinks Stitt’s actions address the heart of what the health care community was seeking.

Stitt had been reluctant to put restrictions on businesses, recently saying it was not the role of government.