COVID Spread Increases

The COVID-19 pandemic has continued to spread throughout Oklahoma at record levels. During the last week, from June 22 - June 29, the number of new confirmed cases reached 3,024, up from 2,316 during the previous week. That jump brings the total of confirmed coronavirus cases in Oklahoma to 13,757 as of June 30.

Despite the rapid spread of the disease across the state, Gov. Kevin Stitt vowed to continue the state’s reopening in a Tuesday press conference. Stitt, wearing a mask around his neck, told Oklahomans that he was proud of the state’s response to the growing pandemic and that he had been told by both President Trump and Vice President Pence that Oklahoma had handled the pandemic better than any other state in the nation.

Stitt said the state has seen the expected increase in COVID cases as a result of the opening up, but the state’s infrastructure has been ramped up and is capable of handling the increased caseload.

Stitt encouraged Oklahomans to follow the recommendations of the Centers For Disease Control regarding frequent hand-washing, social distancing, and the use of masks when social distancing isn’t practical, but balked at the idea of mandating mask use while in public.

“I will not reconsider mandating masks in the State of Oklahoma,” he said. “We believe in freedoms.” Col. Lance Frye, the state health commissioner, reiterated Stitt’s assertions, stating that even though the state experienced its single largest jump in confirmed cases on Tuesday, with 585 new cases, the situation “remains manageable.”

Frye did warn about the dangers of large gatherings, especially in light of the upcoming holiday weekend. He suggested that younger people consider the risks they may pose as asymptomatic carriers of the virus, possibly infecting older or immuno-compromised friends and family members at such gatherings. While statewide

While statewide cases continue to escalate, the numbers in Washita County remain consistent and low. As of Tuesday’s report from the Oklahoma State Department of Health, only three cases of COVID-19 have been confirmed in the county. In the surrounding counties, Custer reports 55, Caddo 186, Beckham 11, and Kiowa 10.