Coronavirus: Daily Recovery Outnumbers Daily Infected

corona_virus

July 1, 2020

By News Director Jared Atha

It was a day of recovery for Oklahoma.

According to the Oklahoma State Department of Health’s daily report, 520 Oklahomans recovered from Covid-19 when compared to Tuesday. That number helped bring down the total number of active cases in the state to 3,118. A decrease of 167 active cases when compared to Tuesday.

The recovery trend showed up in western Oklahoma as well. Kiowa County saw a case recover, bringing its total number of active cases to three. Custer County, who has had a cumulative case count of 54, now currently has two active cases. That is down three when compared to Tuesday’s report.

Other counties in the area went unchanged including Jackson County with nine, Beckham County with three, Greer County with two, Washita and Harmon Counties with one active case each.

There were two more deaths in the state due to Covid-19 being reported by health officials Wednesday. The state’s death count is now at 389.

Unfortunately hospitalizations went up significantly, currently at 374. That is up 59 when compared to Tuesday.

During a press conference Wednesday, Oklahoma City Mayor David Holt released a new list of mandates for restaurants, bars and other venues in Oklahoma City in an attempt to limit people’s exposure to COVID-19.

Holt said starting Friday, all employees of restaurants and bars must wear masks and bar capacity will be lowered to 50%. He also said all venues with theater-style seating – such as weddings, funerals and churches – will be staggered.

The new restrictions will be in place for two weeks.

Although Holt has not issued a mask mandate for Oklahoma City, he did encourage people to wear them. He said he hasn’t issued a mask mandate because it would be impossible to enforce.

Holt added that private businesses have the right to require customers and patrons to wear masks.

The latest restrictions come after the mayor said the Oklahoma City metro area’s coronavirus numbers remain at an elevated level. He said that elevated level is manageable but is on the edge of an unmanageable level, especially with the Fourth of July weekend approaching.

During Wednesday’s news conference, Holt said two sources of exposure that stood out since last week’s update were among bar and restaurant employees and bar patrons.

In a news conference Tuesday, Gov. Kevin Stitt said he encourages Oklahomans to wear a mask in public where social distancing is not possible, but he said he would not issue a statewide mandate.