Six Verified Cases in Blaine County: Your COVID-19 Updates

The Oklahoma State Department of Health updated its Covid-19 virus report numbers May 26 to reflect changes over the long Memorial Day weekend.

The numbers show Blaine County having climbed to six confirmed cases of the virus, with two recoveries. Those case are three from Watonga, two from Geary and one from Okeene. Each Watonga and Okeene show one recovery.

Statewide, there are 6,137 cases confirmed and 318 deaths. The demographics on sufferers has shifted, though, with the age group 18-35 taking the top spot with 25.86% of the cases, passing the second group, 65 and older, with 24.87%. Those groups are followed by the 36-49 age group, 50-64 age group, 5-17 age group and those four years old and less with the fewest number of confirmed cases.

Nationally, there are 1.7 million cases, with 353,000 recovered and 99,624 deaths as of May 25, according to the Wikipedia website. Those case numbers may lag by more than 24 hours.

Across the state in Guymon, a small Panhandle town of about 12,000, the number of cases- 743- is second only to Oklahoma City. In mid-May, Oklahoma National Guard, CDC, OSDH, OSU and FEMA personnel descended on the town to discuss means and methods of curbing the spike.

At issue is the large number of employees – 440 – at a single Seaboard Food pork processing plant who have tested positive for the virus. The plant processes 4.2 million pounds of pork daily and employs 2,700.

The company has instituted health policies including temperature checks upon entering the facility and throughout the day, face mask and shield requirements, added time clock and hand sanitizing stations to eliminate crowding and is providing paid time off for those who become ill, all in hopes of removing the town from national focus as a hotspot for the virus.

Connie Burcham can be reached at Editor@WatongaRepublican.com