Coronavirus: Active Cases Drop Below 700 Statewide

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May 29, 2020

By News Director Jared Atha

Another large dip in active cases of COVID-19 Friday throughout Oklahoma.

This according to the Oklahoma State Department of Health’s daily report today, showed that there had been 104 cases reported as recovered in the last 24 hours. That leaves the state with 669 active cases of the virus.

Locally the numbers went unchanged when compared to Thursday. Jackson and Kiowa Counties are still reporting 2 active cases each, while Washita and Custer Counties have 1 active case each.

Harmon and Roger Mills Counties are still without a reported case. They are 2 out of 3 counties in the state that have remained COVID-19 free. Ellis County in northwest Oklahoma is also without a confirmed case.

Health officials are reporting 3 additional deaths due to COVID-19, 2 occurring in the past 24 hours. The state’s total death count now stands at 329.

Hospitalizations in Oklahoma due to the virus dropped as well. Currently there are only 160 Oklahoman’s occupying hospital beds in the state. That number is down by 21 when compared Thursday.

Oklahoma remained on track Friday to enter the next phase of the governor’s plan to reopen businesses that were closed or restricted to help slow the spread of the coronavirus.

State officials are moving ahead with the plan to start the new phase on Monday based on health data, Gov. Kevin Stitt said in a news release.

The next phase of the reopening includes lifting the cap on the number of people who can be inside a business, allowing walk-in customers at businesses, and the opening of youth summer camps, all with social distancing and sanitation requirements.

People age 65 or older and those who are medically vulnerable are still encouraged to stay home, and visitation to long-term care facilities such as nursing homes will still be banned, except for patients who are close to death.

For most people, the coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough that clear up in two to three weeks. For some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness, including pneumonia.