Oklahoma’s positive COVID-19 tests up 51 percent in one day, death toll at 7

(OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla.) SITUATION UPDATE: COVID-19 03/26/2020 As of this advisory, there are 248 positive cases of COVID-19 in Oklahoma. New counties with cases include Comanche, Craig, Lincoln, Okmulgee, Ottawa and Sequoyah counties. There are an additional two deaths in Cleveland County, a female in her 90s and a male in his 60s. There are seven total deaths in the state. As the state continues to work aggressively with public and private partners to increase testing supplies in Oklahoma, it is likely that the increase in confirmed cases is related to an increase in testing in the state. The Oklahoma State Department of Health (OSDH) operated two satellite testing sites in Kay County and Pittsburg County. There were 32 specimens collected at the Kay County site and 16 in Pittsburg County. The tests are being processed by the Oklahoma Public Health Laboratory. With the number of cases rising each day, the OSDH urges the public to follow the Governor's "Safer at Home" executive order advising vulnerable populations and those over the age of 65 to stay home until April 30 and for non-essential businesses in counties with COVID-19 cases to temporarily suspend services until April 30. The CDC also recommends the public to stay home, practice social distancing, hand washing, and specifically for those who are sick to isolate for up to 14 days. Statement on COVID-19 Community Spread The Oklahoma State Department of Health would like to provide acknowledgement of community spread in our state. Community spread means that individuals who have no travel history or contact with someone with the disease have become infected with the virus. We have known community spread would be coming, if not here already, and we are beginning to identify areas so we can work together on mitigation efforts. As always, please focus on prevention and remain vigilant in following the easy and basic health tips such as washing your hands, covering your cough or sneeze, and avoiding people who are sick. COVID-19 Satellite Testing Locations – Phase One The Oklahoma State Department of Health (OSDH) has been working aggressively to establish four satellite testing locations in Tulsa, Oklahoma, Kay, and Pittsburg counties. To effectively develop a large-scale, statewide, satellite testing platform, OSDH is implementing a limited rollout in order to develop best practices for a more robust platform. OSDH and its public health care partners will begin these new testing sites in phases. Phase one rolled out on Wednesday in Pittsburg County, with 100 test kits, and Kay County with limited testing supplies. Setting up this initial test phase allows the State's medical professionals to gather public health data, outside of the hospital setting, while determining the projected capacity needed for effective COVID-19 testing throughout Oklahoma. The Oklahoma Department of Health is now tracking cases of potential COVID-19 online. Residents who are experiencing symptoms of COVID-19 and who may need monitoring or other assistance are asked to fill out the following form: https://intake-app-dot-osdh-mms.appspot.com/intake-form COVID-19 Oklahoma Test Results Positive (In-State) 248 Positive (Out-of-State) 2 Negative* 958 Hospitalized 86 Deaths 7 *Negative testing results are only from the State Public Health Laboratory and do not include private laboratory negative results. COVID-19 Cases by Testing Laboratory Diagnostic Laboratory of Oklahoma 48 State Public Health Laboratory 83 Other 117 Total 248 COVID-19 Cases by Age 00-04 2 05-17 2 18-35 43 36-49 52 50-64 64 65+ 85 Total 248 Age Range 0-95 yrs COVID-19 Cases by Gender Female 119 Male 129 Total 248 COVID-19 Cases and Deaths by County Adair 2 0 Bryan 1 0 Canadian 6 0 Carter 1 0 Cleveland 39 3 Comanche 3 0 Craig 1 0 Creek 10 0 Custer 3 0 Delaware 1 0 Garvin 2 0 Grady 2 0 Jackson 1 0 Kay 11 0 Lincoln 1 0 Logan 3 0 Mayes 2 0 McClain 2 0 Muskogee 4 0 Noble 2 0 Oklahoma 73 2 Okmulgee 2 0 Osage 3 0 Ottawa 1 0 Pawnee 10 1 Payne 5 0 Pontotoc 1 0 Pottawatomie 2 0 Sequoyah 1 0 Stephens 1 0 Tulsa 41 1 Wagoner 6 0 Washington 5 0 Total 248 7