Oklahoma Sees First Pediatric Coronavirus Death

This week’s numbers from the Oklahoma State Department of Health included a sobering statistic: it noted the July 12 death of an Oklahoma child from the Covid-19 virus, the first pediatric death in the state since the disease gripped the nation.

As of July 14, there were 21,738 confirmed cases of the virus statewide, up 993 from the day previous and four deaths reported, none in the last 24 hours. This brings the death toll to 428 statewide. There are 546 current hospitalizations from the virus and 16,635 reported recoveries.

The numbers are up in Blaine County as well, showing 22 cases, 17 recovered. There are five active cases, one each in Canton, Geary and Longdale and two in Watonga. There are recovered cases in each of those towns as well as one in Okeene.

Nationally, there have been 3,363,056 confirmed cases, up 58,114 from the last report, 135,605 deaths, up 400 from the same report and 1,031,939 recoveries, up 25,613 from the day previous, according to Johns Hopkins University.

There are several cities, including Philadelphia, Penn., that have cancelled all public gatherings for the next six months in response to the virus, as reported by Fox News. At the same time that Oklahoma public schools are unveiling their ‘Return to Learn’ plans, other areas, such as Broward County, Florida, are pushing for schools to exist only virtually until the virus subsides.

For more information go to www.cdc.gov

Connie Burcham can be reached at Editor@WatongaRepublican.com