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The Oklahoma State Department of Health showed 19 active cases of the Covid-19 virus Aug. 25 in Blaine County when it released figures for that day. The cases include six in the Canton area, one in the Geary area and 11 in the Watonga area; and two in Hitchcock. These cases do not total the 19 shown by OSDH figures. Similar mathematical anomalies have been noted in other counties as well.
Statewide there are now 54,172 confirmed cases, up 650 from the day before. There are 14 new deaths listed, none in the past 24 hours. There are 7,912 active cases in the state, down 220, while the number of recoveries, 45,516, is up 856 since the day previous. Nationally, there are 5,739,724 confirmed cases, up 38,045 since the prior report. There have been 177,252 deaths, up 450 and 3,541,698 active cases reported. The active cases are up 14,582 since the prior report, as are recoveries, up 23,013 to 2,020,774.
Meanwhile, on Aug. 23, the president made an emergency authorization that will make it easier for some patients to be treated with convalescent plasma, or blood cells from those who have recovered from the Covid-19 virus. The authorization is not the same as full FDA approval of the treatment, which health experts insist needs more study before it is hailed as a cure-all.
In another development in the war on Covid-19, American Airlines as well as two sports medicine clinics – all Texas-based businesses – have won EPA approval to use a long-lasting spray that works as an antiviral agent. It works by coating high touch surfaces with a nontoxic product that incapacitates viruses within two hours of use, and continues to work for up to two weeks, according to the manufacturer. EPA issued an emergency exception for the product in Texas, but the company that makes the spray is seeking similar exemptions in every state.
Connie Burcham can be reached at Editor@WatongaRepublican.com