As Oklahoma begins to reopen, the number of coronavirus cases continues to rise across the state. According to the Oklahoma Department of Health, there were 4,044 confirmed COVID-19 cases and 238 deaths as of Monday, May 4, as compared to 3,280 the previous week. Seventy of Oklahoma’s 77 counties have confirmed cases of COVID-19.
Oklahoma’s District 5, comprised of Beckham, Caddo, Comanche, Cotton, Greer, Harmon, Jackson, Kiowa, Tillman, and Washita counties reported 278 confirmed cases, with 17 deaths. Only Harmon and Washita counties report no confirmed cases. Of the 10 counties in District 5, Comanche has been hit the hardest with 98 confirmed cases and two deaths. Caddo has 69 cases and eight deaths. Greer has confirmed 65 cases, resulting in six fatalities.
In keeping with the governor’s reopening plan, the state and counties’ health plan for the coming week will be focused on increasing availability of testing, expanded contact tracing, and maintaining adequate access to personal protective equipment.
In addition to reopening personal service businesses such as barber shops, salons, pet groomers, etc..., restrictions on dinein eating establishments and gyms were also lifted last week. All businesses are still expected to conform to established social distancing protocols, including increased sanitation, diminished capacity seating, and spacing customers six feet apart. The prohibition on elective medical procedures and surgeries was also lifted. Procedures for nonlife-threating conditions that would, if not performed, have the potential to increase morbidity or mortality were allowed to resume April 24. The next phase, beginning May 1, will allow minor medical procedures and non-emergency dental procedures to resume.
In District 5, the county health departments provided testing in all 10 district counties. The district reported more than 750 tests performed, part of which included testing all long term care residents and employees. That testing is expected to be concluded within the next two weeks.
For the coming week, the health department is planning to use the Oklahoma National Guard to expand contact tracing for confirmed victims of coronavirus and to continue case investigations. Curbside testing, by appointment, is still available at all county health department offices. In order to be tested, individuals must have a fever, or cough, or have been exposed to a person previously confirmed to be COVID-19 positive.
The health department encourages people to remain vigilant about their social distancing and sanitizing efforts to help combat additional community spread of the virus.