OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — Despite rising numbers of confirmed cases and hospitalizations due to COVID-19 infections in Oklahoma, Republican Gov. Kevin Stitt said Thursday he remains opposed to mandating that residents wear masks.

"I'm going to protect the freedoms in Oklahoma," said Stitt, who rarely wears a mask in public, even when he's around groups of people. "I'm not comfortable with mandating masks. It's not something that I would do."

Stitt also said he wouldn't take steps to stop local ordinances requiring people to wear masks in public, which have been implemented in Stillwater and Norman....